The average daily rate for a luxury U.S. hotel booked through Virtuoso has climbed from $790 in 2019 to $1,445 in 2026. That is an 83 percent increase, far outpacing general inflation over the same period, and bookings for rooms above $1,500 a night are growing at 37 percent, more than twice the rate of cheaper rooms. The top of the market is not just recovering. It is pulling away.
This is the most complete public comparison of what a five-star night costs now versus before the pandemic. Every figure below comes from a published source: STR/CoStar data via hotel trade press, tourism boards, and city comptroller reports. Where the 2019 and 2026 figures use different reporting periods or market segments, the table says so. No figure is estimated. We also verified per-hotel rates for six iconic properties, with the celebrities who stay there and the brand events they host.
The numbers: 2019 vs 2026
True 2019 vs 2026 comparisons
| City / market | 2019 | 2026 | Change | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (luxury) | $790 | $1,445 | +82.9% | Luxury hotels booked via Virtuoso |
| New York City | $285 | $333.71 (2025, latest full year) | +17.1% | All hotels, NYC Tourism / Comptroller |
| Dubai | AED422 (Jan-Jul 2019) | ~AED617 / ~$168 (Jan-Aug 2026) | +46.2% | All hotels, Dubai Tourism / Cavendish Maxwell |
| Spain (August) | €109 (Aug 2019) | €166.90 (Aug 2026) | +53.2% | All hotels, August peak month |
2026 luxury snapshots (no published 2019 baseline)
| City / market | 2026 figure | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore (luxury tier) | Above S$640 (Jan-Apr 2026) | Luxury tier, Singapore Tourism Board |
| Sydney (luxury) | ~A$450 (2026) | Luxury hotels, 85% occupancy |
| Miami Beach | ~$401 (Jan-Apr 2026, +14% YoY) | All hotels, RevPAR ~$323, 81% occupancy |
| London | Just under £200 (YTD Aug 2026) | All hotels, STR, 79% occupancy |
| Paris (inner city) | €223 (H1 2026, +1.8% YoY) | All hotels, RevPAR €180 |
| Indonesia | +42% vs 2019 (absolute not published) | All hotels, STR; growth led by luxury segment |
Two things stand out before the regional detail. First, the luxury segment consistently outruns the overall market: U.S. luxury rates are up 83 percent since 2019 while New York’s all-market rate is up 17 percent. Second, the 2019 baseline matters more than most travelers realize. New York’s record $333.71 average rate in 2025 topped 2019 levels in nominal terms but fell short once adjusted for inflation, with real RevPAR beating 2019 in only four months of the year, according to the city comptroller’s analysis reported by Bisnow.
North America: the luxury boom is real, and it is American-led
The Virtuoso numbers deserve a closer look because they are the cleanest luxury-to-luxury comparison available. At the consortium’s 38th annual Travel Week in Las Vegas, the agency network reported overall sales pacing 20.8 percent ahead of the same point last year, with growth in every global region. Hotel sales lead at 24.5 percent higher year over year, ahead of cruise at 22.4 percent. The average luxury U.S. hotel rate booked through the network went from $790 in 2019 to $1,445 in 2026. Festive-season sales for late 2026 are pacing 56 percent above last year on booking volume up 65 percent, and reservations one to two years out sit roughly 50 percent ahead of the same point in 2025.
STR’s own luxury data tells the same story from the supply side. In the first half of 2026, U.S. luxury hotels ran 72.5 percent occupancy at a $419.39 average daily rate, for RevPAR of $290.42, according to Colliers. For the week ending September 19, 2026, the U.S. weekly ADR hit $179.30, up 5.7 percent year over year, the highest nominal weekly rate ever recorded, with CoStar noting that luxury and upper-upscale group demand led the way at 2.5 million nights sold. CoStar and Tourism Economics revised their 2026 outlook upward in August: U.S. RevPAR growth is now projected at 4.4 percent (up from 2.8 percent), ADR at 3.1 percent (up from 2 percent), and occupancy at 63.1 percent.
New York remains the country’s price leader. The city’s hotels set a record $333.71 average daily rate in 2025 with RevPAR at $280.71, per the comptroller. The 2019 full-year average was $285 at 87.5 percent occupancy, based on NYC Tourism’s five-year trend report. July 2026, when the city hosted the FIFA World Cup final, produced a $351.18 ADR, up 24 percent year over year, the largest gain among major U.S. markets that month. Supply is part of the story: since December 2021, nearly every new hotel in the city has needed a special permit from the City Planning Commission, and only two projects have won one. Local Law 18, effective 2023, all but eliminated short-term rentals, removing a major competitor for visitor dollars, while the 2024 Safe Hotels Act raised operating costs by restricting subcontracting at larger hotels.
