U.S. travel spending has rebounded sharply after a record decline in 2020, driven by pent-up demand for domestic accommodations. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, spending on hotels surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and reached record highs in 2023 and 2024. The number of hotel establishments has continued to grow, with thousands of new properties opening nationwide.
However, while hotel growth has been strong since 2019, employment in the sector has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels due to persistent hiring challenges. Larger, full-service hotels and casino hotels have seen the most growth, while smaller accommodation types like bed-and-breakfast inns have faced challenges.
Regionally, hotel growth has been strongest in the South, with Michigan and Idaho leading in percentage increases. The Northeast has seen the slowest growth, with New England recording a net decline in hotels since 2019.
In Rhode Island, hotel growth has seen a 3.6% increase, with a 16.2% decline in the number of hotel employees. Nationally, the U.S. has seen a 7.3% increase in the number of hotels, but a 9.8% decline in hotel employment.
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