From fueling one in nine dollars of the nation's entire economy to creating a million new jobs in restaurants alone, the US hospitality industry is not just serving meals and fluffing pillows—it's powering a remarkable and expansive post-pandemic comeback.
Key Takeaways
- The US hospitality industry contributed $2.6 trillion to the GDP in 2023, representing 11.2% of total US GDP.
- Total revenue in the US hotels and motels industry reached $238.5 billion in 2023.
- US restaurant industry sales hit $1.1 trillion in 2023, up 7.3% from the previous year.
- The US hospitality industry employed 16.5 million people as of 2023.
- Restaurants accounted for 15.9 million jobs, or 73% of hospitality employment in 2023.
- US hotel workforce stood at 2.9 million employees in 2023, up 4.2% from 2022.
- US national hotel occupancy rate averaged 63.0% in 2023.
- Luxury hotels in the US saw ADR increase to $328.45 in 2023.
- There were 52,518 hotel properties in the US as of 2023.
- US restaurants numbered 748,000 establishments in 2023.
- Quick-service restaurants generated $478 billion in sales in 2023.
- Full-service restaurants accounted for 52% of industry sales in 2023.
- 56 million Americans took 1.1 billion domestic trips in Q1 2024, boosting hospitality.
- International visitation to the US reached 66.5 million in 2023, up 36% from 2022.
- Domestic leisure travel spending grew 4.3% to $861 billion in 2023.
The US hospitality industry is a massive and growing economic force.
Economic Impact
- The US hospitality industry contributed $2.6 trillion to the GDP in 2023, representing 11.2% of total US GDP.
- Total revenue in the US hotels and motels industry reached $238.5 billion in 2023.
- US restaurant industry sales hit $1.1 trillion in 2023, up 7.3% from the previous year.
- Travel and tourism spending in the US amounted to $1.2 trillion in 2023, supporting hospitality growth.
- The US lodging sector's RevPAR grew by 7.2% year-over-year to $112.47 in Q4 2023.
- Hospitality industry tax contributions reached $250 billion annually across federal, state, and local levels in 2023.
- US foodservice sales (including restaurants and bars) totaled $1.18 trillion in 2023.
- Hotel room supply in the US increased by 2.1% to 5.6 million rooms by end of 2023.
- The US hospitality market size was valued at $984.13 billion in 2023, projected to grow at 7.5% CAGR.
- Direct travel spending supported $1.9 trillion in total business sales in 2023.
- US hotels achieved an occupancy rate of 63.4% in 2023, up from 59.8% in 2022.
- Gaming segment within hospitality generated $66.5 billion in revenue in 2023.
- US short-term rental market revenue reached $20.4 billion in 2023.
- Hospitality exports (travel spending by international visitors) totaled $181 billion in 2023.
- Average daily rate (ADR) for US hotels rose to $161.82 in 2023.
- US restaurant industry projected sales for 2024 at $1.4 trillion.
- Total output from travel and tourism industries hit $2.98 trillion in 2023.
- US hotel construction pipeline included 1,047 projects with 130,000 rooms as of Q4 2023.
- Food and beverage revenue in US hotels grew 8.5% to $45 billion in 2023.
- US hospitality industry labor income reached $1.1 trillion in 2023.
Economic Impact Interpretation
From world-class cuisine and cozy beds to buzzing casinos and sprawling event spaces, the American hospitality industry is the trillion-dollar maestro conducting an economic symphony where every check paid, room booked, and flight taken composes a powerful 11.2% of the nation's entire GDP.
Employment
- The US hospitality industry employed 16.5 million people as of 2023.
- Restaurants accounted for 15.9 million jobs, or 73% of hospitality employment in 2023.
- US hotel workforce stood at 2.9 million employees in 2023, up 4.2% from 2022.
- Hospitality sector added 1.2 million jobs year-over-year through December 2023.
- Leisure and hospitality unemployment rate was 4.9% in December 2023.
- Frontline hospitality workers earned a median wage of $16.47 per hour in 2023.
- 58% of hospitality jobs were part-time in 2023, compared to 16% in other sectors.
- US travel and tourism supported 9.8 million jobs directly in 2023.
- Restaurants planned to hire 1 million new employees in 2024.
- Women comprised 52% of the hospitality workforce in 2023.
- Hispanic or Latino workers made up 28% of hospitality employees in 2023.
- 25-34 age group represented 28.5% of hospitality workers in 2023.
- Hospitality turnover rate averaged 74.9% annually in 2023.
- 65% of hospitality managers reported staffing shortages in Q3 2023.
- Entry-level hospitality jobs grew by 5.2% in 2023.
- US hotels had 1.4 million job openings unfilled in 2023.
- Black or African American workers were 12.4% of hospitality employment in 2023.
- Average tenure for hospitality workers was 3.2 years in 2023.
- 42% of hospitality businesses offered retention bonuses in 2023.
