80% of Hoteliers Say World Cup Bookings Are Missing Forecasts

The U.S. hotel industry is signaling that the 2026 World Cup will deliver less of an economic jolt than forecasters had projected for host cities, according to an American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) survey of members released Monday.

It’s 37 days out from the first kickoff, and hoteliers across the 11 U.S. host markets said that a forecasted spending surge had yet to materialize. The softness in bookings stands in contrast to early forecasts. Back in early 2025, CoStar and Tourism Economics projected a 1.6% increase in average daily rates and improved occupancy for U.S. host city hotels during tournament months.

Close to 80% of AHLA member respondents said bookings are pacing