Dallas hotel reservations are increasing for World Cup
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Dallas-Fort Worth is among the U.S. cities seeing the largest increase in inbound flight searches around the time of the World Cup, per a Kayak analysis.
Why it matters: Dallas appears to be a rarity among World Cup host cities. Hotel revenue projections and flight bookings this summer are higher than last year, bucking a trend seen in other cities.
The big picture: Travel restrictions, expensive hotel rates and pricey airfares may keep the expected influx of international visitors away.
- Nearly 70% of hotel owners in U.S. cities hosting the World Cup said geopolitical concerns and visa barriers are "suppressing international demand," according to an American Hotel & Lodging Association survey.
- Hotel bookings are below initial forecasts, the survey found.
State of play: Hotel revenue projections are up 37% for June and 51% for July compared to last year, according to VisitDallas.
- International flight bookings into D-FW are up about 78% over last year, and all June arrival bookings are up almost 25%, per the tourist organization.
Reality check: Even if bookings outperform last year, about 70% of Dallas and Houston hotel owners surveyed said bookings are below expectations for the tournament.
Zoom in: Dallas, Houston and Kansas City are seeing the highest increase in airfare searches compared to last year, per Kayak.
- Travel searches to Dallas on the booking site are up 52% this year compared to 2025.
- Other U.S. tourist hotspots, including Boston (32%) and Seattle (11%), are seeing smaller increases.
What's next: AT&T Stadium hosts its first match June 14.