U.S. Hotel Construction Pipeline Tops 6,000 Projects at Q1 2026 Close :: Hospitality Trends

The U.S. hotel construction pipeline remained active at the close of the first quarter of 2026, according to Lodging Econometrics (LE). The Q1 2026 Construction Pipeline Trend Report shows 6,020 projects totaling 705,825 rooms in various stages of development across the country. This figure reflects sustained momentum in hotel development, with projects spread across construction, scheduled starts, and early planning stages.

Breakdown of Project Stages

Of the total pipeline, 1,071 projects with 132,016 rooms are currently under construction. An additional 2,164 projects, representing 249,465 rooms, are scheduled to begin construction within the next 12 months. Projects in the early planning stage number 2,785, accounting for 324,344 rooms. During Q1 2026, construction started on 140 projects (15,546 rooms), and 166 new projects (20,864 rooms) were announced.

Chain Scale Activity

The luxury hotel segment achieved a record high in Q1 2026, with 102 projects and 25,527 rooms. This represents a 16% increase in projects and a 23% increase in rooms compared to the same period last year. The upscale, upper midscale, and midscale segments together make up 75% of the total projects in the construction pipeline. Each of these segments is expected to see its highest number of new hotel openings since 2022.

Conversions and Renovations

Hotel conversions remain a significant component of industry activity. There are 1,461 conversion projects in progress, involving 141,971 rooms. This marks a 3% increase in projects and a 4% increase in rooms year-over-year. When combined with renovation projects, the total rises to 2,041 projects and 258,665 rooms, indicating ongoing investment in upgrading and repurposing existing properties.

Hotel Openings in 2026 and Forecast for 2027

In the first quarter of 2026, 126 new hotels opened in the U.S., adding 14,614 rooms to the national supply. For the remainder of 2026, LE forecasts the opening of 556 additional hotels (62,709 rooms). By year-end, the total number of new hotels opened in 2026 is expected to reach 682, contributing 77,323 rooms and representing a 1.4% increase in hotel supply.

Looking ahead, LE analysts project that 750 new hotels with 81,199 rooms will open in 2027, resulting in a 1.4% increase in supply. These forecasts suggest continued growth in the U.S. hospitality sector, driven by both new development and conversion activity.

Industry Outlook

The data from Q1 2026 indicates ongoing investment and development in the U.S. hotel industry. The combination of new construction, conversions, and renovations points to a stable pipeline and a modest but consistent increase in national hotel supply.