Why Your Hotel Room Just Got More Expensive

If you’re planning a trip in the U.S. this summer, you may have noticed that the price of your hotel room is going UP.

Marriott Room

Across markets, large and small, from major hotel chains to independent boutique accommodations, these increases can be traced to larger societal and economic factors.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of the decade, demand for travel accelerated as travelers with disposable income and the desire to get out of the house led to a surge in vacation spending.

While the last 5 years have seen economic and social upheaval in the U.S., travel demand has held steady, especially when it comes to hotels. According to a May report from CoStar, “U.S. hotel performance continued to outpace 2025 in the week of May 3-9, with revenue per available room increasing 2%, the fifth consecutive week of growth and the 12th gain in the past 14 weeks. Growth was again led by hotel rates, as the U.S. average daily rate increased 1.7%, extending its current growth streak to 10 weeks.”

©Homewood Suites by Hilton Orlando

So, why is hotel demand, and in turn pieces, continuing to go up? Well, there are several interwoven factors. For starters, while demand for rooms is up, guests are actually staying fewer days than in the past. As the aforementioned report explained, “Travelers, especially in North America, appear to be shifting to a more flexible approach, likely driven by changing demographic, economic and technological conditions.”

That flexibility extends to how travelers are traveling as well. Due to airfare prices, many are choosing instead to travel via car and travel to regional destinations. As Fortune explained, this has led to “particularly strong prices in states that attract high volumes of regional travelers, including Florida, Texas, and Arizona. These gains are being driven in part by increased road leisure travel and shorter booking windows – people making last-minute plans as opposed to blocking out a hotel months ahead.” This trend is visible at both major chain hotels like Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and Choice Hotels, as well as smaller and independent hotels that have highway access.

Driving to Disney World

Another factor in the price increases is that all of this demand is running into a supply issue. Once again, according to Fortune, “Hotel development has slowed in recent years due to higher borrowing costs and increased construction expenses, says the American Hotel & Lodging Association. With fewer new properties entering the market, existing hotels have greater flexibility to jack up prices when people start flying less.”

If you’re having issues finding an affordable hotel this summer, you may want to consider Disney World (yes, really!) The “Most Magical Place on Earth” is offering a litany of hotel discounts for the summer! For example, Disney is offering:

30% Off Select Hotel Rooms

From May 1st through October 4th, guests can save up to 30% off their hotel room if their stay is for five or more consecutive nights. Those staying one to 4 consecutive nights can save up to 25% off. This discount is dependent on how many nights you stay, as well as which hotel you book.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Hotel Room

35% Off for Florida Residents

Florida Residents are able to save up to 35% on stays of 4 nights or longer from May 1st to July 29th, 2026. Slightly different levels of discounts are also available to Florida Residents during those qualifying dates for stays shorter than 4 nights.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

40% Off for Passholders

Disney World Annual Passholders can score even bigger discounts on hotel rooms, with savings of up to 40% for stays on most nights from May 1st through July 29th for stays of four or more nights. Again, this deal is dependent on which hotel you stay at, but you’ll get a nice discount at pretty much any Disney World hotel.

Pop Century

If you’re planning a trip this summer, be prepared to pay more for your hotel room, no matter where you’re going! Stay tuned to DFB for more on travel, including updates on ALL of Disney’s latest hotel offers.

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