There’s the stomach drop of an intense roller coaster, and then there’s the stomach churn of checking your bank account after a day at a theme park. Both visceral, though they don’t have to go hand in hand.
Many of the nation’s favorite theme parks are more expensive than ever.
FinanceBuzz.com reports that single-day tickets to the 20 most popular theme parks in North America have increased 37% since 2015. For Disney Parks alone, admission prices have climbed 69% over the last decade, a steep increase for what was long considered a family staple.
The good news: budget-conscious travelers have options. Here are ten of the best affordable theme parks in the U.S. worth a visit this summer, each delivering a premium day of fun and thrills without the sticker shock.
1 OF 10
WHERE: Elysburg, Pennsylvania
Knoebels is a much-loved and most unusual theme park located in a wooded valley in central Pennsylvania, about three hours from Philadelphia and New York City. The park is the largest free-admission park in the U.S., with free parking and entertainment, an extreme rarity among major amusement parks. Guests can purchase individual ride tickets or opt for all-day ride wristbands starting at $50 ($30 for guests under 48″).
What sets this old-school Americana park apart is its remarkable line-up of homemade coasters and thrill rides. The park’s most coveted coaster is Phoenix, a rollicking and rickety wooden coaster that dates back to 1947. It’s the coaster’s final moments of quick drops and sharp crests featuring forceful ejector airtime moments that send thrill seekers into complete ecstasy. Another coaster highlight is the park’s Flying Turns, a custom-crafted wooden bobsled roller coaster that is a stunning engineering achievement and delivers unsuspecting, thrilling g-forces and speed. Flat rides like the park’s Grand Carousel (1913) and The Whip (1915) are some of the country’s oldest flat rides still operating.
The food here thrills, too. Homemade pierogies, giant cinnamon buns, and fresh-cut fries have garnered this park the
Golden Ticket Award winner for Best Amusement Park Food many times over. Experience this authentic, family-run park where nostalgia isn’t manufactured; it’s simply the way things have always been done.
2 OF 10
WHERE: Santa Claus, Indiana
Holiday World is one of the country’s most wholesome and nostalgic theme parks, renowned for its top coasters and charming theming. Unlike giant corporate parks, this remote park about an hour west of Louisville feels more like a Midwestern backyard holiday celebration that stretches across 125 acres. Tickets start at $44.99 for single-day passes, with the best savings when you purchase online at least a day in advance. The park is a budget-friendly draw with many free perks, including soft drinks, sunscreen, and parking, which is a rarity among other major theme parks in the U.S.
Owned and operated by the same family for decades, the park prides itself on a personal, guest-focused culture. Team members are known for greeting guests enthusiastically and going out of their way to help.
The park encompasses four themed holiday sections: Thanksgiving, Halloween, Fourth of July, and Christmas sections, each with thrill rides, decorations, music, and food. However, it’s the park’s wooden roller coasters that draw the crowds. Strap in for the incredible forces of The Voyage, The Raven, and The Legend, all of which pull remarkable forces as they race through the back woods of the park, and all best experienced in the mystical dark of the night.
PHOTO: gsheldon/iStock
3 OF 10
WHERE: Hershey, Pennsylvania
What started in 1906 as a leisure park for employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company and their families has ballooned into one of the country’s most beloved theme parks and a roller coaster powerhouse. There are 15 roller coasters that snake through the park’s grounds, along with several world-class rides, all for a reasonable ticket price starting at $47.99, with parking at $25.
About two hours from Philadelphia and three hours from New York City, Hersheypark draws families nearly year-round with major festivals, including a Hersheypark Halloween festival and Hersheypark Christmas Candylane, one of the largest holiday celebrations in the country.
