The Bigger Picture
Overall, international visitation this year has been weaker than expected, said Aran Ryan, the director of industry studies with Tourism Economics, a global travel data company. The number of total overseas visitors this year through May is nearly 5 percent lower than it was during the same period last year, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office. Last year, the United States was the only major nation to register a decline in international tourism.
The A.H.L.A. warned in May that international travelers were underperforming relative to domestic visitors and that visa barriers and geopolitical concerns were “significantly suppressing” international demand.
Hospitality leaders are still hoping for a last-minute surge. Hotels are optimistic that travelers are still finalizing plans for later-stage matches, said Rosanna Maietta, the chief executive of the A.H.L.A. Other industry experts said that travelers are booking later and for shorter stays than predicted.
Many travelers are capitalizing on the lower-than-expected demand. Kenneth Walden, 50, an I.T. professional from Austin, Texas, is taking three trips to see group stage games in Houston. When he booked his refundable rooms in late February, Mr. Walden said prices at Hilton and Marriott were about $600 per night, about double the usual rate. In April, when prices had fallen, he rebooked his rooms and saved about $650.
But others are reeling from the costs. Tom Boyer, 57, a health care consultant from California, booked a nonrefundable Marriott room in early April for his family of four to see two World Cup games in Vancouver. His two young sons, whose closets are stuffed with soccer jerseys from Manchester City to Arsenal, were ecstatic.