According to Lodging Econometrics’ (LE’s) Construction Pipeline Trend Report for the United States, the total U.S. construction pipeline stands at 4,967 projects/622,218 rooms at the end of Q1‘21. While this is a slight dip in the pipeline year-over-year (YOY), it’s not unexpected given the lockdown and travel restrictions over the past year. Further, the pipeline shows no signs of great decline compared to what occurred during the ’08 and ’09 recession. Actually, projects and rooms in the early planning stage are up significant YOY (stats on this below).
Although hotel development may still be tepid in Q1, continued government support and the extension of programs has aided many businesses to get back on their feet as more and more are working to re-staff and re-open.
To date, nearly half of the eligible population is at least partially vaccinated, leading to an ease in requirements regarding group gatherings and indoor activities. Clinical trials of vaccines for children (ages 12 to 15) have been highly effective and look very promising for another strong vaccine wave. Additionally, the CDC has announced that, so long as people continue to take COVID-19 precautions, fully vaccinated people are now safe to travel domestically. Americans are becoming more optimistic about summer travel and are making plans now. As a result, operating performance is expected to soar late this spring, summer, and fall.
At the end of Q1 ’21, projects currently under construction stand at 1,311 projects/179,304 rooms. Projects under construction continue to move towards opening. Through year-end 2020, the U.S. opened 841 projects accounting for 97,959 rooms. A total of 229 hotels/27,528 rooms opened in the first quarter of 2021. As delayed Q4 opens are coming online, LE is forecasting 691 projects/81,866 rooms to open by the end of 2021, representing a 2.0% increase in new hotel supply. For all of 2022, LE is forecasting 963 projects/111,235 rooms to open and a 2.0% supply increase.
Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months total 1,866 projects/215,911 rooms. Of the 1,866 projects scheduled to begin in the next 12 months, 26.8% of these belong to extended-stay brands, a segment of the industry that developers have become increasingly interested in over the last few years. Projects in the early planning stage stand at 1,790 projects/227,003 rooms, up 10% by projects and 14% by rooms YOY.
Additionally, there were a total of 1,198 projects/190,475 rooms under renovation or conversion in the U.S. during the first quarter. This is a small decline after seeing a slight increase at the end of 2020.
Related Stories
Market Data | Mar 29, 2017
Contractor confidence ends 2016 down but still in positive territory
Although all three diffusion indices in the survey fell by more than five points they remain well above the threshold of 50, which signals that construction activity will continue to be one of the few significant drivers of economic growth.
Market Data | Mar 24, 2017
These are the most and least innovative states for 2017
Connecticut, Virginia, and Maryland are all in the top 10 most innovative states, but none of them were able to claim the number one spot.
Market Data | Mar 22, 2017
After a strong year, construction industry anxious about Washington’s proposed policy shifts
Impacts on labor and materials costs at issue, according to latest JLL report.
Market Data | Mar 22, 2017
Architecture Billings Index rebounds into positive territory
Business conditions projected to solidify moving into the spring and summer.
Market Data | Mar 15, 2017
ABC's Construction Backlog Indicator fell to end 2016
Contractors in each segment surveyed all saw lower backlog during the fourth quarter, with firms in the heavy industrial segment experiencing the largest drop.
Market Data | Feb 28, 2017
Leopardo’s 2017 Construction Economics Report shows year-over-year construction spending increase of 4.2%
The pace of growth was slower than in 2015, however.
Market Data | Feb 23, 2017
Entering 2017, architecture billings slip modestly
Despite minor slowdown in overall billings, commercial/ industrial and institutional sectors post strongest gains in over 12 months.
Market Data | Feb 16, 2017
How does your hospital stack up? Grumman/Butkus Associates 2016 Hospital Benchmarking Survey
Report examines electricity, fossil fuel, water/sewer, and carbon footprint.
Market Data | Feb 1, 2017
Nonresidential spending falters slightly to end 2016
Nonresidential spending decreased from $713.1 billion in November to $708.2 billion in December.
Market Data | Jan 31, 2017
AIA foresees nonres building spending increasing, but at a slower pace than in 2016
Expects another double-digit growth year for office construction, but a more modest uptick for health-related building.
