According to the latest Global Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics (LE), a steady increase in construction is expected based on data aggregated from the end of 2016. The global pipeline of 11,776 projects and 2 million guestrooms reflects a 6 percent growth year-over-year (YOY). Projects and guestrooms under construction have also experienced an increase, at 4 percent YOY with 5,504 projects and 1 million guestrooms in the pipeline. Up 21 percent YOY, 3,675 projects and 516,709 guestrooms are scheduled to begin construction in the next 12 months. Projects in early planning saw a 7 percent decrease with 2,597 projects and 432,980 guestrooms.
Marriott International is the leading construction pipeline with 2,190 projects and 368,077 guestrooms. Hilton Worldwide and InterContinental Hotels Group follow with 1,841 projects and 283,326 guestrooms and 1,351 projects and 209,208 guestrooms, respectively.
The U.S. leads the global roomcount with 598,688 guestrooms and 4,960 projects, while China follows with 525,640 guestrooms and 2,340 projects. The countries’ combined portfolios account for 57 percent of the global pipeline. Dubai holds the top spot for cities with 32,899 guestrooms and 117 projects. New York (30,541 rooms in 154 projects), Seoul (30,456 rooms in 154 projects), Shanghai (23,252 in 125 projects), and Sanya, China (22,629 rooms in 60 projects) comprise the remainder of the top five.