Hotels Ask Mamdani for Support After Mayor Highlights Importance of a World Cup Economic Boon

NEW YORK, NY (04/06/2026) (readMedia)-- Following a press conference this morning at which Mayor Mamdani emphasized the City's responsibility to take full advantage of the economic potential of this summer's World Cup, the Hotel Association of New York City asked for help to do just that-citing rising costs and economic headwinds that so far have hotel bookings much lower than expected.

Hotels, the backbone of New York's larger 400,000-worker tourism and hospitality economies, have been losing jobs and rooms since COVID because of high operating costs, tariffs and federal policies curbing tourism. The Iran war also recently caused an additional 10-15% drop in business, particularly from international guests who spend, on average, four times as much as domestic travelers.

In response to the Mayor's comments, Vijay Dandapani, CEO and president of the Hotel Association of New York (HANYC) released the following statement:

"We appreciate the Mayor's focus on leveraging the economic opportunity of the World Cup, but right now the outlook is concerning. Hotel bookings are down at a time when they should be surging, while our hotels are under significant financial pressure, resulting in closures and job losses. City Hall can play a critical role in turning the tide and lifting our local economy by supporting the industry rather than imposing additional cost increases. We agree with the Mayor that it is critical New York captures the full economic benefits of this once-in-a-generation event while also protecting the hundreds of thousands of hospitality workers who rely on a strong and thriving hotel sector."

The consequences of the economic headwinds leading up to the World Cup are already evident in declining demand for what should be an economic boon for hotels and the city. Recent data indicate that hotel bookings for the tournament period are currently lagging behind last year's levels, and FIFA is already starting to drop its hotel room blocks because of lower than expected demand-all of which disproportionately impact small hotel owners and other small businesses in the outer boroughs. Without support for hotels, the City will threaten the livelihoods of more than 40,000 hotel workers and 400,000 hospitality workers, and billions in revenue for essential services.

Last week, the HANYC launched an ad campaign and website educating decision makers about the state of the hotel industry and how critical it is to workers and New York. The ads are running across social media, streaming platforms, and the Web, making clear that the city's ability to capture the full economic benefits of the upcoming FIFA World Cup depends on its success in attracting visitors to stay in city hotels.