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Fri, 15 May 2026

Fri, 15 May 2026 US hotel owners expected a World Cup boom - so far it hasn't happened

An industry body survey found hotels in World Cup host cities see the tournament as a "non-event".

* Hotels in World Cup host cities (Kansas City, Houston, Miami, and New York) are seeing lower bookings than expected.
* An American Hotel and Lodging Association survey found 8 out of 10 hotels in host cities have lower demand than anticipated.
* The association's president, Rosanna Maietta, attributed the low bookings to the "political climate" during President Trump's second term and the rising cost of living.
* Hoteliers are also blaming the high ticket prices for World Cup matches, with some resale tickets listed for over $2m.
* An Airbnb spokesperson said the World Cup is expected to be its biggest hosting event ever, but individual hotel bookings are still lagging behind expectations.
* The Association of Tartan Army Clubs' Hamish Husband noted that Scotland's rare appearance at the World Cup has encouraged fans to travel despite cost concerns.
* Some hoteliers, such as Stephen Jenkins from Kansas City, are pinning their hopes on the tournament being a success and expect a last-minute pickup in bookings.