US hotel industry leaders are attributing a decline in World Cup bookings to a phenomenon dubbed the ‘Trump Slump’. Major locations like Boston, where England is set to face Ghana on June 23, have not experienced the anticipated economic upturn from the tournament, as foreign visitors have reportedly been deterred from traveling to the US.
Hospitality expert Alan Fyall from the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management expressed skepticism about a last-minute surge in international fans visiting the US due to current circumstances. Additionally, hotel executives disclosed that World Cup room reservations have been relinquished without any bookings.
Industry analyst Jan Freitag of CoStar noted a subdued outlook on hotel performance for the event, with Harry Carr, senior vice president at Pivot Hotels & Resorts, highlighting the return of room-block holds by FIFA without any reservations, signaling diminished enthusiasm compared to previous months.
Lior Sekler, chief commercial officer for HRI Lodging’s Bay Area hotels, remarked on the lackluster demand for reserved room blocks, with only a small fraction of FIFA’s reserved rooms being utilized.
Criticism has arisen from fan groups regarding the exorbitant costs of tickets and accommodations, with some host cities opting not to host fan festivals. The Football Supporters Association (FSA) expressed dismay over the high costs associated with the World Cup, particularly the steep price of final tickets, which they deemed unaffordable for ordinary supporters.
The FSA, representing approximately 600,000 supporters in the UK, conducted an investigative trip to the US and Mexico, observing escalating train fares to the Boston venue where England will compete against Ghana. Garford Beck, a dedicated England fan attending his 8th World Cup, voiced concerns about working-class fans facing financial burdens related to match attendance.
Amid these challenges, New Jersey has abandoned its plans to host a World Cup event, underscoring the impact of the ‘Trump Slump’ on the hospitality industry.
