According to Lodging Econometrics’ recent U.S. Construction Pipeline Trend Report, Dallas continues to lead all U.S. markets with 184 and 22,861 rooms in its hotel construction pipeline at the close of the first quarter. Atlanta is next with 158 and 17,524 rooms, then Phoenix with 123 and 16,111 rooms, Nashville with 120 and 16,740 rooms and Austin with 117 and 13,850 rooms.
U.S. markets with the greatest number of projects already under construction at Q1 are Dallas with 37 and 4,111 rooms, Phoenix with 36 and 5,096 rooms, and New York with 26 and 4,636 rooms. Miami follows with 24 and 5,317 rooms, and Atlanta has 20 and 2,008 rooms under construction. Phoenix stands out with particularly strong momentum, posting year-over-year gains of 19 percent in projects and 11 percent in rooms under construction.
Dallas also has the most projects scheduled to start within the next 12 months, with 68 and 7,909 rooms. Following Dallas are Atlanta with 61 and 6,748 rooms, Austin with 56 and 6,097 rooms, the Inland Empire with 47 and 4,939 rooms, and Nashville with 46 and 6,583 rooms. In the SN12 project stage, Austin recorded an increase of 19 percent in projects and 14 percent in rooms year-over-year.
At the end of Q1, Dallas again leads the U.S. with the largest number of projects in early planning at 79 and 10,841 rooms. Atlanta follows with 77 and 8,768 rooms, then Nashville with 57 and 7,993 rooms, the Inland Empire with 54 and 5,266 rooms, and Phoenix with 52 and 6,957 rooms. Phoenix had notable growth in this project stage, with year-over-year increases of 13 percent in projects and 28 percent in rooms.
Top Markets
In the top 50 U.S. markets, a total of 75 new projects, accounting for 12,137 rooms, were announced during 2026’s first quarter. The leading markets for new project announcements include Phoenix with 9 and 901 rooms and Tampa with 6 and 694 rooms. New York, Nashville, Chicago, Atlanta, Inland Empire, and Indianapolis each recorded four new project announcements.
Renovation and brand conversion activity remained robust throughout the United States at Q1. Houston leads with the largest count of combined renovation and conversion projects at 35 and 5,336 rooms. Dallas, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. each follow with 31 projects, accounting for 5,430 rooms, 3,836 rooms, and 3,757 rooms, respectively. San Antonio has 30 and 2,881 rooms under renovation or conversion at the close of the first quarter.
Looking Ahead
In the 2026 forecast for new hotel openings, Phoenix tops the list with 27 hotels and 3,640 rooms, followed by New York with 21 new hotels and 3,458 rooms, Dallas with 20 new hotels and 2,328 rooms, and both Austin and the Inland Empire should each have 12 new hotel openings, accounting for 1,693 rooms and 1,024 rooms, respectively.
In the 2027 forecast, LE analysts expect Dallas to lead new hotel openings with 27 new hotels and 2,484 rooms, followed by Atlanta with 24 new hotels and 2,199 rooms, then Phoenix with 17 new hotels and 2,076 rooms. Indianapolis and the Inland Empire round out the top markets with 16 forecasted new hotel openings each, accounting for 2,246 and 1,410 rooms, respectively.