U.S. Hotels Say World Cup Is ‘Non-Event’ So Far

Despite FIFA's hype, US hotel bookings for the World Cup are lagging in many host cities, with 80% of hoteliers reporting numbers below original forecasts, according to an American Hotel and Lodging Association survey. Many describe the tournament as a "non-event," with only a quarter seeing meaningful incremental lift, primarily in strong leisure markets or team base camps. Oxford Economics anticipates some GDP growth in leisure and hospitality for host metros, but it won't materially impact overall jobs or economic gains for the country. Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles hoteliers report bookings trailing or on par with typical summers. New York City also sees softer than expected demand. Miami and Atlanta are exceptions, with more than half of hotels reporting bookings ahead of expectations. Dallas and Houston also show limited incremental lift from the tournament.