The Americas
US led global hotel construction pipeline in Q4 2025 as luxury drove growth
The US represented 39% of projects in the global pipeline last quarter, with luxury projects worldwide reaching a new record, according to Lodging Econometrics. Across countries, higher-tier segments drove pipeline growth. In this period, the global hotel construction pipeline reached a record 15,922 projects, totaling around 2.4 million rooms. The global pipeline increased 1% year over year in the fourth quarter. Globally, there were 6,140 projects under construction in Q4 2025, according to Lodging Econometrics. 3,845 projects are scheduled to start construction within the next 12 months, and a record 5,937 projects are in the early planning stage.
Nearly 70% of US consumers plan to reduce restaurant dining in 2026
According to the Popmenu Survey, 68% of US consumers say they are cutting back on restaurant dining this year due to economic uncertainty and prolonged inflation. Instead, consumers are opting for affordability and convenience. In February 2026, the average weekly spend in restaurants fell to $90, $25 less than in June 2025, partly due to increased strain on household budgets. As a result, 97% of restaurant operators say they are sharpening their focus on the guest experience, introducing new dining options, offering guest incentives, and leveraging AI technologies.
Asia-Pacific
Food & Hospitality Asia 2026’s 48th edition rolls out new initiatives and partnerships
Food & Hospitality Asia (FHA), the international trade event for the region’s food, hospitality, and HoReCa industries, has planned four days of business opportunities and insights for its 48th edition, scheduled for April. The organizer, Informa Markets, will introduce several new initiatives and partnerships designed to enhance attendee experience and address emerging industry trends. “This event is where innovation meets opportunity, bringing together the brightest minds, the most cutting-edge technologies, and the most influential players from across the globe,” says Ian Roberts, vice president of Informa Markets, Asia. “Whether you’re looking to showcase your brand, discover the latest trends, or build strategic partnerships, FHA 2026 is the definitive platform to shape the future of food and hospitality. It’s not just about staying ahead of the curve – it’s about defining it.”
Fried chicken demand hits $140b as Southeast Asia dominates
A new report by Technomic reveals that consumers in Southeast Asia are driving global fried chicken demand, with a disproportionately high percentage of fried chicken orders compared to the rest of Asia and the global average. Malaysia consumes the most fried chicken, with two-thirds of consumers ordering it once every 90 days, according to the data, followed by Indonesia at 62%, and the Philippines at 61%. The global fried chicken market is projected to grow from $100.11b in 2025 to $139.66b by 2030, according to the report, largely driven by consumer preferences for convenience, busy schedules, demand for quick and easy meal solutions, and a trend towards familiar foods.
Europe, Africa and the Middle East
Major restaurant chains ditch commitment to chicken welfare
Eight restaurant groups, which also include the owners of Popeyes, Wingstop, Burger King and Nando’s, have left the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), in which they pledged to stop using fast-growing chickens. Instead, they have joined the industry-led Sustainable Chicken Forum (SCF). The SCF, which argued that farming slower-growing breeds produces more greenhouse gases, said businesses “no longer believe the BCC is the right framework to drive the next phase of progress on welfare due to the requirement to source only slower-growing breeds”. Claire Williams, campaigns manager at The Humane League UK, said it was clear to her animal welfare group why the chicken outlets had switched membership: “The Better Chicken Commitment was designed by scientists to help animals – the Sustainable Chicken Forum is a welfare-washing, PR-stunt designed to deflect criticism, and let these companies claim they are doing enough”.
187 new hotels to open in the Middle East by 2027
The Middle East’s hotel construction pipeline hit an all-time high in Q4 2025, in preparation for 187 new hotel openings by the end of 2027, according to the latest data from Lodging Econometrics (LE). In total, the Middle East now has 710 hotel projects with 176,402 rooms in development, marking a 13% rise in rooms compared with Q4 2024. Saudi Arabia is at the helm, accounting for more than half of all projects in the region’s record pipeline, with a record 394 projects and 106,521 rooms, up 25% and 28% year-on-year, respectively. These projects are concentrated in key locations, with Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah all posting record or near-record pipelines fueled by large-scale tourism initiatives.
Lauren Hurrell
