According to a new survey published by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), with less than a month to go before the start of the FIFA World Cup, hotel bookings in the United States regarding the upcoming FIFA World Cup are falling well short of industry expectations.
The survey included hotels in 11 host cities in the US, including big cities such as New York and Los Angeles.
It found that 80 per cent of the respondents reported making bookings that are lower than the initial predictions, which is a worrying trend among stakeholders in the industry as it indicates poorer-than-estimated demand.
About 65 per cent of the hoteliers identified visa restrictions and wider geopolitical tensions as major issues deterring international travel.
AHLA President Rosanna Maietta admitted that an initial optimism had been stampeded by various challenges, but she added that there was still, she said, significant opportunity ahead.
She also highlighted the importance of the United States and FIFA to make the international visitors experience a smooth and welcoming experience.
The 2026 world cup is being co-hosted by the US with Mexico and Canada, with games set to begin on June 11 in Mexico City and the final one scheduled on July 19 in New Jersey.
But fan groups have raised concerns about high ticket prices, inflation of the secondary market and the cost of travelling.
The report also noted that there were disparities in booking patterns across cities.
Hotel demand in Kansas City is already below normal summer levels, and those in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle described the local impact of the tournament as a non-event.
Other hoteliers also reported that early mass bookings which FIFA had attributed to the early demand had since been cancelled, which they described as a false early spike in demand.
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