Europe & Middle East Hotel Pipeline: Surprising Trends You Need to Know

Europe and the Middle East tell a very different development story from the U.S. — and the numbers show why.

In this episode, Glenn Haussman talks with Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics, about the newest hotel construction pipeline data across Europe and the Middle East. Bruce breaks down the scale of luxury development, why opening dates push into 2027–2028, and how Middle East megaprojects reshape expectations for hotel size, complexity, and timing.

Bruce also explains why Europe is in a major conversion/renovation cycle, how homegrown boutique brands gain chain-scale recognition, and why both regions remain critical for global growth strategies.

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What we cover:

📊 Full-service and luxury pipelines dominating EMEA

🏨 Why construction delays extend typical timelines by nearly a year

🌍 How Middle Eastern megaprojects build entire mixed-use districts

💡 Why Europe trails U.S. trends — and where it’s now catching up

🔧 The rise of conversions and renovations across key cities

🏙️ Which European and Middle Eastern cities lead new development

Your turn:

Which EMEA city do you think will see the biggest surge in hotel openings?