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Survey: Rising Cost, Staffing Challenges Persist For Hotels

A new AHLA survey finds that rising operating costs and staffing shortages remain the biggest challenges for hotel owners, despite expectations that travel demand in 2026 will stay relatively steady. Hoteliers cite expenses like labor, supplies, energy, and insurance as major pressures, while more than half report being understaffed and are offering higher wages and added benefits to attract workers. As the U.S. prepares for major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, industry leaders say addressing workforce and cost issues will be critical, especially with some early bookings already tracking below expectations.