NYC and Phoenix Lead U.S. Hotel Boom with Major Room Openings Set for 2026

Delano SoHo New York to open spring 2026 in New York – Image Credit Accor
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New York City and Phoenix are projected to add the most new hotel rooms in the U.S. by 2026, signaling robust growth in key travel markets.

Nationwide, hotel openings are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, with nearly 100,000 new rooms set to open in 2026.

The U.S. hotel industry is gearing up for a significant expansion, with New York City and Phoenix at the forefront of projected 2026 room openings. According to recent CoStar data, these two cities will lead the nation in hotel growth, reflecting renewed confidence in travel and tourism.

New York City is expected to add 4,852 hotel rooms, maintaining its top spot for the second consecutive year. Phoenix follows closely with 3,650 new rooms, while Dallas, Orlando, and Miami round out the top five markets with 3,558, 1,988, and 1,954 rooms, respectively.

“For a second consecutive year, New York City leads the nation in expected new-build openings,” said Isaac Collazo, senior director of analytics at STR, a division of CoStar. “This shouldn’t be a surprise given that the market has also led the country in occupancy for the last three years. That said, both room supply and room demand are still lower today than they were in 2019, showing there is still opportunity for further growth.”

The national outlook for hotel development is optimistic. In 2025, the U.S. is set to open 749 hotels with 79,116 rooms. The momentum continues into 2026, with projections of 891 hotels and 99,011 rooms opening—numbers that bring the industry back to pre-pandemic levels. Looking ahead to 2027, the pipeline is even stronger, with 1,688 hotels and nearly 192,000 rooms anticipated.

“While U.S. hotel development has been slow, there is still optimism around the industry based on the record number of projects in the pipeline,” Collazo added. “It’s not surprising that 2025 saw the largest number of new openings since 2021, and 2026 openings are expected to be back to the pre-pandemic level.”

This surge in hotel openings underscores the resilience of the travel and hospitality sector, as cities across the country prepare to welcome more visitors and meet growing demand for accommodations.