Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

STR: U.S. hotel construction pipeline up in December for first time since 2020

Luxury chains showed the highest number of rooms in supply

STR: U.S. hotel construction pipeline up in December for first time since 2020

U.S. HOTEL CONSTRUCTION increased slightly in December after 25 consecutive months of decline, according to STR. Projects in the later stages of development saw a reversal in their decline and luxury projects were up.

There are 159,344 rooms in construction during the month, up 0.3 percent, over Dec. 2021. As many as 213,066 rooms are in the final planning state, an increase of 15 percent over last year. STR pipeline data added that 240,092 rooms are under planning, a decline of 15.6 percent.


New York City, Phoenix and Dallas are set to see the largest supply percentage increases from current construction. The luxury and upscale segments would see the most supply.

“While the overall pipeline continued to contract year over year, December showed strength in the later phases of development,” said Alison Hoyt, STR’s senior director of consulting. “Over the past year, we’ve seen late-stage pipeline rooms consistently decline from 2021 levels, while rooms in the planning phase often showed double-digit growth. We started to see a change in this pattern in November, when final planning rooms significantly jumped year over year and planning rooms came down pretty firmly. The same occurred in December, with the only difference being construction increasing slightly over 2021. When looking strictly at volume, the in-construction phase has been fairly stable throughout the year, remaining under 160,000 rooms and showing month-over-month increases from July through October and again in December.”

Luxury segment reports the highest increase in hotel construction in December, up 5.3 percent containing 7,241 rooms, followed by upscale, up 4.6 percent with 41,111 rooms and upper midscale, increased 3.7 percent containing 43,946 rooms.

Upper upscale, up 3 percent with 20,140 rooms, midscale, increased 2.5 percent containing 10,766 rooms and Economy, up 0.9 percent with 6,482 rooms are also showing increased activity.

“Given the pricing power luxury chains have had over the past three years, it is no surprise the segments remain at the forefront in terms of projected growth,” said Hoyt. “The chain’s rapid room rate recovery and growth between 2020 and 2022 has led developers to push into the segment.”

New York City leads the construction pipeline with an increase of 8.5 percent containing 10,944 rooms, followed by Phoenix, up 7.1 percent with 4,968 rooms and Dallas, up 5 percent with 4,877 rooms. The construction pipeline increased in Nashville, up 4.8 percent containing 2,746 rooms and Detroit, up 4.7 percent with 2,192 rooms.

“Markets experiencing the highest number of luxury rooms in construction are those that performed well during COVID and/or are strong leisure destinations, with Fort Worth/Arlington, Texas; and New York City leading the list,” Hoyt said. “While NYC also has the most rooms in construction as a percentage of existing supply, the market will likely see a slowdown after ongoing projects are built due to new development restrictions in place. Nashville is also showing signs of a slowdown, so we could expect a shuffle in the top pipeline markets later in 2023.”

In an earlier report, Lodging Econometrics said that the construction pipeline showed positive trends in the third quarter of 2022 as total projects stood at 5,317 containing 629,489 rooms.

More for you

WTTC travel report

WTTC: U.S. tops travel sector with $2.6T GDP

Summary:

  • 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.

Keep ReadingShow less
Park Hyatt luxury hotel celebrating 45th anniversary
Photo credit: Hyatt Hotels Corp.

Park Hyatt hits 45 years

Summary:

  • Hyatt Hotels Corp. marked 45 years of its Park Hyatt brand.
  • It recently launched “Luxury Is Personal,” its first global campaign in more than five years.
  • Its luxury hotel portfolio has grown 146 percent since 2017.

HYATT HOTELS CORP. marked the 45th anniversary of its Park Hyatt brand, launched in 1980 with Park Hyatt Chicago. It also introduced “Luxury Is Personal,” its first global marketing campaign for the brand in more than five years.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. government shutdown 2025 news
Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Trump, Congress face shutdown deadline

Summary:

  • 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.

Keep ReadingShow less
IHG Ruby Hotels USA launch
Photo credit: IHG Hotels & Resorts

IHG’s Ruby debuts in U.S. market

Summary:

  • IHG launched its 20th global brand, Ruby, in the U.S.
  • The brand offers serves city-centers and urban locations with restrictions.
  • It focuses on major urban markets with new-build, conversion, and adaptive reuse.

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS introduced Ruby Hotels, its 20th global brand, to the U.S. It is designed to fit in city centers and urban locations with entry barriers and space constraints.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump H1B visa fee India
Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Trump’s $100K H-1B fee sparks panic in India

Summary:

  • Announcement of $100,000 H-1B visa fee triggers panic among Indian professionals.
  • The fee applies only to new petitions.
  • IT companies are reportedly reviewing staffing and travel.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S announcement of a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions, effective Sept. 21, reportedly triggered panic among Indian H-1B holders. Many rushed to book last-minute flights, resulting in fully booked planes and higher fares.

Keep ReadingShow less