Hotel operators across the United States are reporting that advance bookings for the World Cup have not met initial projections, according to an April survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The softer-than-expected demand extends across the tournament’s 11 U.S. host cities. In some markets such as Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle, a majority of hotel operators indicated bookings were actually trailing seasonal norms. Meanwhile, in major metropolitan areas including New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Houston, demand remained flat relative to typical spring and summer patterns.
Industry representatives attributed the weaker-than-anticipated bookings to multiple factors affecting international visitor decisions. These include travel concerns stemming from global conditions, complications surrounding U.S. visa processing, and the overall expense of tournament attendance. Hotel rooms near major venues experienced significant price increases following the tournament schedule announcement, with some properties charging rates substantially above historical norms. Near MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, for instance, rooms typically listed at around $200 nightly were being advertised at $800 during scheduled matches, rising above $1,300 ahead of the July 19 final.
The anticipated shortfall in hotel demand has coincided with stronger performance in the short-term rental market. Several metropolitan areas, including Kansas City, Seattle, San Francisco, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Miami/Fort Lauderdale, reported increased bookings through platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo compared with the equivalent period in the prior year. Airbnb indicated that guest counts at its properties during the tournament are expected to surpass earlier projections and potentially exceed the 2024 Paris Olympics as the company’s largest hosting event.
Economic factors beyond hotel availability are also influencing the tournament’s local impact. Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor, noted that major sporting events tend to displace regular business and leisure travelers through concerns about congestion, elevated pricing, and security considerations. Some industry leaders remain cautiously optimistic, with one hotel investment company reporting increased occupancy at host city properties compared with the prior year, though performance has varied by venue based on the prominence of scheduled matches. Tourism officials in several cities continue to anticipate improved results as the tournament approaches.
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