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January 8, 2026

According to the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism, international tourist arrivals climbed 4 percent in 2025, signaling strong travel demand across the globe. This momentum is translating directly into development. Data from Lodging Econometrics (LE) shows that the global hotel construction pipeline reached 15,870 projects by Q4 2025, with the U.S. accounting for 6,146 projects and Asia following closely behind at 5,931, with 1,295 expected to open in 2026. As brands readjust their strategies in a changing geopolitical and economic landscape, the numbers suggest that 2026 will not only sustain last year’s gains but build on them, too.

This year, North America is drawing renewed attention as major sporting events and evolving trade dynamics help move projects ahead. In the U.S., momentum is building across major markets and the fast-growing Sun Belt. Phoenix, for example, is among the country’s most closely watched growth markets, with 23 projects slated to open this year alone, according to LE. “A lot of people are talking about development in [Phoenix] because of the growing population. People are [buying] larger homes, and people are also retiring there,” says Bruce Ford, senior vice president and director of global business development at LE.

Greater housing affordability and a strong job market—particularly in the booming semiconductor sector—has bolstered its appeal. Two forthcoming properties stand out: the Atari Hotel, slated to break ground this year with architecture by Räkkhaus, and the 236-key Denū Hotel and Spa, designed by Gensler.

On the West Coast, San Francisco is finding its footing again after a period of economic challenges, and showing new signs of life as tech workers return. Edouard Schwob, Accor’s senior vice president of development of luxury in the Americas, says the company has two projects in the works in the city. A year ago that would have been unlikely, “but we’re getting calls from investors looking to invest in San Francisco,” he says. “Now, with the AI boom and the number of startups that have opened in San Francisco, it’s like 2001 again.”

Additionally, two Hilton hotels in downtown were recently purchased for a combined $408 million, with renovation plans underway, while designer Ken Fulk will bring his distinct eye to the Huntington Hotel, a Highgate and Flynn Properties project slated to open this spring.

These movements reflect an industry that is readjusting rather than retreating. Below, we dive into the trends shaping 2026 across the globe.

Envsioned by gmp Architects, the 60,000-seat Wuxi Olympic Sports Center anchors a 140-acre mixed-use park in China

With the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix in November, Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in 2027, and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, hospitality projects are now “tied to major global sporting events, where immovable deadlines are shaping procurement strategy and execution,” says Deborah Higgins, owner of procurement firm Canoe Hospitality.

She cites the firm’s work with the Venetian and Palazzo Resorts in Las Vegas and Kali Hotel in Los Angeles. Designed by Sixteenfifty Creative Intelligence, the Kali Hotel’s accommodations include Pro Suites tailored to professional athletes—think nine-foot-tall showers and ice bath service.

Steps from SoFi Stadium, the Anthem Hotel, a collaboration between Design 360 Unlimited and Finn Wijatno Architects, brings 179 guestrooms and an expansive pool deck to Los Angeles

Similarly, the 179-room Anthem, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, recently opened in the Stadium District near SoFi Stadium, with an oversized pool and flexible lounges from Design 360 Unlimited and Finn Wijatno Architects.

Around the world, the stadium is evolving into a central hub for development. In China, the Wuxi Olympic Sports Center, designed by gmp Architects, is part of a 140-acre park with a fitness center, hotel, apartments, and commercial facilities. “Enabling fans to dine, shop, and socialize nearby before and after events increases pre- and post-event spending and extends stay time as people arrive earlier and leave later,” says gmp Architects director Martin Glass. “An inclusive, accessible, and locally embedded venue promotes social and community integration.”