CoStar has revised its 2026 U.S. hotel RevPAR forecast upward and now predicts 2.8% growth for the year, a concrete signal that the industry is rebounding from a disappointing prior year as executives gathered in New York City for the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum.

The event, held May 31 to June 2, drew the chief executives of the world's largest hotel companies onto a single stage on Day 1. Chris Nassetta of Hilton, Mark Hoplamazian of Hyatt Hotels Corp., Sébastien Bazin of Accor and Elie Maalouf of IHG Hotels & Resorts discussed hotel performance, economic concerns, international markets and artificial intelligence in a session moderated by CNBC's Sara Eisen.

Their message was broadly consistent: every year brings new disruptions, but operators worldwide can adapt — and this year, several of the headwinds that weighed on 2025 performance have turned into tailwinds heading into the summer season.

Jan Freitag of CoStar Group presented the updated industry forecast on a panel alongside Suzy O'Mara of Deloitte and Michael Grove of HotStats. The numbers discussion carried through to CoStar's own podcast, "Tell Me More: A Hospitality Data Podcast," where hosts described a "very strong" first quarter that has hoteliers and analysts aligned on expectations for a good summer.

Consumer spending and a strong labor market underpin the full-year expectations, with ancillary revenue generators such as food and beverage, golf, and spa and wellness contributing to better-than-expected U.S. hotel performance. Freitag flagged that while the industry outlook has improved, margin worries remain.

For dealmakers, the financing picture is brightening. Kevin Davis of JLL Hotels said a lower cost of debt is the main driver of an increased U.S. transaction pace, with favorable lending conditions making it easier for hotel buyers to secure good financing terms. On a capital markets panel, Emily Feeney of Noble Investment Group and Michael Bluhm of Jefferies expressed confidence in capital market trends, with experts pointing to upscale and lifestyle properties as the most favorable hotel investment opportunities.

Developers are also tapping alternative financing channels. Peachtree Group's EB-5 lending program has fully funded projects including the under-construction Scoundrel, a Tribute Portfolio by Marriott hotel, while lenders say EB-5 and CPACE debt options are increasingly filling gaps in hotel project capital stacks.

Artificial intelligence ran through the conference agenda. Anna Scozzafava of Choice Hotels International and Umar Riaz of EY discussed AI's expanding role in hospitality investment and operations, and hoteliers reported that guest-facing tools such as chatbots are already making a tangible impact in the U.S. hotel industry.

Brand-level strategy sessions addressed shifting demand patterns. Larry Cuculic of BWH Hotels spoke alongside Aimbridge Hospitality's Craig Smith about adapting sales strategies amid lower-than-expected World Cup travel demand — a reminder that event-driven projections do not always convert into bookings. On the brand CEO panel, executives examined why travel demand has spiked, a trend they described as difficult to fully explain.

On the growth side, Hyatt's Julienne Smith said past acquisitions position the company to expand on its advantage in all-inclusive resorts, with Latin America a priority. Accor's Omer Acar, CEO of Fairmont and Raffles, argued that luxury guests remember "how we make them feel," framing emotional delivery as the differentiator in the luxury segment. A Marriott International executive emphasized that because high-end hotel projects can take years from start to finish, conversions play an important role in growing the company's portfolio.

Smaller players are also repositioning. Rebel Hotel Company is targeting growth in ultra luxury, a strategy shift that reflects investor interest in smaller, higher-end hotels. Virgin Hotels Collection Chief Development Officer Greg Doman identified Orlando and Miami as target markets and said the brand seeks synergies with its parent company's other businesses.

Ownership-side tactics extended to asset management. Hoteliers said they are maximizing property value through strategic repositionings, with food-and-beverage and spa outlets the most common targets for revenue growth through renovation.

Investment firms voiced longer-term conviction. Peregrine's CEO argued that no matter the downturn, hotels and travel always bounce back, and the company's leadership sees opportunities to grow this year on a more robust pipeline. Rockbridge, a Columbus, Ohio-based investment firm active in the independent, luxury-lifestyle segment, laid out plans to grow its hospitality platform beyond hotels.

With the revised 2.8% RevPAR forecast on the table, cheaper debt lubricating transactions, and executives aligned on a strong summer, the industry enters the second half of 2026 with expectations — and capital — pointing in the same direction.