Miami Beach shows what luxury leisure demand looks like when it is concentrated. Through April 2026, the city’s average daily rate sat at approximately $401, about 14 percent higher year over year, with RevPAR near $323 (up 12 percent) and occupancy at 81 percent. The broader Miami market posted a $242.99 ADR in the second quarter of 2026. In late September 2026, Miami led all major U.S. markets in weekly ADR growth at $186.73, up 23.5 percent.
San Francisco is the comeback story: August 2026 brought the largest gains among major markets, with occupancy up 6.6 percent to 79.3 percent, ADR up 8.7 percent to $216.77, and RevPAR up 15.8 percent to $171.84.
Europe: flat is the new growth, except at the top
London’s hotel leadership has a phrase for the current market: “flat is the new growth.” At the Cornell Hotel Society’s inaugural London Lodging Outlook, STR’s Sarah Duignan showed the city holding occupancy near 80 percent while absorbing new supply, with the “magic numbers” of roughly 80 percent occupancy and about £193 average rate holding since 2023. Year to date through August 2026, London sits at 79 percent occupancy with ADR just under £200. The telling detail for this article: London’s growth is being driven by luxury hotels, with most of their growth sitting in ADR, while the economy and midscale segments face pressure from new supply. STR forecasts 84 percent occupancy by 2030. January occupancy has sat at about 67 percent for three years running, a reminder of how seasonal the “year-round” city has become.
Paris shows the same two-speed pattern. Inner Paris closed the first half of 2026 with ADR at €223, up 1.8 percent year over year and broadly in line with inflation, alongside RevPAR of €180, up 3.1 percent. Greater Paris averaged €160 ADR at 73 percent occupancy. But event weeks tell the luxury story: March 2026 produced a record €351.64 ADR (up 7.8 percent), with Fashion Week Sunday hitting €438.22, and December 2025 set the city’s highest December ADR on record at €371.87. CoStar’s February 2026 forecast upgrade singled out Paris’s Luxury and Upper Upscale classes for the second-largest RevPAR upgrade of any European market segment, with pre-Ramadan Middle East travel and displaced demand from Milan lifting the first quarter.
Spain offers the cleanest long-term August comparison in Europe: an average August hotel room cost €109 in 2019 versus €166.90 in 2026, a 53 percent increase, with August 2026 occupancy at 76.1 percent. August is traditionally Spain’s busiest and most expensive month, so the figures describe peak pricing rather than the annual average.
Middle East: Dubai’s two-speed market
Dubai’s numbers require careful reading because 2026 has been an unusual year. The Department of Economy and Tourism data shows January-to-July 2019 ADR at AED422. By the first seven months of 2022, ADR had reached AED538, up 27 percent on 2019. Full-year 2025 set records: 19.59 million international overnight visitors (up 5 percent), ADR of AED579 (up 8 percent), occupancy of 80.7 percent, and RevPAR of AED467 (up 11 percent).
Then came 2026. Regional tensions from March triggered a demand shock for long-haul travel, and Dubai, exposed more than most markets, felt it. January-to-August 2026 ADR landed just under $168 (about AED617), down nearly 9 percent year over year. First-half ADR was AED701, down 7 percent. The luxury segment declined 6.2 percent year over year in H1 2026 but still commanded the highest room rates in the market, a sign that operators protected published rates while occupancy absorbed the shock. Upper-upscale properties were the most resilient, with ADR easing just 2 percent. Cavendish Maxwell forecasts full-year occupancy of 60 to 66 percent with ADR between $163 and $183, both below 2025 levels, with recovery tied to the winter events season and restored air connectivity.
The Dubai lesson for luxury travelers: even in a down year for the overall market, the luxury tier holds its rate. Discounts appear as perks and packages rather than headline price cuts.