Highlights among the roller coaster lineup include
Wildcat’s Revenge, which won the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster of 2023. The modern Rocky Mountain Construction hybrid coaster is an unrelenting 2-minute-and-36-second rush that features four hair-raising inversions and speeds of up to 62 mph. Another top attraction is Candymonium, the park’s tallest and fastest coaster. The coaster reaches speeds up to 76 mph as it barrels down a 216-foot drop before heading into an inversion-free track with plenty of airtime moments.
Budget-conscious travelers will appreciate the added bonus of Hershey’s Chocolate World next door. Here, visitors can ride the chocolate factory tour for free with a sweet ending that includes a sample of Hershey’s chocolate.
4 OF 10
WHERE: Branson, Missouri
Travel back to the charm, grit, and thrills of an 1880s frontier town in the Ozark Mountains by way of Silver Dollar City. The park’s origin story is unusually authentic, as it all started with the epic scale of
Marvel Cave. The natural cavern first began welcoming tourists in 1894. To this day, Marvel Cave is open to park guests with an hour-long tour included with the price of admission.
Silver Dollar City makes the list as a budget-friendly park, with park tickets starting at $65 and top savings available on select days when purchased online 24 hours in advance. The park offers free general parking with a complimentary shuttle service to the front gate.
The park’s charm comes from its wooden storefronts with live demonstrations by artisans (think blacksmiths, glassblowing, and basket weaving), costumed city citizens, and music drifting through the streets.
The park features a surprising line-up of world-class coasters. The genre-defining Time Traveler is one of the world’s fastest spinning coasters and a modern marvel of engineering. The award-winning Fire in the Hole indoor family coaster follows the Baldknobbers vigilantes as the local town is set ablaze. The ride builds to a surprising finale splashdown where you’re most certain to get wet from the first few rows.
PHOTO: Courtesy of Kentucky Kingdom
5 OF 10
Kentucky Kingdom
WHERE: Louisville, Kentucky
A rare theme park comeback story, Kentucky Kingdom sat abandoned for years after its abrupt 2009 closure. In 2014, local developer Ed Hart, the park’s original founder, reopened the park with refurbished rides and new attractions. Since then, the park has been a major regional draw, thanks to its affordable prices and signature thrill rides. The atmosphere here is more akin to a classic regional amusement park than a bucket-list theme park, though it punches above its weight with its strong coaster lineup and lively water park. Daily tickets start as low as $29.99, and parking is $15 per car.
Storm Chaser is the park’s signature roller coaster, renowned for its aggressive airtime and rapid transitions. This summer, the park welcomes its first new roller coaster since 2019, the Flying Fox. The all-new suspended family roller coaster will be the park’s sixth coaster, with speeds that reach a pleasant 37 mph, designed for riders at least 38 inches tall. The other coaster highlight here is Lightning Run, a steel coaster that reaches speeds of up to 55 mph as it coasts through nine airtime moments.
PHOTO: Aaron of L.A. Photography/Shutterstock
6 OF 10
Mt. Olympus
WHERE: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Dells is the ultimate roadside family vacation town, about two hours northwest of Milwaukee. Its claim to fame is that it’s the “Waterpark Capital of the World,” with massive indoor and outdoor parks, along with many go-kart tracks, ornate mini golf courses, haunted houses, fudge shops, arcades, and giant themed resorts.
Mt. Olympus is the go-to theme park here, with its sprawling Greek mythology-themed coaster and water park complex, an ideal fit for the chaotic roadside fun of Wisconsin Dells. The water and theme park are free with a stay at the resort, which ranges from $120 to $250+ per night. Staying overnight is the ideal value play, especially if you’re traveling in a group, as water and theme park tickets start at $65, with parking around $40 per day for visitors (often included for overnight resort guests).
The roller coaster lineup at Mt. Olympus is surprisingly intense and an incredible value, with four major wooden coasters packed tightly together. Hades 360 is the park’s signature coaster, featuring a massive underground tunnel that runs beneath the parking lot and a unique 360-degree roll. The other top wood coasters here are Zeus, which packs plenty of great airtime moments, and Cyclops, known for its surprise second drop.
