Dec 23, 2025
Everyone talks about FIFA 2026 like it’s a guaranteed win for hotels. The reality is more complicated.
I connected with Bruce Ford of Lodging Econometrics to look at the actual hotel development, renovation, and conversion activity tied to FIFA host cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — and to answer a question hoteliers ask every time a mega-event comes to town: Should you really build for this?
On #NoVacancyNews, Bruce breaks down where hotels are being added, where renovations matter more than new builds, and why most smart owners don’t bet long-term strategy on short-term events.
A big thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com.
What we cover:
⚽: Why FIFA doesn’t drive
hotel demand the way many people assume
🏨: Where full-service hotels make sense — and where they
don’t
🏗️: The difference between building for an event vs. building for a
market
🔄: Why renovations and conversions dominate many host
cities
🏟️: How stadium districts like Dallas, Miami, and Atlanta actually
work
🎓: Why teams and staff often stay in dorms — not
hotels
💰: How owners still capitalize on short bursts of extreme rate
compression