US Hotels Fear Low World Cup Turnout Amid Weak Booking Numbers
American hotel operators warn that lower-than-expected reservations and FIFA room cancellations could reduce the economic impact of the upcoming World Cup.
- A hotel industry report says bookings in most World Cup host cities remain below expectations.
- The AHLA accuses FIFA of overbooking hotel rooms before later cancelling large reservations.
- High ticket prices, travel costs, and political concerns are reportedly discouraging visitors.
Hotels across the United States are expressing concern that the upcoming FIFA World Cup may not deliver the tourism and economic boost many had expected, as booking levels in several host cities remain lower than projected.
A new report by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) found that reservations are underperforming in nearly all cities hosting matches for the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19.
The AHLA said the current booking trends appear inconsistent with FIFA’s announcement that more than five million tickets have already been sold for the competition.
According to the association, the situation raises concerns that the expected economic impact from the World Cup may ultimately fall short of projections.
The report also accused FIFA of reserving large blocks of hotel rooms for its own use, which it claims created an artificial sense of demand and pushed accommodation prices higher.
The AHLA said many of those reserved rooms were later cancelled, leaving hotels with unexpected vacancies and lower occupancy levels.
FIFA, however, rejected the allegations and said it does not recognise the claims made in the report.
Hotel operators have also pointed to several other factors that may be discouraging visitors, including high ticket prices, expensive local transportation, taxes, and the broader political climate in the United States.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association, which represents more than 32,000 hotel properties and over 80% of franchised hotels in the country, warned that the tourism benefits many businesses anticipated from the World Cup could fail to materialise if booking trends do not improve.
