The Hospitality Newsletter
Today Tuesday, August 25, 2026
CoStar Upgrades 2026 US Hotel RevPAR Growth Forecast to 4.4%
FeaturedfinanceHotel Dive··1 min·For: Owner, GM, Revenue, Investor

CoStar Upgrades 2026 US Hotel RevPAR Growth Forecast to 4.4%

CoStar and Tourism Economics significantly raised their 2026 U.S. hotel forecast, now projecting RevPAR to grow 4.4% driven by strong leisure, business, and major event travel. However, hoteliers face continued headwinds from rising operational expenses that are expected to outpace inflation.

Key Takeaways

  1. 12026 U.S. RevPAR growth forecast upgraded to 4.4% YoY, up from the previous 2.8% projection.
  2. 22026 occupancy expected at 63.1% and ADR to grow 3.1%, bolstered by the World Cup and America 250 events.
  3. 3Operational expenses are projected to rise faster than inflation through both 2026 and 2027.
Read summary → Original ↗

Top Stories

6 stories
US F-1 Student Visas Drop for Indian Nationals
hrasianhospitality.com··1 min·For: Owner, GM, Ops, Investor

US F-1 Student Visas Drop for Indian Nationals

F-1 student visa issuances for Indian and Chinese students declined in 2025, potentially tightening the pipeline for post-graduate work programs like OPT and subsequent H-1B visas. Meanwhile, the U.S. added nearly 65,000 supplemental H-2B visas for fiscal year 2026 to support seasonal staffing needs.

Key Takeaways

  1. 1F-1 visas issued to students from India and China dropped significantly during the peak May-August 2025 period.
  2. 2Indian students accounted for 143,740 OPT participants in 2024-25, forming a major portion of the STEM labor pool.
  3. 3The U.S. government added 64,716 supplemental H-2B visas for FY 2026 to ease seasonal labor shortages.
Read summary → Original ↗
Aman Faces Backlash After Calling Police on Travel Creator
marketingSkift··1 min·For: GM, Marketing, Owner, Ops

Aman Faces Backlash After Calling Police on Travel Creator

Ultra-luxury brand Aman turned away a YouTube creator with a confirmed reservation at Amanvari in Mexico, threatening to call the police. The creator's viral video account has drawn hundreds of thousands of views, raising questions about crisis management and content creator relations in luxury hospitality.

Key Takeaways

  1. 1Amanvari security denied entry to YouTuber Ryan Walker despite a confirmed booking.
  2. 2Walker's viral video account generated nearly 700,000 views and over 5,000 comments.
  3. 3Aman has not issued a public statement or responded to media inquiries regarding the incident.
Read summary → Original ↗
Gen Z Favors Hotel Reviews Over Brand Names
marketingasianhospitality.com··1 min·For: GM, Marketing, Revenue, Owner

Gen Z Favors Hotel Reviews Over Brand Names

A new study reveals that 61 percent of Gen Z travelers prioritize guest reviews when booking accommodations, while only 14 percent are influenced by hotel brands. Free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and practical amenities drive choice far more than brand loyalty or social media.

Key Takeaways

  1. 1Reviews drive 61% of Gen Z bookings, compared to just 14% for hotel brand names.
  2. 2Free breakfast (56%) and free Wi-Fi (50%) are the top valued property amenities.
  3. 3Hotels are the primary choice for only 43% of Gen Z, with 21% preferring short-term rentals.
Read summary → Original ↗
Auro Hotels to Debut First JW Marriott in South Carolina
operationsasianhospitality.com··1 min·For: Owner, Investor, GM, Revenue

Auro Hotels to Debut First JW Marriott in South Carolina

Auro Hotels is partnering with the City of Greenville and The Furman Co. to bring a 335-room JW Marriott to downtown Greenville. Construction is scheduled for mid-2027 as part of the new 6-acre Falls Park Conference District redevelopment.

Key Takeaways

  1. 1The 335-room property will redevelop the Bowater Building overlooking the Reedy River.
  2. 2Project includes four F&B outlets, 8,800 sq ft of event space, and a pedestrian bridge to a new city conference center.
  3. 3Construction is slated to begin in mid-2027, taking 18 to 24 months and creating roughly 175 jobs.
Read summary → Original ↗
CoStar and TE Raise 2026 U.S. Hotel RevPAR Forecast
financeasianhospitality.com··1 min·For: Owner, GM, Revenue, Investor

CoStar and TE Raise 2026 U.S. Hotel RevPAR Forecast

CoStar and Tourism Economics upgraded their 2026 U.S. hotel performance forecast following a record-breaking first half that saw room nights increase by 11.4 million. RevPAR and ADR projections were raised by 1.6 and 1.1 percentage points, respectively, driven by resilient leisure and business travel.

Key Takeaways

  1. 12026 RevPAR and ADR forecasts were raised by 1.6% and 1.1% percentage points, respectively.
  2. 2First-half room revenue surged by over $5.4 billion compared to 2025.
  3. 3Rising operating expenses will continue to outpace inflation in 2026 and 2027.
Read summary → Original ↗
Skift Launches Free Capital Allocation Report for H1
financeSkift··1 min·For: Owner, Investor, GM

Skift Launches Free Capital Allocation Report for H1

Skift Research has launched the quarterly Skift Capital Allocation Brief, analyzing travel industry investments, M&A activity, and strategic financial trends. The inaugural report reveals 242 travel deals worth $39.6 billion announced in the first half of the year.

Key Takeaways

  1. 1Global travel saw 242 deals valued at $39.6 billion in H1, alongside three take-private transactions.
  2. 2Asset-light lodging companies and major OTAs continue to command premium market valuations.
  3. 3Credit card issuers spent nearly $6 billion purchasing travel supply while venture funding hit multi-year lows.
Read summary → Original ↗