7 OF 10
Dollywood
WHERE: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Dollywood is a rare and all-encompassing tribute to music legend
Dolly Parton, spanning more than 160 acres in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The park is located just 10 miles from the humble beginnings of Dolly Parton’s birthplace and childhood. Today, the sprawling theme park consistently ranks among the best regional parks in the world, with several exhibits and live shows that showcase and honor Ms. Parton and her legacy, as well as thrilling roller coasters, music, crafts, food, and a distinctly authentic sense of Appalachian culture.
Dollywood is the most expensive park on the list, with day tickets starting at $94.99 and an additional $25 per day (plus tax) for all vehicles. It remains a budget-friendly park, as Pigeon Forge is much more affordable than other major tourist destinations in the U.S. Budget motels in the area start at $50 per night, while mid-range hotels start at $120 per night.
The park balances major thrill rides with many family attractions, and days packed with live entertainment. Lightning Rod is a thrilling wooden hybrid coaster that reaches speeds of up to 73 mph as it weaves its way around the mountaintop before pummeling back toward the station with remarkable vigor. New this season will be NightFlight Expedition, a $50 million indoor adventure coaster that is part roller coaster, part whitewater rafting excursion, taking guests through more than 500,000 gallons of surging water.
8 OF 10
Fun Spot America
WHERE: Kissimmee, Florida
A more affordable theme park option in the Orlando area, Fun Spot America is a welcome alternative to its world-renowned neighboring parks. With tickets starting at $59.95 per day and free parking, Fun Spot America offers an ideal, less expensive day of family-friendly fun.
Mine Blower is the park’s most notable wooden coaster, featuring an 80‑foot inversion, making it one of the few of its kind in Florida and a rare thrill in the Southeast. Other top thrills include one of the world’s tallest Skycoasters at about 300 ft, offering riders a wild free-fall swing akin to skydiving, along with many arcade games and affordable all‑day fun. Fun Spot is also known for its intricate, multi‑level go‑kart track and optimal views of the Orlando area from the park’s large Ferris wheel.
9 OF 10
Kings Island
WHERE: Cincinnati, Ohio
Kings Island is one of the most historic and celebrated theme parks in the U.S., drawing crowds outside of Cincinnati since 1972. The park encompasses 364 acres with a mix of 15 roller coasters (many of them world-class) and numerous distinct attractions, including an iconic Eiffel Tower replica that has been a centerpiece of the storied park since day one. The park is surprisingly affordable with a “Good Any Day Ticket” starting at $45, though parking comes at a premium price of $35 per vehicle.
The Beast remains the all-time wooden coaster legend, thrilling riders with its terrain coaster design since 1979. More than 40 years later, The Beast still holds the record for the longest wooden coaster in the world at over 7,361 ft as it bolts deep into the woods. Banshee is a more modern coaster highlight of the park, and another world record holder, the longest inverted roller coaster in the world, with 4,124 ft of track. Nostalgic highlights include The Grand Carousel, a vintage 1926 Philadelphia Toboggan Company classic transplanted from Coney Island, and The Racer, a 1972 racing wooden coaster kept in great condition.
PHOTO: Courtesy of Wild Adventures
10 OF 10
Wild Adventures
WHERE: Valdosta, Georgia
Combining thrill rides, exotic animals, live shows, seasonal festivals, and a big water park all included with admission, Wild Adventures is a unique regional theme park offering top value for a day of family fun. Wild Adventures is a remote, destination park located near the borderline of Georgia and Florida, situated about a 1:45 drive from Jacksonville. Tickets for the park start at $46 per day (plus taxes), and parking is $18 per vehicle.
The park is known for a few great coasters, including the Twisted Typhoon suspended looping coaster and its classic Boomerang shuttle coaster. It’s on-premise Splash Island is a big draw during the warmer months, as the 27‑acre Polynesian‑themed water park features several giant speed slides, a large wave pool, and an expansive lazy river.
