New York City's hotel industry is experiencing a concerning lack of bookings for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, with only 18% of available rooms booked between June 13 (the date of the first match at MetLife Stadium) and July 19 (the final). This figure is notably lower than the 26% booked at the same time last year, a period without any major special events, according to data from CoStar Group Inc. This trend casts doubt on the long-held expectation of a substantial "tournament bump" for the city's hospitality sector.
While FIFA initially projected a $3 billion economic boost for the New York area, based on an assumption of 1.2 million visitors, current data suggests this figure may be overly optimistic. Advanced reservations for World Cup weeks are trending 2% below advance bookings for those same days in 2025. City Comptroller Mark Levine estimates that even with predicted visitor numbers, additional tax revenue would be no more than $55 million, while the city expects to incur $70 million in additional costs for policing and other services.
Julie Coker, CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions, acknowledges that bookings are currently below 2025 levels but remains optimistic, stating that 42% of U.S. travelers and 49% of global travelers have made concrete plans to attend but have not yet booked their accommodations. She anticipates an improvement in bookings after the next ticket sales phase in April. NYC Tourism + Conventions is actively collaborating with bars, restaurants, and cultural attractions across the five boroughs to offer promotions, discounts, and events to attract visitors.
