Two sunbelt cities appear to be in a tight competition in the category of having the greatest number of hotel projects under construction.
According to the latest survey produced by the industry analysis firm Lodging Econometrics, Dallas is just barely leading the way with 37 projects currently underway, accounting for 4,111 rooms.
But booming Phoenix is not far behind, with 36 individual projects representing just under 5,100 rooms.
The new survey also shows vibrant activity in two other sunbelt locations: Miami with 24 projects and 5,317 rooms; and Atlanta, coming in with 20 projects for a total of just over 2,000 rooms.
Only one non-sunbelt city is currently near the top in projects already underway: New York, with 26 projects and 4,636 rooms.
In the Lodging Econometrics’ U.S. Construction Pipeline Trend Report, future growth is spread over a wide swath of sunbelt territory, with Dallas currently seeing the greatest number of planned projects at 184, representing a massive 22,861 rooms; followed by Atlanta with 158 projects and 17,524 rooms.
The pipeline is equally strong with, once again, Phoenix very much in the mix at 123 projects and 16,111 rooms; followed by the increasingly competitive Nashville at 120 projects for 16,740 rooms; and Austin with 117 projects accounting for 13,850 rooms.
Looking at the country’s top fifty markets, the report notes that there has been a healthy total of 75 rooms announced during the first quarter of this year, representing 12,137 rooms.
Not surprisingly, given the level of current and planned hotel growth in the various sunbelt locations, Lodging Econometrics sees 27 new hotels opening next year in Dallas, 24 in Atlanta, and 17 in Phoenix.
May 1, 2026
By Garry Boulard
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