The zoo experiences further drive home the park’s value, with hundreds of exotic animals on display and a Safari Train that doubles as a wildlife tour. The park also hosts big-name music acts regularly throughout the summer months, always included with your park admission ticket.
Courtesy United Airlines
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/united-airlines-to-offer-economy-class-beds
United’s new Relax Row brings lie-flat beds, custom bedding, and extra perks to economy class on select long-haul flights.
United Airlines is taking a page from Air New Zealand’s long-haul playbook. The airline will introduce its new
United Relax Row on select Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 flights in 2027.
Air New Zealand introduced the concept over 15 years ago on its own long-haul flights as
Economy Skycouch. Almost immediately after it introduced the concept on its own flights, it said it would
license the design—which was developed by the airline in-house and is proprietary—to other airlines, as long as they weren’t in direct competition.
Now, United will introduce the seating for its own passengers, dedicating up to 12 United Relax Row sections per aircraft. The airline estimates it will have the new seating installed on over 200 widebody aircraft by 2030.
The seats are outfitted with leg rests that fold completely out, turning a block of three seats into a narrow platform, large enough for an adult to stretch out and sleep. United will also outfit passengers purchasing this option with a custom-fitted mattress pad, a specially sized plush blanket, two additional pillows, as well as a plush toy and Children’s Travel Kit for families (there’s no word on whether the plush will be
available on request for adults).
“As a leading premium airline, we’re committed to delivering new, industry-leading experiences for all of our customers–and the United Relax Row is the perfect example of that. Customers traveling in United Economy on long-haul flights deserve an option for more space and comfort, and this is one way we can deliver that for them,” said Andrew Nocella, United’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “United is the only North American airline offering a product like the United Relax Row and is one of the many reasons why we’re continuing to win brand loyal customers.”
United also holds North American exclusivity on the design, meaning it can’t be licensed to another carrier based on that continent. On Air New Zealand flights, Skycouch seat extensions can’t be extended by passengers who haven’t paid the fee—only flight attendants have access to extend the seats, a procedure that will likely be duplicated by United. The seats can be sold as regular economy seats if there are no takers for Skycouch.
United has not yet announced pricing on the product or announced which routes will be the first to offer it. Air New Zealand sells Skycouch as a seat upgrade for economy passengers. It generally runs $1,100 to $2,000 per row for a long-haul flight, and can be booked for one or two passengers.
A recent check on a flight from Los Angeles to Auckland found that for one person, the cost of Skycouch effectively doubled the cost of an Economy Class ticket, from $1,100 to $2,200, still making it cheaper than a $2,600 premium economy seat or an $8,100 business class seat. For two passengers, the cost of Skycouch for the same flight was only $544 (because Skycouch would take only one seat out of inventory that could otherwise be sold to another passenger, compared to two seats for a solo passenger), making the cost per passenger $1,393.
United has similarly not released details on whether Relax Row seats would be available as a benefit for MileagePlus Premier members, either at a discount, or buyable with MileagePlus Miles or PlusPoints.
Separately, United also announced it will add more than 250 new aircraft in the next two years, including “Coastliner” Airbus A321neo aircraft to operate premium flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Newark/New York from Summer 2026, offering lie-flat United Polaris seats and Polaris lounge access. Airbus A321XLR aircraft outfitted with lie-flat United Polaris will debut this summer on “thinner” routes to Europe and South America.
United will also introduce a “reimagined” regional jet, the CRJ450. A 50-seat Canadair regional jet reconfigured to seat 41 passengers, with a large United First cabin with the overhead bins removed in favor of a luggage closet for more overhead space in the United First cabin. The United Economy cabin will have bins large enough to accommodate rollaboard bags—long a pain point for travelers on this aircraft type.
