THE U.S. HOTEL construction pipeline continued its growth at the end of the second quarter of 2022 as travel returned, according to Lodging Econometrics. The upscale and upper-midscale segments continue to lead the pipeline with 68 percent of projects.
The total U.S. construction pipeline stands at 5,220 projects with 621,268 rooms during the second quarter. That is up 9 percent by projects and 4 percent by rooms, over the same period last year, according to the U.S. Construction Pipeline Trend Report from LE.
There were 965 projects with 130,914 rooms currently under construction in the second quarter, down 17 percent by projects and 18 percent by rooms, year-over-year. As many as 2,009 projects with 232,163 rooms are scheduled to start in the next 12 months, up 9 percent by projects and 9 percent by rooms, over last year.
According to the report, projects and rooms in early planning reached a record high at 2,246 projects with 258,191 rooms, up 26 percent by projects and 15 percent by rooms, compared to last year.
"Improved demand and increased consumer sentiment and spending has led to record-high rates of travel and much improved hotel revenue over the last few months. The outlook for the industry is positive and growth is expected to continue throughout 2022, albeit at a decelerated pace than initially expected. The industry’s ability to adapt to the constantly changing economic environment provides a positive outlook for hotel performance, and its eventual full recovery," the report said.
New project announcements more than doubled in the second quarter of 2022 with 428 new projects with 47,034 rooms, compared to 202 new hotel projects with 25,653 rooms during the second quarter last year.
LE said a total of 1,889 projects with 237,420 rooms are in the renovation or conversion pipeline in the U.S. during the period, with project and room conversions reaching an all-time high, up 66 percent by projects and 35 percent by rooms, over last year.
During the first and second quarters of 2022, the U.S. opened 247 new hotels with 28,116 rooms. LE predicts that another 428 projects with 50,322 rooms will be opened this year for a total of 675 projects with 78,438 rooms, 1.4 percent increase in new supply.
The report further said that 733 projects with 87,253 rooms are expected to open in 2023, with a 1.5 percent increase in new supply. In 2024, LE said 848 projects with 93,581 rooms will be opened, with a supply increase of 1.6 percent.
"However, market volatility, persistent inflation, rising energy prices, elevated transportation costs, materials shortages, and supply chain backlogs continue to pose a challenge and slow the timeline to full recovery,” the LE report said. “Some hotels have noted a reduction in certain services and put a limit on the number of available room nights. Furthermore, although leisure travel has had a robust comeback in 2022, business travel is only slowly returning. Room rates have significantly increased with Average Daily Rates considerably higher than those recorded in 2019.
"Even though the U.S. and the hotel industry are facing some economic challenges that can be expected to continue into the near future, corporate and personal balance sheets are reasonably strong, the U.S. banking system is healthy, and the planning of new hotel projects continues. Hotel investors and developers are still eager to move forward on projects and are being more mindful when approaching a deal."
The Highland Group: Extended-stay occupancy, RevPAR and ADR declined in August.
Room revenue rose 0.4 percent, while demand increased 2.2 percent.
August marked the second time in 47 months that supply growth exceeded 4 percent.
U.S. EXTENDED-STAY OCCUPANCY fell 2.1 percent in August, its eighth consecutive monthly decline, while ADR declined 1.8 percent and RevPAR dropped 3.9 percent for the fifth consecutive month, according to The Highland Group. However, total extended-stay room revenue rose 0.4 percent year over year.
The Highland Group’s “US Extended-Stay Hotels Bulletin: August 2025” noted that summer leisure travel has a greater impact on the overall hotel industry than on extended-stay hotels.
“August’s performance metrics further indicated that economy extended-stay hotels are weathering the hotel industry downturn better than most hotel classes, especially at lower price points,” said Mark Skinner, The Highland Group partner.
The 2.1 percent drop in extended-stay hotel occupancy in August was the eighth straight month of decline, the report said. Occupancy declined more than the 1.3 percent drop STR/CoStar reported for all hotels. However, extended-stay occupancy was 11.3 percentage points higher than the overall hotel industry, consistent with long-term late-summer trends.
The 1.8 percent decline in extended-stay ADR was partly due to a larger share of economy supply in August 2025 versus August 2024, the report said. Economy extended-stay ADR fell for the first time since May 2024 but outperformed the 3.4 percent drop for all economy hotels reported by STR/CoStar. Mid-price extended-stay ADR also declined, while upscale extended-stay ADR fell more than upscale hotels overall.
RevPAR fell 3.9 percent in August, the fifth straight monthly decline and the largest in 2025. The overall drop was greater than individual segment decreases because economy supply made up a larger share than in August 2024. STR/CoStar reported RevPAR declines of 5.7 percent for economy, 2.6 percent for mid-price and 2 percent for upscale hotels.
Revenue, demand and supply trends
Extended-stay room revenue rose 0.4 percent in August from a year earlier, The Highland Group said. STR/CoStar reported overall hotel revenue fell 0.1 percent and excluding luxury and upper-upscale segments, revenue fell 2 percent. STR/CoStar also reported August room revenue declines of 6.4 percent for economy hotels, 1.4 percent for midscale and 0.7 percent for upscale compared to August 2024.
