Recent Study Finds U.S. Hotel Guest Satisfaction Up

Last month, JD Power released its 2026 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study, and the findings were clear: Travelers are exceptionally satisfied with their hotel experiences at the moment.

Even though average daily rates for U.S. hotel rooms are rising (if minimally), the study discovered year-over-year increases in guest satisfaction across all aspects of the hotel experience, with travelers reporting greater satisfaction related to stay value, food and beverages, and facilities.

This satisfaction increase can be, at least in part, tacked up to improvements hotels are making across the board, theorized JD Power.

“This year’s study results show that hotels are firing on all cylinders. In every hotel segment, guests are having better experiences due to positive interactions with hotel staff, higher quality food and beverage, and guest room improvements,” commented Andrea Stokes, hospitality practice lead, JD Power. “Improvements in courtesy from front desk staff, responsiveness to guest requests and the maintenance and upkeep of shared amenities such as pools and fitness centers, among others, are all elevating perceptions of the guest experience.”

The study also compared guest satisfaction across specific hotel brands, categorizing brands according to their level of service. In the luxury category, The Ritz-Carlton ranked as the top brand for guest satisfaction. Other brands that ranked first in their respective categories included Kimpton, Drury Hotels, Hyatt House, Hampton by Hilton and Tru by Hilton, among others.