IHG Owners Association Launches Confidence Index for U.S. Hotel Market

The index, which debuted in September 2026, scored a 45.2, falling short of the neutral 50-point mark. While traditional industry metrics like CoStar’s RevPAR and GOPPAR projections point toward growth over the next 12 months, property owners report that rising operating costs are effectively neutralizing these gains before they impact the bottom line. This forward-looking barometer aims to capture the pulse of hotel ownership by pairing owner sentiment with objective market forecasts.

Feedback from the association’s diverse membership—which manages portfolios across major brands including Marriott, Hilton, and Wyndham—highlights the specific pressures currently shaping the market. Among those surveyed, 53% pointed to cooling demand and economic uncertainty, while 45% cited inflationary pressures on operating expenses. Steve Sickel, CEO of the IHG Owners Association, noted that this index transforms candid business assessments into a quantifiable market tool. By tracking these shifts quarterly, the association intends to provide a clearer picture of how owner expectations diverge from broader industry projections.