Extended-stay demand rose 2.2 percent in August, the second-largest monthly increase in seven months. STR/CoStar reported total hotel demand fell 0.4 percent. Adjusting for the extra day in February 2024, extended-stay demand has grown in 32 of the past 33 months.
August was the second time in 47 months that supply growth exceeded 4 percent, the report said. Supply has risen about 3 percent year to date. Annual supply growth ranged from 1.8 to 3.1 percent over the past three years, below the long-term 4.9 percent average.
The 8 percent rise in economy extended-stay supply, with minimal change in mid-price and upscale rooms, is mainly due to conversions, as new economy construction accounts for about 3–4 percent of rooms compared to a year ago.
The Highland Group reported that economy, mid-price and upscale extended-stay segments led first-quarter 2025 RevPAR growth over their class counterparts. The report noted 602,980 extended-stay rooms at quarter-end, a net gain of 17,588 rooms over the past year, the largest in three years.
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AHLA Foundation distributed $710,000 in scholarships to 246 students.
Nearly 90 percent of recipients come from underrepresented communities.
The foundation funds students pursuing education and careers in the lodging sector.
AHLA FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTED $710,000 in academic scholarships to 246 students at 64 schools nationwide for the 2025–2026 academic year. Nearly 90 percent of recipients are from underrepresented communities, reflecting the foundation’s focus on expanding access to hospitality careers.
The foundation awards academic scholarships annually to students in hospitality management and related programs, it said in a statement.
“Our scholarship program is helping ensure the next generation of talent has the resources to pursue careers in the hospitality industry,” said Kevin Carey, AHLA Foundation's president and CEO. “We’ve invested millions of dollars over the last several decades to recruit and support future leaders who will strengthen our industry.”
It provides funding to help students pursue education and careers in the lodging sector, the statement said. Award decisions are based on applicants’ academic performance, extracurricular involvement, recommendations and financial need.
In September, AHLA Foundation, the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education and the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration announced plans to expand education opportunities for hospitality students. The alliance aim to provide data, faculty development and student engagement opportunities.
The U.S. government shut down at midnight after Congress failed to agree on funding.
About 750,000 federal employees will be furloughed daily, costing $400 million.
Key immigration and labor programs are halted.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT shut down at midnight after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on funding. Disputes over healthcare subsidies and spending priorities left both sides unwilling to accept responsibility.
The shutdown could cost America’s travel economy $1 billion a week, the U.S. Travel Association said previously. It will disrupt federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration and hurt the travel economy, USTA CEO Geoff Freeman wrote in a Sept. 25 letter to Congress.
“A shutdown is a wholly preventable blow to America’s travel economy—costing $1 billion each week—and affecting millions of travelers and businesses while straining an already overextended federal travel workforce,” Freeman said. “While Congress recently provided a $12.5 billion down payment to modernize our nation’s air travel system and improve safety and efficiency, this modernization will stop in the event of a shutdown.”
USTA said that halting air traffic controller hiring and training would worsen a nationwide shortage of more than 2,800 controllers and further strain the air travel system.
About 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed each day at a cost of about $400 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Essential services to protect life and property remain operational, CNN reported. The Department of Education said most of its staff will be furloughed, while the Department of Homeland Security will continue much of its work. Agencies released contingency plans before the deadline.
Immigration services are directly affected. Most U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services operations continue because they are fee funded, but programs relying on appropriations—such as E-Verify, the Conrad 30 J-1 physician program and the special immigrant religious worker program—are suspended. Houston law firm Reddy Neumann Brown said employers must manually verify I-9 documents if E-Verify goes offline, though USCIS has historically extended compliance deadlines.
The Department of Labor will halt its Office of Foreign Labor Certification, freezing labor condition applications for H-1B visas, PERM applications and prevailing wage determinations, India’s Business Standard reported. Its FLAG system and related websites will also go offline. Immigration lawyers warn of ripple effects, since USCIS depends on DOL data. The Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals and administrative law dockets will also pause.
Visa and passport services at U.S. consulates generally continue because they are fee funded. If revenue falls short at a post, services may be limited to emergencies and diplomatic needs.
Reuters reported that the disruption could delay the September jobs report, slow air travel, suspend scientific research, withhold pay from active-duty U.S. troops and disrupt other government operations. The funding standoff involves $1.7 trillion in discretionary agency spending—about one-quarter of the $7 trillion federal budget, according to Reuters. Most of the rest goes to health programs, retirement benefits and interest on the $37.5 trillion national debt.
According to The New York Times, unlike previous shutdowns, Trump is threatening long-term changes to the government if Democrats do not concede to demands, including firing workers and permanently cutting programs they support.
The U.S. led global travel and tourism in 2024 with $2.6 trillion in GDP, WTTC reported.
India retained ninth place with $249.3 billion in GDP.
