U.S. HOTEL BOOKINGS for Dec. 21-25 are up 22 percent from last year, according to SiteMinder, a hotel distribution and revenue platform. The growth is driven by international bookings, which now account for 32 percent of total bookings, up from 28 percent during the same period in 2023, a more than 15 percent annual increase.
The top five markets driving this growth are Canada, Germany, the UK, France, and Italy, SiteMinder data showed.
“It’s pleasing to see that U.S. hotels will be enjoying their share of Christmas cheer this year," said Trent Innes, SiteMinder’s chief growth officer. "Increased bookings, driven by the strong return of international travel and continued confidence among domestic travelers, are also leading to longer stays and extended lead times. These positive trends present both an opportunity and a call to action for American hoteliers to provide tailored, seamless experiences this festive season, maximizing revenue while fostering loyalty and positive reviews.”
SiteMinder is led by Sankar Narayan as CEO.
Hotel bookings are rising alongside year-on-year increases in length of stay and booking lead time during Christmas week, the report said. The average stay at U.S. hotels is set to grow 5 percent, from 2.51 to 2.63 days, while booking lead time will increase over 4.5 percent, from 77.08 to 80.62 days.
SiteMinder’s “Changing Traveller Report 2025” found that 65 percent of travelers globally are now more likely to travel for an event, with family reunions and celebrations topping the list.
While 46 percent plan to book a standard room, the majority will splurge on extras, with 87 percent willing to spend on options such as breakfast, chosen by 47 percent; room size, preferred by 30 percent; and views, selected by 28 percent. Four in five also intend to seek experiences onsite at their accommodation.
In September, SiteMinder and IDeaS launched the "Dynamic Revenue Plus" system, offering hotels live market intelligence to optimize inventory, pricing, and distribution strategies.