Sébastien Bazin shares why he recently visited Accor's hotels United Arab Emirates
Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin (right) discussed the global hotel industry and addressed the Middle East crisis at the International Hotel Investment Forum EMEA. Also pictured is with Monika Jones of Deutsche Welle. (Terence Baker)
https://www.costar.com/article/517002687/accor-ceo-acknowledges-reality-of-travel-to-middle-east-amid-conflict
BERLIN — Much of the Western world is closely following the latest on the Iran war, worryingly checking the news for updates on the Middle East. But Accor Chairman and CEO Sébastien Bazin decided he needed to do more.
Rather than stay at Accor's global headquarters in Paris, Bazin — a nearly 13-year veteran chief executive — flew to the United Arab Emirates to check on Accor's hotel employees.
“Our staff members are under stress, [so I could not] stay in [my Paris] office,” he said during a keynote address at this week's International Hotel Investment Forum EMEA. “I wanted to have a view on what is going on. You learn 10 times more, and you learn something new.
“I just asked, 'Can I just be part of it?' It was not about exploiting the situation. I just had something in my stomach, and I had to go.”
Bazin said he remains confident in the resiliency of the global hotel industry, and that optimism includes the Middle East despite its recent crises.
“Anywhere there is an attack, it is 24/7 in the news. [Headlines such as] ‘Dubai on fire,’ and ‘Abu Dhabi on fire.’ Of course, it is scary, but it is not on fire,” he said.
In such tense situations, leaders — whether they're in business or in government — need to prove their worth and make their vision clear to all stakeholders, Bazin said. Accor's portfolio includes approximately 5,800 hotels with 880,000 rooms. Companywide, Accor employs approximately 360,000 staff members.
“One needs a three-year plan,” Bazin added. “I have now had four. … Do not change course. Don’t stop. Do not leave people behind, and do not exit a country. It is about longevity, trust and care.”
He added it is easy to sell hotels and exit a particular country that's in crisis, but that is a huge mistake that takes a lot of time to rectify.
“It is easy to stay in the good days. Anyone can do that. I may develop a little less in some markets, but I never change course,” Bazin said.
The global hotel industry is keeping pace with the developing world, Bazin said.
Europe might be a mature hotel market, and India might be a developing hotel market, but the growth runway for both is notable, he said.
“India’s potential is immense. … We’ve all been there for 25 years, and we failed in terms of scale, [as] it took us decades to get to where we are now,” Bazin said.
India’s technology prowess and growing airline industry are two levers that will propel growth in a country where internationally branded hotel firms remain far from reaching the same market share they enjoy in most other places.
To expand in India, global hotel brands need to “trust the people on the ground. Give them the keys,” Bazin said.
“The good news is we are all going to win,” he added.
Bazin also said Europe is not saturated with too many hotels.
“Europe has Paris, London, Berlin. Half the tourists in any European capital are Europeans, as we want to travel to these places,” he said.
Yet there are tourism markets even in Europe where Accor have not penetrated with scale.
“Accor never got a crack at Scandinavia, and we sort of missed Spain. In Italy, 95% of all hotels are non-branded, and in Italy, that works just fine,” he said. “Where we are growing the fastest is Poland. They accept crises, they are welcoming, and they are hard-working.”
Change is constant, and global hoteliers are used to change. Across hospitality itself, booking lead times are dropping even more dramatically and AI is taking a more dominant role with every month.
Bazin said AI has the potential to help decrease guests’ travel anxieties, especially with 60% of them now choosing a destination 12 days before they arrive.
In April, Accor will launch its first yacht, the 54-berth Orient Express Corinthian. Bazin said the first seven bookings of the yacht were full buyouts.
A sister ship will launch in 2027, with both yachts nodding at the grandeur of travel in the years between 1925 and 1935.
“Everything was refined [then]. We have let that go,” Bazin added.