The sector supported 357 million jobs in 2024, rising to 371 million in 2025.
THE U.S. LED global travel and tourism in 2024, contributing $2.6 trillion to GDP, mainly from domestic demand, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Europe accounted for five of the top 10 destinations, while India ranked 9th.
WTTC opened its 25th Global Summit in Rome with research showing investment reached $1 trillion in 2024, led by the U.S., China, Saudi Arabia and France.
“These results tell a story of strength and opportunity,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC interim CEO. “The U.S. remains the world’s largest travel and tourism market, China is surging back, Europe is powering ahead, and destinations across the Middle East, Asia and Africa are delivering record growth. This year, we are forecasting that our sector will contribute a historic $2.1 trillion in 2025, surpassing the previous high of $1.9 trillion in 2019. As Italy hosts this year’s Global Summit, its role as a G7 leader showcases the importance of tourism in driving economies, creating jobs and shaping our shared future.”
The U.S. kept its top position, but international visitor spending is expected to fall by $12.5 billion in 2025, limiting growth to 0.7 percent. China, the second-largest market, contributed $1.64 trillion in 2024 and is forecast to grow 22.7 percent this year. Japan, the fifth-largest market, is expected to rise from $310.5 billion to nearly $325 billion.
Italy, which hosted the summit and is a G7 member, contributed $248.3 billion in 2024, driven by international visitors and the meetings and events sector. Germany, the third-largest market, contributed $525 billion. The UK generated $367 billion despite a fall in international visitor spending, while France and Spain added $289 billion and $270 billion. Europe’s growth was supported by both cultural and modern sectors.
India contributed $249.3 billion in 2024. In June, WTTC reported international visitors spent $36.09 billion in India in last year, up 9 percent from 2019.
Jobs on the rise
Travel and tourism supported 357 million jobs in 2024 and is expected to reach 371 million in 2025, increasing its share of global employment, the WTTC report found. By 2035, the sector is projected to support one in eight jobs worldwide, adding 91 million positions—most in Asia-Pacific—and accounting for one in three new jobs globally.
Uncertainties over trade tariffs and geopolitical tensions could limit sector growth in 2025, the report said. Travel and tourism’s GDP contribution is forecast to rise 6.7 percent, returning toward pre-pandemic averages but still outpacing the 2.5 percent growth projected for the global economy.
The sector is expected to contribute $11.7 trillion, or 10.3 percent of global GDP and add 14.4 million jobs, bringing total employment to 371 million, or 10.9 percent of global jobs. International visitor spending is projected to fully recover, rising 8.6 percent above 2019 levels to nearly $2.1 trillion, while domestic visitor spending is expected to rise 13.6 percent to $5.6 trillion. Annual growth for 2025 is forecast at 10 percent for international and 5.1 percent for domestic spending.
In May, WTTC projected the U.S. stood to lose $12.5 billion in international travel spending this year, falling to under $169 billion from $181 billion in 2024. The council said U.S. needs to do more to welcome international visitors rather than “putting up the ‘closed’ sign.”
President Donald Trump will meet Congress as a shutdown looms.
Democrats say they are ready to negotiate a bipartisan deal.
Thousands of federal jobs and the U.S. travel economy are at risk if a shutdown occurs.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP will meet Congressional leaders on Monday after Senate Democrats rejected a Republican stopgap spending bill to fund the government until Nov. 21. The U.S. Travel Association recently warned a government shutdown could cost the travel economy $1 billion a week.
Democrats want spending bills to reverse Trump’s Medicaid cuts, while Republicans want healthcare addressed in broader budget talks, according to Al Jazeera.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are expected to meet Trump at the White House.
“If it has to shut down, it’ll have to shut down. But they’re the ones that are shutting down government,” Trump told ABC News.
Democrats shifted the blame to Trump but also kept the door open to negotiations.
“President Trump has once again agreed to a meeting in the Oval Office,” the Democratic leaders said. “As we have repeatedly said, Democrats will meet anywhere, at any time and with anyone to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people. We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown and address the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out.”
The government will shut down Wednesday if Congress doesn’t pass a short-term spending bill. The Senate could vote Monday on an extension Democrats previously rejected, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The White House warned that thousands of government jobs could be at risk if the government shuts down at midnight Tuesday. In a memo to federal agencies, the administration said Reduction-in-Force plans would go beyond standard furloughs, according to POLITICO.
Trump reportedly warned Sunday of widespread layoffs if the government shuts down this week.
“We are going to cut a lot of the people that … we’re able to cut on a permanent basis,” he said.
More than 100,000 federal employees could lose their jobs as early as Tuesday if the government shuts down, India’s Times Now reported.
A shutdown would disrupt federal agencies, including the TSA and hurt the travel economy, USTA CEO Geoff Freeman wrote in a Sept. 25 letter to Congress.
A recent Ipsos survey cited in the USTA letter found 60 percent of Americans would cancel or avoid air travel during a shutdown. About 81 percent said shutdowns harm the economy and inconvenience travelers and 88 percent said Congress should act across party lines to prevent one.