Pipeline reaches new high
The hotel construction pipeline across Asia-Pacific excluding China, or APEC, rose to 2,506 projects comprising 452,972 rooms at the end of the second quarter of 2026, according to Lodging Econometrics quarterly report.
The total represented a 17% increase in projects and an 11% rise in rooms from the same period a year earlier. Projects under construction totaled 989, with 199,362 rooms, up 13% in project count and 5% in rooms year over year.
A further 398 projects, with 72,213 rooms, were scheduled to start construction during the following 12 months, up 5% in projects from a year earlier.
Early planning accounted for 1,119 projects totaling 181,397 rooms. The total was up 26% in projects and 25% in rooms year over year, representing 45% of the regional pipeline. Construction starts during the quarter totaled 101 projects and 16,628 rooms.
Development expands across hotel segments
Luxury development reached 432 projects and 79,928 rooms, up 22% in projects and 18% in rooms from a year earlier. Upper-upscale hotels accounted for 435 projects and 91,231 rooms, reflecting increases of 14% in projects and 11% in rooms.
The upscale segment had 658 projects with 121,365 rooms, up 22% in projects and 15% in rooms. Upper-midscale development totaled 423 projects and 75,866 rooms, with project count up 17% and room volume up 2%.
Midscale development reached 310 projects and 39,113 rooms, with project numbers rising 19% and room totals increasing 13%. Upper-upscale and upscale properties together represented 44% of projects and 42% of rooms in the APEC pipeline.
New project announcements totaled 217 projects and 34,938 rooms. Combined renovations and brand conversions reached 346 projects with 58,429 rooms, up 36% in projects and 25% in rooms year over year.
India holds the largest national pipeline
India led APEC countries in hotel construction pipeline, with 1,033 projects and 137,601 rooms. The country’s project total rose 36% from a year earlier, while its room count increased 39%.
Vietnam ranked second, with 265 projects and 81,848 rooms. Its project count was 7% higher than in the prior-year period.
Japan followed with 207 projects and 31,360 rooms, up 17% in projects and 9% in rooms. Indonesia had 189 projects and 31,772 rooms, representing increases of 12% in projects and 8% in rooms.
Thailand completed the top five countries by project count, with 167 projects totaling 42,069 rooms. India, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand accounted for 1,861 projects and 324,650 rooms, or 74% of the region’s total pipeline.
Bangkok leads cities by project count
Bangkok had the largest city-level pipeline, with 67 projects and 16,372 rooms. Bengaluru ranked second with 51 projects and 10,258 rooms, up 42% in projects and 44% in rooms year over year.
Mumbai had 49 projects and 10,232 rooms, with project numbers increasing 58% from the same quarter in 2025. Jakarta followed with 47 projects and 10,140 rooms, while Phuket had 44 projects and 10,352 rooms.
Openings forecast through 2028
A total of 148 hotel projects, adding 20,594 rooms, opened in the APEC region during the first half of 2026. Another 236 projects, accounting for 41,217 rooms, were forecast to open during the third and fourth quarters.
For 2027, Lodging Econometrics projects 374 hotel openings with 68,396 rooms across the region. Its 2028 forecast calls for 363 new hotels and 59,659 rooms.
