Record Projects: APEC Hotel Pipeline Climbs to 2,387 Projects at Q1 2026 Close

PORTSMOUTH, NH – May 11, 2026

The Asia Pacific, excluding China (APEC), hotel construction pipeline reached a record-high project count at the close of Q1 2026, according to the latest Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics (LE). The pipeline grew to 2,387 projects and 442,973 rooms, up 15% by projects and 9% by rooms year-over-year (YOY).

Projects under construction totaled 963 projects and 202,877 rooms at quarter’s close, up 10% by projects and 2% by rooms YOY, representing 40% of the total APEC pipeline. Projects scheduled to start construction within the next 12 months rose 18% by projects and 9% by rooms YOY to 386 projects and 72,569 rooms. Early planning stage projects continued their upward trajectory, climbing 19% by projects and 17% by rooms YOY to record-high counts of 1,038 projects and 167,527 rooms. Construction starts for the quarter totaled 144 projects and 25,530 rooms, while 228 new projects were announced into the pipeline in Q1.

Higher-end projects continue to dominate the APEC pipeline at the Q1 2026 close. Luxury projects reached a record-high count of 404 projects and 75,803 rooms, up 16% by projects and 11% by rooms YOY. Upper upscale projects are at 420 projects and 88,303 rooms, growing 13% by projects and 10% by rooms YOY. Upscale projects also reached record highs, closing the quarter at 616 projects and 120,127 rooms, up 18% by projects and 16% by rooms YOY. Upper midscale projects stood at 393 projects and 75,185 rooms, up 11% by projects and 5% by rooms YOY. The midscale chain scale showed the strongest YOY growth, climbing 26% by projects and 21% by rooms to close Q1 at 307 projects and 39,209 rooms.

Conversions in the APEC region also reached record-high totals at the close of Q1, climbing to 353 projects and 57,219 rooms — a substantial 82% increase by projects and 48% by rooms YOY.

India leads the APEC pipeline by a commanding margin, hitting record highs of 940 projects and 124,011 rooms — representing 39% of the entire region’s pipeline. Vietnam ranks second with 258 projects and 87,077 rooms. Japan follows with 221 projects and 33,079 rooms, with Indonesia close behind at 182 projects and 30,679 rooms. Thailand rounds out the top five at 161 projects and 41,812 rooms.

At the city level, Bangkok leads all APEC markets with 68 projects and 16,267 rooms, cementing Thailand’s capital as the region’s most active development hub. Bengaluru follows with 49 projects and 9,945 rooms. Jakarta is third with 47 projects and 10,438 rooms, edging out Mumbai which registered 43 projects and 8,171 rooms. Tokyo rounds out the top five at 43 projects and 5,044 rooms.

Through Q1, APEC had 70 hotels open, accounting for 9,063 rooms. LE anticipates another 302 projects/59,063 rooms will open by year end, with an additional 362 projects/67,962 rooms forecasted to open in 2027.

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SOURCE Lodging Econometrics