Market Trends

🏨 Q2 2026 report by Lodging Econometrics highlights Dallas as the top market with 183 hotel projects (22,840 rooms). Atlanta follows with 157 projects (17,423 rooms). New hotel openings in 2026 are led by Phoenix with 26 projects (3,615 rooms) and New York with 20 projects (3,079 rooms). For 2028, Atlanta is forecasted to lead with 25 projects (2,345 rooms). Major renovation activity is noted in Houston (35 projects, 4,841 rooms).

📈 On August 19, in Washington D.C., the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International's local chapter hosts an event at Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf. Industry experts like Blake Herring and Jennifer Hill will discuss 2027 budget planning. Registration costs range from $50 to $140. Participants are encouraged to donate backpacks for local students. HSMAI DC, part of a 5,000-member global organization, focuses on hotel revenue growth.

🏖️ In Bishan, China, Ding Muer, inspired by his mother's "poetic rural dream," revitalized Zhulan Bar Country Inn by preserving Huizhou houses. Since the 1990s, the inn has promoted local culture through craft beer and authentic hospitality. Meanwhile, in Andalusia, Spain, Finca La Donaira blends eco-luxury with biodynamic farming, fostering ecological renewal. Both destinations illustrate a shift towards meaningful tourism, emphasizing cultural and ecological regeneration over conventional hospitality.

🍽 Britain's licensed premises numbered 98,564 by June 2026, according to NIQ's Hospitality Market Monitor. This figure remained stable compared to three months earlier and was only 0.2% lower than June 2025. The second quarter of 2026 showed an improvement from the 0.3% decline observed between January and March, highlighting a balance between the closures and openings of hospitality venues.

🏨 In August 2025, a study by the American Hotel & Lodging Association involving 387 hotel owners revealed key challenges in hospitality development. Approximately 33% of projects faced delays, 25% scaled back, and 8% were canceled. Factors included market conditions, financing, and construction costs. Great Wolf Lodge exemplifies adaptive development, tailoring amenities to market demands. Effective site selection and strategic planning are crucial, as shown by Blue Harbor Resort's handling of costly subsurface issues, ensuring financial feasibility.

📚 André Fu, an interior designer from Hong Kong, has his 15-year career chronicled in a monograph, "André Fu: A Designer’s Vision," released by Assouline on 24 July 2026, priced at £100. The book covers projects like The Upper House and St Regis in Hong Kong, Waldorf Astoria Osaka, and London's Berkeley Hotel Pavilion Suites. It’s divided into three parts, including Heritage Reimagined, and features interviews with collaborators such as chef Daniel Calvert.

🏨 On July 24, 2026, Markus Busch discusses the transformation of hotel wholesalers into giants. Hotelbeds acquired Tourico Holidays and GTA in 2017, forming HBX, now a publicly traded company reaching 250,000 hotels and 60,000 sellers. RateHawk, part of Emerging Travel Group, handled $4.8 billion in bookings last year. Some wholesalers became OTAs, like Booking and Expedia. Hotel operators should reassess their reliance on these large networks, as true independence is rare.

🏨 In Q2 2026, the U.S. Hotel Construction Pipeline includes 5,975 projects and 703,001 rooms. As of mid-2026, 1,081 projects with 133,216 rooms are under construction. Additionally, numerous projects are set to begin within the next 12 months. The data reflects a robust pipeline indicating significant growth and investment in the hospitality sector, with ongoing developments and future projects on the horizon.

📈 RevPAR at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ U.S. hotels rose 2% in Q2, while global RevPAR is projected to be flat to up 1% for 2026. Net income increased 17% to $102 million. The insolvency of Revo Hospitality led to a $160 million charge, impacting room growth metrics. Excluding Revo, system-wide rooms and development pipeline grew 4%. U.S. RevPAR saw gains in Texas, Florida, and California, while Latin America, EMEA, and China faced declines due to various regional challenges.