St. Louis Surpasses Major U.S. Markets in Hotel Performance with 6.7% Occupancy Growth, Cementing Its Position as a Top Tourism Destination in 2025

Published on January 7, 2026

In 2025, St. Louis has emerged as a standout performer in the U.S. tourism sector, surpassing other major markets with an impressive 6.7% growth in hotel occupancy. This achievement highlights the city’s growing appeal and solidifies its status as a top destination for travelers, driven by its expanding hospitality sector and rising demand.

In 2025, St. Louis City and St. Louis County achieved remarkable strides in their tourism and hospitality sectors, maintaining a robust recovery and expansion trajectory. This exceptional performance has solidified the region as one of the standout destinations in the U.S., outpacing many major markets in key hotel metrics. According to data compiled by CoStar in collaboration with STR Benchmark, a leading data aggregator in the hospitality industry, St. Louis has emerged as a top performer in both occupancy and demand growth. STR Benchmark aggregates data from over 90,000 hotels and 11.8 million guest rooms worldwide, providing an accurate reflection of global hospitality trends.

Notably, St. Louis’ hotel market has surpassed the performance of other U.S. markets, demonstrating its ability to attract visitors and enhance guest experiences. In the year-to-date data through November 2025, St. Louis recorded impressive gains that placed it among the leaders in the competitive hospitality industry. Among the most remarkable achievements were a 6.7% increase in occupancy, marking the highest growth percentage in the top 25 U.S. markets. This demonstrates that more travelers are choosing St. Louis for their visits, contributing to the city’s rise in the tourism ranks.

The growth in demand was equally impressive, with St. Louis seeing a 5.8% rise in demand, again leading all major U.S. markets. This increase in demand indicates that St. Louis has become a more desirable destination for travelers, whether for business or leisure. The city’s ability to generate more bookings highlights the growing appeal of its unique attractions, events, and the continued improvement in infrastructure.

Revenue per available room (RevPAR) is another critical performance metric for the hospitality sector, and St. Louis excelled in this area as well. With a 9.7% boost in RevPAR, the city secured the second-highest percentage increase among the top 25 U.S. markets, just behind San Francisco. RevPAR is a key indicator of a hotel’s ability to generate revenue from its rooms, and the significant increase in St. Louis’ RevPAR signifies a strong rebound in both visitor numbers and the average spend per visitor. This positive trend demonstrates that not only are more people staying in St. Louis hotels, but they are also willing to pay higher rates, reflecting the city’s growing reputation as a premier destination.

These statistics highlight St. Louis’ ability to adapt to shifting tourism trends and capitalize on its rich cultural offerings, thriving business environment, and vibrant tourism initiatives. The city’s concerted efforts to enhance its infrastructure, diversify its tourism offerings, and market itself as a destination of choice have clearly paid off. From historical landmarks like the Gateway Arch to a burgeoning arts scene, new business developments, and a dynamic food culture, St. Louis is rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after cities in the U.S.

The continued growth in the St. Louis hotel market also speaks to broader economic recovery trends. As the world continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. cities are seeing a rebound in tourism, and St. Louis has demonstrated a strong and sustained recovery. The city’s ability to grow its occupancy, demand, and RevPAR metrics in 2025 signals a solid foundation for future tourism and hospitality success.

In conclusion, St. Louis has clearly established itself as a leader in the U.S. hotel market. With growth in key performance indicators, the city is poised to continue its upward trajectory in the years to come. As tourism continues to flourish, St. Louis is not just recovering but thriving, setting the stage for continued success in the hospitality industry.

“Of the top 25 markets, St. Louis has the second highest RevPAR gains this year (+9.7%). It has seen consistent RevPAR growth since February, with multiple months of double-digit gains,” said Isaac Collazo, senior director of analytics at STR, which is integrated with CoStar reporting, highlighting the region’s sustained momentum.

The robust performance highlights a diverse combination of leisure tourism, conferences and meetings, as well as sporting events and live concerts throughout the region.

Mayor Cara Spencer added, “This shows St. Louis is back on the map as a ‘must-visit’ destination for travelers and meeting planners from across the country. An upswing in tourism delivers immediate results, with visitors spending more in local neighborhoods, creating new jobs and momentum for our entire community. We are building a St. Louis that attracts visitors and inspires residents with vibrant experiences day and night.”

Brad Dean, President and CEO of Explore St. Louis, said, “St. Louis’ hospitality industry delivered remarkable performance in 2025. Leading the top 25 U.S. markets in occupancy and demand growth and securing top tier RevPAR gains underscores the strength of our tourism economy. This performance is a testament to our city’s unique attractions, world-class venues, expanding hotel inventory and the creativity of local partners who continue to elevate the St. Louis experience.”

In 2025, St. Louis has surpassed major U.S. markets, recording a notable 6.7% increase in hotel occupancy. This impressive growth reflects the city’s rising appeal as a top tourism destination, outpacing many key markets. With increasing demand and a thriving hospitality sector, St. Louis is firmly establishing itself as a must-visit location for travelers.

Looking towards 2026, St. Louis continues to see strong growth in hotel performance, enhancing its position in the national travel market and driving economic prosperity across various neighborhoods and districts within the city and county.