The World's Largest Hotel Company Just Posted a Record Quarter — and Raised Its Outlook for the Rest of 2026

Marriott International delivered first-quarter 2026 results that exceeded the top end of its own guidance, reporting 4.2% year-over-year worldwide RevPAR growth. The U.S. and Canada segment posted 4% RevPAR gains, with growth across leisure, group, and business travel.

The quarter also set a new record for first-quarter signings, with Marriott's global development pipeline expanding 5% year over year to nearly 618,000 rooms. Conversions and multi-unit deals continued to drive much of that growth, a strategy Marriott has leaned into as owners seek the benefits of established brand distribution without ground-up construction timelines.

On the back of the strong quarter, Marriott raised its full-year 2026 RevPAR growth projection to between 2% and 3%, up from earlier estimates. The upgraded outlook reflects momentum across Marriott's portfolio, including its expanding all-inclusive segment through brands like JW Marriott All-Inclusive.

The results arrive during a generally positive stretch for the U.S. hotel industry. CoStar Group and Tourism Economics recently revised their 2026 U.S. RevPAR growth forecast upward to 2.8%, a significant jump from the 0.6% they had projected in February. For Marriott, the combination of strong demand, a growing pipeline, and improving industry conditions positions the company well heading into what's expected to be a busy summer travel season boosted by the FIFA World Cup.