by Donald Wood
Last updated: 1:35 PM ET, Mon May 4, 2026
New data from an American Hotel & Lodging Association
(AHLA) report indicates that 80% of hoteliers say bookings are tracking below
initial forecasts ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
According to the AHLA’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Hotel Outlook
report, hoteliers across host cities are reporting demand below expectations,
fewer bookings, and domestic travelers outpacing international visitors.
Survey respondents pointed out “FIFA room block
cancellations, international travel barriers, and rising costs” as the top
issues plaguing softened hotel demand.
Between 65-70% of hoteliers said that visa barriers and
geopolitical concerns are impacting international demand, while only around
25-30% of respondents “are seeing meaningful incremental uplift” ahead of the
World Cup tournament.
“Hotels across host markets have spent years preparing for
the World Cup, and while there is real excitement, the data points to a more
nuanced outlook,” AHLA President & CEO Rosanna Maietta said. “A range of
factors have tempered early optimism, though forward indicators show there is
still meaningful opportunity ahead.”
“To fully realize that potential, the U.S. and FIFA must
ensure a welcoming and seamless experience for international travelers,”
Maietta continued. “That means avoiding unnecessary cost increases on visas and
transportation to and from the games, and discouraging local jurisdictions from
adding last-minute tax hikes that hurt the games and consumers. And our message
to consumers is clear: now is the time to book your hotel.”
In addition, the AHLA’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Hotel Outlook
report also analyzed 11 major markets associated with the tournament. According
to the AHLA, the market analysis found:
Kansas City
Roughly 85-90% of respondents
report booking pace below expectations, trailing a typical June or July without
any major events.
Los Angeles
Nearly 65-70% of respondents report booking
pace below expectations, often in line with or lagging behind a typical summer.
Approximately half cite visa barriers, high labor costs, and distance from
venues as significant constraints, alongside broader city policies that
continue to complicate operations.
New York City
Approximately two-thirds of
respondents reported softer-than-expected bookings that nonetheless track with
normal summer demand. More than 60% of New York City operators cite
international travel barriers and geopolitical concerns as influencing soft bookings.
Dallas and Houston
Approximately 70% of respondents
report booking pace below World Cup expectations, though still broadly in line
with a typical June or July, indicating limited incremental lift from the
tournament.
Atlanta
Roughly 50% of respondents report booking pace
in line with or ahead of expectations – and ahead of a typical June or July –
driven largely by team base camps, strong air connectivity, and diversified
demand sources.
Miami
Approximately 55% of respondents reported booking
pace ahead of expectations and typical summer benchmarks, as the market
captures World Cup-adjacent leisure demand and offsets broader international
travel headwinds.
Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle
Nearly
80% of respondents report booking pace below expectations and behind a typical
summer, with many describing the tournament as a “non-event” due to FIFA room
releases and weak international fan travel.
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