US and China Drive Global Hotel Pipeline to 15,976 Projects

The global hotel construction pipeline reached a record 15,976 projects representing 2.43 million rooms in the second quarter of 2026, driven primarily by activity in the United States and China, which together account for 59 percent of all projects worldwide, according to research from Lodging Econometrics [1], [2].

Which countries lead the global hotel construction pipeline?

The United States and China hold the largest shares of worldwide hotel development activity [1]. The U.S. led all nations with 5,975 projects and 703,001 rooms, accounting for 37 percent of the worldwide pipeline, as reported by Asian Hospitality [1]. However, Hotel Dive noted that the U.S. pipeline contracted year over year in both project and room counts [2]. China ranked second globally with 3,588 projects and 632,256 rooms [1].

Beyond the top two markets, India recorded 1,033 projects and 137,601 rooms, marking a year-over-year surge of 36 percent by projects and 39 percent by rooms [1]. Canada logged 345 projects and 47,874 rooms, while Saudi Arabia posted 387 projects encompassing 105,648 rooms [1].

Which global cities have the highest volume of hotel development?

Dallas, Atlanta, and Chengdu hold the top three positions globally for hotel project volume for the second consecutive year [2]. Dallas ranked first among U.S. and worldwide markets with 183 projects totaling 22,840 rooms, according to Lodging Econometrics data published by Asian Hospitality [1]. Atlanta followed in second place with 157 projects and 17,423 rooms [1].

Hotel Dive reported that Chengdu in China secured the third spot with 127 projects [2]. Nashville ranked fourth with 122 projects comprising 16,281 rooms [1], while Guangzhou rounded out the global top five with 120 projects [2].

What stages of construction are projects currently in?

The global construction pipeline expanded by approximately 0.7 percent year over year, with projects distributed across early planning, upcoming starts, and active builds [2]. A record 6,059 projects worldwide were in early planning during the second quarter of 2026 [2]. Another 3,743 projects were scheduled to begin construction within the next 12 months, while 6,174 projects were actively under construction [2].

During the quarter alone, developers announced 974 new projects worldwide totaling 138,743 rooms, according to Asian Hospitality [1]. Ground broke on 602 projects encompassing 83,232 rooms in the same three-month span [1]. In the U.S. specifically, 1,081 projects with 133,216 rooms were actively under construction, 2,147 projects with 245,871 rooms were slated to start within 12 months, and 2,747 projects with 323,914 rooms sat in early planning [1].

How are chain scales and conversion projects performing?

Upper-midscale hotels maintain the largest total project count among chain scales, but luxury and conversions are posting rapid growth [1], [2]. Upper-midscale properties accounted for 4,632 projects and 578,432 rooms globally, rising 3 percent year over year [1]. Upscale properties hit an all-time high of 3,918 projects representing 659,976 rooms, climbing 1 percent [1], [2].

The global luxury pipeline expanded 8 percent year over year to a record 1,385 projects and 257,947 rooms [1], [2]. Upper-upscale projects matched that pace, rising 8 percent to a record 1,923 projects and 396,483 rooms [1], [2]. Hotel Dive noted that brand conversion projects reached a record 2,927 properties and 351,257 rooms globally, up 12 percent by projects and 17 percent by rooms [1], [2]. Combined global renovations and conversions totaled 3,760 projects with 521,849 rooms [1].

What is the global hotel opening forecast through 2028?

Lodging Econometrics projects new hotel openings to peak in 2026 before easing slightly through 2028 [1]. Following the delivery of 2,438 hotels with 332,699 rooms in 2025, the research firm forecasts 2,742 hotel openings comprising 379,921 rooms in 2026 [1].

Openings are forecast at 2,590 hotels and 389,412 rooms in 2027 [1]. By 2028, completions are expected to moderate to 2,499 hotels representing 361,430 rooms [1]. Regionally, Asia Pacific held 6,094 projects and 1.09 million rooms in Q2 2026, with the region outside China growing 17 percent by projects [1]. Middle East projects rose 11 percent to 724, while Africa climbed 15 percent to 343 projects [1].