Ahead of World Cup, Boston-area hotel bookings trending up
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Boston-area hotels are seeing more bookings in June and July than they did last summer, despite FIFA's decision to release hotel blocks, according to the city's regional tourism bureau.
Why it matters: The booking estimates suggest that hotels and other businesses do stand to benefit from the World Cup, even though FIFA initially failed to book all the rooms it had set aside, Meet Boston officials said.
Catch up quick: Nearly 80% of hotel respondents in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle reported booking pace falling below expectations and behind a typical summer, according to a recent survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).
- Factors they cited included FIFA room releases and "weak international fan travel."
Yes, but: Meet Boston said in a statement that booking pace trends for June and July are up 5.3% and 11.7%, respectively, compared with last year.
- The AHLA survey based its estimates on rooms released from FIFA blocks, which fell below expectations, a Meet Boston spokesperson said. (Kansas City officials also pushed back against the survey's projections.)
- The AHLA did not respond to emails seeking comment Wednesday.
Zoom out: About 65%–70% of the hotel owners in World Cup host cities that the AHLA surveyed said visa barriers and geopolitical concerns are "significantly suppressing international demand."
- Officials have cited barriers such as the Trump administration's travel ban affecting 19 countries — including Haiti and Iran — and the Visa Bond Pilot Program.
- But President Trump told the Associated Press Wednesday that World Cup ticket holders wouldn't have to pay the bonds, which can cost $5,000-$15,000 per person.
What they're saying: "Even with global anticipation building, the path to the U.S. for many World Cup travelers feels increasingly less like a red-carpet welcome," the AHLA report says.
- High prices for airfare and gas also make the U.S. a more expensive destination compared with past World Cups.