U.S. hotel industry RevPAR rises to $99.47 amid revenue capture concerns

The U.S. hotel industry has seen significant growth in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR), which rose to $99.47 in 2025, up from $87.50 in 2019. However, industry analysis suggests this topline growth may mask underlying financial challenges.

Revenue capture—the share of guest-paid revenue remaining after acquisition costs such as commissions and loyalty fees—fell to 79.22 percent in 2025, down from 80.33 percent in 2024. This erosion represents approximately $2.3 billion in lost revenue capture and an estimated $29.2 billion reduction in U.S. hotel asset value when applying standard cap rates.

Experts point to a critical shortage of professionals capable of managing these complex financial dynamics. There is a noted mismatch between traditional hospitality training, which focuses on operations, and the industry's growing need for data-literate professionals who can model channel costs and defend profit margins.