Rodeo gives market an annual boost, but there's more going on in the city
Ahead of being a host city for the World Cup and the emerging potential for more convention business, Houston's downtown hotels see promise. (Getty Images)
https://www.costar.com/article/677894311/houston-hotel-market-saddles-up-to-ride-wave-of-spring-momentum
Every year in March, the city of Houston brings in an influx of visitors to its annual three-week Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
But the 21-day sports and concert series isn't the only demand driver that typically makes March one of the top months for hotel demand in the city — business conferences and spring break trips also bring in visitors every year.
"March is a great month for Houston," said Navid Karedia, co-founder and principal of SLTX Capital, a hospitality-focused private equity firm based in the Houston area. "There's a lot of things happening here in March, just getting out of January and February, which are always slow months here in Houston. Having that rodeo [kick] off the year is great."
Didio Pequeno, CoStar's director of hospitality market analytics, said that in March 2025, Houston had 67.7% occupancy, which was the highest month of the entire year — a trend that's been common in previous years.
This March was particularly strong, with Visit Houston reporting that hotel bookings are up 15% this month compared to March 2025. While Houston airports has been disproportionately plagued by long lines and other delays due to the partial government shutdown, the effect to hotel occupancy is yet to be determined.
"It's been building for years, but this month of March was something special," Mayor John Whitmire told Houston's local ABC affiliate. "It's proven to be the best month of March in Houston's history. Houston's been discovered."
More than 2.6 million people visited the rodeo this year, with the highest daily attendee count reaching over 185,000. The rodeo has evolved over its 90-year history from simply selling cattle to include activities that range from carnival rides, watching baby lambs and pigs take their first steps at the birthing center, tasting more than 75 award-winning wines at the wine garden, or browsing hundreds of shops and food vendors selling items such as chicken fried lobster, a bacon cheeseburger corn dog or homemade gumbo from Tina Knowles, the mother of hometown superstar Beyonce.
Every night after rodeo athletes compete in events such as bull riding and barrel racing, an entertainer, such as Lizzo, Creed, Kelly Clarkson or Tim McGraw, performs for a crowd of up to 70,000 on the dirt's rotating stage to end the show.
While the event mostly attracts locals, nearly a third of rodeo goers were visitors to the greater Houston area, including travelers representing 75 countries, according to the 2024 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Economic Impact Study.
With that many people coming into town, it's absolutely a demand generator for hotels in the city — but especially for ones in the submarkets nearest to the rodeo grounds, said Karedia, adding that there's just not a notable citywide compression during March as it pertains to the rodeo.
But for the hotels near the rodeo, which takes place at NRG Park, a multi-building complex sitting on 350 acres southwest of downtown Houston, it's "highly underrated as far as demand generators across the country," said Lisa Fuentes, vice president of strategy at ZaZa Hospitality.
"It's three straight weeks of, for us, sustained occupancy lift. The whole event is so immersive," she said, adding that the rodeo attracts attendees from those looking for family fun to corporate entertainment opportunities.
Fuentes said the company's two hotels each see demand driven from the rodeo, but the Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District, located 3 miles from NRG and directly on Houston's MetroRail, is especially primed to benefit each year.
"I think the energy of the rodeo season is something we want guests to feel on property, even if their schedule doesn't allow them to spend the whole day on the rodeo grounds," she said. "It's a great opportunity to showcase Houston's personality, and the ZaZa is the right backdrop for that."
At both hotels, Fuentes said the team leans into the rodeo season to extend the experience within the hotel for guests or even locals who want to eat dinner or have a drink before heading to the event.
Downtown Houston's potential
Not all parts of Houston are created equally. Some submarkets in the greater Houston area continue to struggle, especially ones that don't see the lift from being nearby the rodeo grounds or downtown's convention activity.
"Certain pockets of Houston are doing far better than others," Karedia said. "I think it always depends on hotels. It's all about your basis and what submarket you're in. And so I think overall, Houston is in a good spot."
Pequeno said that of Houston's 11 submarkets, 10 saw a decline in revenue per available room last year — the exception being the Galleria area, which is home to the Houston Galleria and a significant portion of office space.
