World Cup Hotel Bookings Fall Short as US Hospitality Sector Faces Reality Check

With just five weeks until the World Cup kicks off, hotel reservations across the 11 US host cities are running well behind what the industry had hoped for, according to a new survey from the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Released Monday, the survey found that 80 percent of hoteliers in markets from New York to Los Angeles said bookings are tracking below their initial forecasts.

About 65 percent of respondents pointed to visa hurdles and broader geopolitical tensions as key factors dampening demand. “A range of factors have tempered early optimism, though forward indicators show there is still meaningful opportunity ahead,” said AHLA President Rosanna Maietta. “To fully realise that potential, the US and FIFA must ensure a welcoming and seamless experience for international travellers.”

The United States is co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada, with the first match on June 11 in Mexico City and the final on July 19 in New Jersey. President Donald Trump has championed the event, but his administration’s crackdown on visitor visas has created uncertainty. While the White House has assured FIFA that ticket holders will get visas, each applicant still faces strict vetting.

Fan groups have also raised concerns over high ticket prices, price gouging on secondary markets, and transportation costs. In Kansas City, bookings are so weak they’ve fallen below normal summer rates. In Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle, many hoteliers described the tournament as a “non-event.” The report also noted that mass room reservations made by FIFA, many later cancelled, created an artificial early demand signal that misled the market.