- Leisure and hospitality added 45,000 jobs in December 2023 alone.
Employment Interpretation
The US hospitality industry is a powerful and perpetually hungry engine of the economy, serving up millions of jobs—mostly part-time, relatively low-wage, and with a notoriously revolving door—yet it still manages to grow voraciously, constantly trying to hire more people even as it struggles to keep the ones it already has.
Hotels
- US national hotel occupancy rate averaged 63.0% in 2023.
- Luxury hotels in the US saw ADR increase to $328.45 in 2023.
- There were 52,518 hotel properties in the US as of 2023.
- Extended-stay hotels achieved 68.2% occupancy in 2023.
- US hotel guestrooms totaled 5.58 million in 2023.
- Boutique hotels grew by 3.1% in room supply in 2023.
- Group demand for US hotels rose 9.2% year-over-year in 2023.
- RevPAR for economy hotels reached $56.78 in 2023.
- 64% of US hotels reported positive guest satisfaction scores in 2023.
- Independent hotels represented 22.3% of US hotel rooms in 2023.
- US hotel construction starts fell 14% to 40,500 rooms in 2023.
- Upscale hotels led RevPAR growth at 8.9% in 2023.
- 71% of hotels implemented sustainability initiatives in 2023.
- Transient demand increased 4.5% for US hotels in 2023.
- Marriott held 1.2 million rooms under management in US in 2023.
- Hilton's US portfolio included 920,000 rooms in 2023.
- ADR in New York City hotels hit $312.61 in 2023.
- US hotels' total revenue per available room (TRevPAR) rose to $130.45 in 2023.
- Full-service hotels saw 1.8% supply growth in 2023.
Hotels Interpretation
The data reveals an industry hosting a cautious, yet recovering, affair—where luxury properties command princely sums, guests are increasingly content and eco-conscious, and everyone from extended-stay patrons to group travelers is showing up, even as new construction hesitates to join the party.
Restaurants
- US restaurants numbered 748,000 establishments in 2023.
- Quick-service restaurants generated $478 billion in sales in 2023.
- Full-service restaurants accounted for 52% of industry sales in 2023.
- Average check per restaurant guest was $24.50 in 2023.
- 36% of restaurants reported higher menu prices due to inflation in 2023.
- Off-premise sales made up 38% of restaurant revenue in 2023.
- Bar and tavern sales increased 6.8% to $42 billion in 2023.
- 92% of adults dined out at least once per week in 2023.
- Food cost percentage for restaurants averaged 30.5% in 2023.
- Labor costs represented 32.4% of restaurant expenses in 2023.
- 67% of restaurants used delivery services in 2023.
- Casual dining segment sales reached $340 billion in 2023.
- 45% of restaurant operators raised wages in 2023.
- Fine dining restaurants saw 4.2% sales growth in 2023.
- Ghost kitchens operated in 15% of US markets in 2023.
- 78% of consumers used mobile ordering at restaurants in 2023.
- US restaurant closures totaled 8,500 in 2023.
Restaurants Interpretation
While the nation’s relentless appetite for dining out kept the lights on for most of the 748,000 establishments, the industry in 2023 was a high-wire act of raising wages and menu prices to offset soaring costs, all while adapting to a new normal where a third of revenue came from off-premise sales and ghost kitchens quietly multiplied.
Tourism Trends
- 56 million Americans took 1.1 billion domestic trips in Q1 2024, boosting hospitality.
- International visitation to the US reached 66.5 million in 2023, up 36% from 2022.
- Domestic leisure travel spending grew 4.3% to $861 billion in 2023.
- 79% of US travelers booked accommodations online in 2023.
- Millennials represented 38% of domestic travelers in 2023.
- 62% of travelers prioritized sustainable travel options in 2023.
- Air travel enplanements hit 1.03 billion in 2023.
- Bleisure travel (business + leisure) accounted for 48% of trips in 2023.
- 73% of Gen Z travelers sought experiential accommodations in 2023.
- Road trips made up 52% of domestic vacations in 2023.
- 41% of international visitors came from Canada in 2023.
- Solo travel increased 20% among US adults in 2023.
- 68% of travelers used loyalty programs for hospitality bookings in 2023.
- Adventure tourism spending rose 15% to $150 billion in 2023.
- 55% of US households planned family vacations in 2023.
- Mexico was the top international destination for 25 million US travelers in 2023.
- Travel apps were used by 89% of US travelers in 2023.
- 47% of business travelers extended trips for leisure in 2023.
- Eco-tourism bookings surged 28% on platforms in 2023.
- Domestic travel accounted for 82% of total US trips in 2023.
Tourism Trends Interpretation
The hospitality industry is being reshaped by a surge of determined vacationers who, armed with loyalty apps and a surprising conscience, are relentlessly blending work with play, seeking adventure on the road, and insisting that their solo family eco-bleisure trip be both Instagrammable and sustainable.
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