You might be surprised to hear it given some of the economic and geopolitical news this year, but the big news from the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Forum was a presentation from Jan Freitag, the national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, and Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics, that significantly revised upward their 2026 U.S. hotel forecasts from earlier this year.

For this conversation we’re turning to Freitag and Travel Weekly hospitality editor Christina Jelski to review the new forecast and what’s driving the rosy outlook. We talk about the current shape of the economy, interest in domestic travel, the enduring stability of the upper-end and luxury segment. And as the FIFA World Cup kicks off, we take yet another look at demand around the match cities and how some industry watchers may have been missing the story.

This episode was recorded June 12 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Brendan Vacations https://www.brendanvacations/com/traveladvisors

Related links

Early numbers brighten the 2026 forecast for U.S. hotels https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Early-numbers-brighten-2026-forecast-US-hotels

 Hotel data firms deliver good news at NYU event https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Industry-groups-unveil-revised-2026-US-hotel-forecast

Hotel group says World Cup demand is below expectations https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/World-Cup-demand-is-below-expectations

Folo episode on the World Cup with U.S. Travel's Erik Hanson https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/US-travel-and-FIFA-World-Cup

The USA is on full display https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/USA-on-full-display-250th-anniversary

CoStar Group https://www.costargroup.com/

You might be surprised to hear it given some of the economic and geopolitical news this year, but the big news from the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Forum was a presentation from Jan Freitag, the national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, and Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics, that significantly revised upward their 2026 U.S. hotel forecasts from earlier this year.
For this conversation we&rsquo;re turning to Freitag and Travel Weekly hospitality editor Christina Jelski to review the new forecast and what&rsquo;s driving the rosy outlook. We talk about the current shape of the economy, interest in domestic travel, the enduring stability of the upper-end and luxury segment. And as the FIFA World Cup kicks off, we take yet another look at demand around the match cities and how some industry watchers may have been missing the story.
This episode was recorded June 12 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Brendan Vacations <a href="https://www.brendanvacations.com/en-us/travel-advisors">https://www.brendanvacations/com/traveladvisors</a>
Related links
Early numbers brighten the 2026 forecast for U.S. hotels <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Early-numbers-brighten-2026-forecast-US-hotels">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Early-numbers-brighten-2026-forecast-US-hotels</a>
&nbsp;Hotel data firms deliver good news at NYU event&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Industry-groups-unveil-revised-2026-US-hotel-forecast">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Industry-groups-unveil-revised-2026-US-hotel-forecast</a>
Hotel group says World Cup demand is below expectations <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/World-Cup-demand-is-below-expectations">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/World-Cup-demand-is-below-expectations</a>
Folo episode on the World Cup with U.S. Travel's Erik Hanson&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/US-travel-and-FIFA-World-Cup">https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/US-travel-and-FIFA-World-Cup</a>
The USA is on full display <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/USA-on-full-display-250th-anniversary">https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/USA-on-full-display-250th-anniversary</a>
CoStar Group <a href="https://www.costargroup.com/">https://www.costargroup.com/</a>

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.