APEC Hotel Pipeline 2026 hits 2,387 projects, India leads

New Delhi, May 12, 2026: Talk in development circles is getting louder, Asia Pacific’s hotel pipeline isn’t slowing down, it’s stacking up fast.

The region (excluding China) hit a record 2,387 projects with 442,973 rooms by the end of Q1 2026. That’s a 15% jump in projects and a 9% rise in rooms year-on-year.

Developers aren’t holding back. Money is moving. And new markets are opening up.

Pipeline growth driven by active construction and planning stages

Out of the total pipeline, 963 projects or 202,877 rooms are already under construction. That’s nearly 40% of all activity.

Another 386 projects (72,569 rooms) are set to break ground within the next 12 months.

And the future pipeline is getting thicker. Planning-stage projects hit 1,038 developments with 167,527 rooms.

In Q1 2026 alone:

• 228 new hotel projects were announced
• 144 projects (25,530 rooms) moved into construction

That’s not cautious growth. That’s momentum.

Luxury and upscale segments dominate development activity

High-end hotels are still leading the charge.

Luxury projects stand at 404 hotels with 75,803 rooms.

Upper upscale follows with 420 projects and 88,303 rooms.

But the real volume play is in upscale 616 projects and 120,127 rooms.

And here’s the shift: midscale is growing the fastest, up 26% year-on-year.

Developers are clearly hedging premiums for margins, midscale for scale.

India leads the regional pipeline with 940 projects

India is out in front with 940 projects and 124,011 rooms. That’s roughly 39% of the entire pipeline.

Domestic travel is doing the heavy lifting. Connectivity is improving. And more organised hotel players are entering the game.

Other strong markets: Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.

At the city level, Shanghai leads with 68 projects, followed by Beijing, Jakarta, Mumbai, and Tokyo.

Big cities still dominate. No surprise there.

Conversion projects surge as operators reposition assets

Conversions are suddenly hot.

They jumped 82% year-on-year to 353 projects and 57,219 rooms.

Why? Faster entry. Lower cost. Less friction.

Instead of building from scratch, operators are reworking existing properties into branded hotels.

This is especially picking up in urban markets where land is tight and timelines matter.

Outlook for new hotel openings across the region

The pipeline isn’t just sitting on paper.

About 302 hotels (over 59,000 rooms) are expected to open by the end of 2026.

Another 362 projects are lined up for 2027.

Developers are betting long-term. And they’re betting big.

Asia Pacific is clearly one of the most aggressive hotel growth regions right now, with India right at the centre of that push.