Downtown Houston shows a lot of promise, and Karedia mentioned a few ongoing projects that give him hope the submarket will see more demand. Baseball is starting up again, and the Houston Astros owner Jim Crane previously announced a fan-focused redevelopment project, but details and a timeline still haven't materialized.
The George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston is currently undergoing phase one of its $2 billion expansion and renovation project. The initial project includes expanding the footprint of the center.
Lastly, the Main Street Promenade project, a $12 million, pedestrian-friendly redevelopment plan, is expected to complete ahead of the World Cup.
"There's a lot of synergy, there's a lot of excitement in downtown that we're bullish on," Karedia said. "I think there's going to be continued demand in the coming years in downtown."
Karedia's firm has three downtown Houston hotels in its pipeline. The dual-branded Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites Houston Downtown is expected to open next month and its Canopy by Hilton Downtown Houston — a historical renovation project — is in final planning with construction expected to begin this summer.
Even though the downtown submarket's RevPAR was down 1.7% last year compared to 2024, citywide RevPAR was actually down 8%, Pequeno said, and the submarket ranked as the third-best performing in the city.
In February, according to Houston First, the downtown submarket had nearly 70% occupancy, an increase of 4%, while average daily rate rose 5% to $266 and RevPAR was up almost 10% to $185.
Another impact that Fuentes observed is that while Houston's downtown convention area is undergoing renovations, its current phase is less disruptive than ongoing projects to Dallas and Austin's projects, which have each city's convention center partially or completely closed, respectively. This means that Houston is well-positioned to attract convention business otherwise hosted in those cities.
Earlier this year, Houston hosted the National Cheer Association All-Star National Championships, which usually is hosted in Dallas, she said.
"I think Houston has a bigger opportunity to define itself as like a quintessential Texas destination for inbound, domestic and international travelers," she said.
The future of hospitality in Houston
With Houston's March momentum, its opportunity to attract displaced convention business and its upcoming role as a World Cup host city this summer, the market has a huge opportunity.
Historically, Houston has attracted a lot of business travelers, but leisure demand is growing, Fuentes said. Additionally, while Houston has been known as the Energy Capital of the World, its business has diversified, making the city's economy less attached to the cyclical nature of the energy industry.
"Houston is so much more than what meets the eye. People maybe have a perception of Houston that I would say often ... sells us short, right," Fuentes said. "It might have been a place where you used to come for business and left when the work was done. But today, there's so much more to taste and experience and explore."
While demand might be increasing, Karedia said he's still focused on what's happening for the transactions market and with development.
"Houston has no zoning, so the biggest obstacle that we deal with is a lot of saturation, and I think we've seen that over the years," he said.
"Since COVID, people aren't aggressively building as much in Houston," he added. "So, the opportunity lies in acquisitions. But as the market continues to improve, I think we'll start to see that again."
As native or longtime Houstonians, both hoteliers agreed that the upcoming World Cup will provide a lift in demand for the city, but, perhaps more importantly, will put a spotlight on what Houston has to offer visitors.
"As a Houstonian that's been born and raised in Houston my entire life, it's a way for us to showcase our city to the world," Karedia said.
DUHC&S | Strategic Hospitality Consulting & Advisory
*Key partnerships and disruptive innovation
Proven results :
✅ 48% GOP |
✅ +120% asset valuation growth
🔹 Let's connect :
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diur_2000/
https://viajes-noticias-duhospitality.blogspot.com
https://viajes-duhospitality.blogspot.com
https://travel-duhospitality.blogspot.com
Disclaimer
DUHC&S shares this information for educational and informational purposes only. The news articles reproduced here are sourced from public and recognized media outlets. We are not the original authors of this content but rather distributors of it. All credits go to the original sources cited in each article. If you are the legitimate owner of any material and wish to have it modified or removed, please contact us immediately at diurugeles@gmail.com, and we will address your request promptly.
Comments
Post a Comment