US hotel operators say promised boon from hosting World Cup hasn’t materialized yet
- Room bookings remain lighter than expected in most of the 11 U.S. cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a majority of hotel operators reporting demand trailing typical seasonal levels, according to an April survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
- Hotels significantly increased rates after the tournament schedule was announced, anticipating high demand from soccer fans. Room prices near MetLife Stadium in New Jersey jumped from around $200 to $800 for June matches, soaring to more than $1,300 ahead of the July 19 final.
- Smith College professor Andrew Zimbalist noted that expected congestion and high costs often discourage normal business tourism. Meanwhile, New York City hotels report around 10% growth and Toronto demand is up about 28% over June 2025, according to Sara Anghel, president of the Greater Toronto Hotel Association.
- Hotel owners in some markets are reducing prices after overestimating demand, while Mexico City hotels report only about 30% to 36% occupancy for the June 11 opening match, according to the Asociación de Hoteles de Ciudad de México.
- Despite hotel struggles, Airbnb reported last week that bookings may surpass the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Kansas City tourism officials remain optimistic the tournament will attract record-breaking visitors despite soft traditional hotel demand.
23 Articles
23 Articles
U.S. hotels are calling the World Cup a 'non-event' and 80% warn bookings are falling short of expectations, report finds
Despite FIFA selling 5 million tickets for the games, “indicators suggest the anticipated economic lift may fall short of expectations,” the American Hotel and Lodging Association said.
U.S. hotel operators say promised boon from hosting World Cup hasn’t materialized yet
The promised economic boon from the World Cup hasn’t matched expectations, at least not yet, for U.S. hotels. Room bookings have been lighter than expected in most of the 11 U.S. cities hosting the world’s most watched sporting event, according to an April survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. In several cities, including Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle, a majority of hotel operators said bookings were …
Associated Press News
US hotel operators say promised boon from hosting World Cup hasn’t materialized yet
U.S. hotels say the promised economic boon from the World Cup hasn’t materialized yet for them. The American Hotel & Lodging Association recently released a report that found room bookings are lighter than expected in most of the 11 U.S. host cities with roughly a month to go before the start of the
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