Asia-Pacific: the strongest luxury momentum in the world
Singapore publishes the best luxury-tier data of any tourism board, and it shows a market with genuine pricing power. Luxury hotels averaged above S$640 per night from January through April 2026, with upscale above S$300, mid-tier around S$200, and economy near S$120. Overall average room rates rose 2 percent year over year to S$273.97 in the period, with RevPAR up 4.2 percent to S$224.10 and occupancy at 81.8 percent. First-quarter 2026 occupancy averaged 83.09 percent, up from 80.54 percent a year earlier. The luxury tier has been on a tear for years: February 2024 luxury ARR hit S$679.37, and September 2024, boosted by the Formula 1 night race, reached S$757.13 before settling to S$653.54 in October.
Sydney is Australia’s luxury powerhouse. The city’s luxury hotels are achieving around A$450 ADR at 85 percent occupancy, for RevPAR of A$384. CBRE’s September 2026 analysis found luxury demand across Australia and New Zealand compounding at 2.9 percent annually since 2019, versus 1.3 percent for the overall hotel sector, with luxury occupancy holding between 78 and 79 percent. The luxury ADR premium over the all-market rate widened 53 percent, from $62 in 2019 to $94 in 2026. December 2025 set a monthly ADR record of A$349.06 (up 11.1 percent) on New Year’s Eve demand. CBRE’s blunt assessment: at current construction and financing costs, luxury is increasingly the only segment where room rates can justify a new build.
Indonesia is the luxury recovery story of the region. STR data presented at the Indonesia Tourism Xchange showed luxury hotel occupancy for the 12 months ending March 2026 fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, while all other classes remained 5.5 percentage points below their 2019 benchmarks. Overall hotel ADR is up 42 percent versus 2019, with the increase spanning all classes but driven largely by the luxury segment. STR’s Jesper Palmqvist noted that luxury “generally fares well against any external shocks,” citing the global financial crisis, the pandemic, and the Asian financial crisis.
Vietnam’s five-star segment averaged USD 170-188 per night in late 2025 with 75-80 percent occupancy, already above its 2018-2019 peaks, driven by international arrivals, business travel, and MICE demand.
For a look at where luxury supply is heading next, see our 2026-2027 luxury hotel openings report, tracking 90+ verified debuts. South Korea is another market to watch — read why South Korea is the luxury travel destination of 2026.
Why rates rose: five verified drivers
1. Supply stopped growing, especially at the top. New York has approved two new hotels since 2021. London is absorbing new supply at flat 80 percent occupancy. Dubai’s room supply actually shrank 0.3 percent in H1 2026. CBRE’s finding that only luxury rates justify new construction means the pipeline stays thin exactly where demand is strongest.
2. Luxury demand structurally outruns the rest. Virtuoso’s 20.8 percent sales growth, Indonesia’s luxury occupancy recovery versus a 5.5-point deficit elsewhere, and the 53 percent widening of Australia’s luxury rate premium all describe the same phenomenon: affluent travelers kept spending while the mass market wobbled.
3. Labor costs keep climbing. STR was already warning in 2019 that U.S. labor costs had outgrown revenue for two consecutive years, pressuring margins. In 2026, New York operators cite labor shortages tied to stricter immigration enforcement, and the Safe Hotels Act structurally raised staffing costs.
4. Inflation flatters the nominal numbers. New York’s record rates beat 2019 in nominal terms but not in real terms. Any 2019-versus-2026 comparison should be read with that discount in mind: part of the increase is the dollar (or euro, or pound) buying less.
5. Events now move markets by themselves. The FIFA World Cup final month gave New York a 24 percent ADR jump. The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics pushed opening-ceremony ADR to €552, averaging nearly €500 a night over 17 days. Paris Fashion Week Sundays hit €438.22. Sydney’s New Year’s Eve set an all-time monthly record. In a market with constrained supply, a single event week can define a quarter.
What this means if you are booking
The data points to three practical conclusions. First, the luxury premium is the fastest-growing part of the bill: in Australia it widened 53 percent since 2019, and in the U.S. luxury ADR is up 83 percent against a 17 percent all-market rise in New York. Trading down half a tier saves more than it used to. Second, event weeks are the new peak season. A Fashion Week, Grand Prix, or World Cup week can double a city’s going rate, so checking the events calendar matters as much as checking the season. Third, Dubai-style markets show that headline rates are sticky even when demand softens: the discounts show up as free breakfast, resort credit, and fourth-night-free offers rather than lower published prices, so always ask what is bundled.
Methodology
This article compares 2019 average daily rates with the latest verified 2026 figures. Full-year 2026 data does not exist yet, so 2026 figures are year-to-date or latest-period values, labeled per row. Figures mix STR/CoStar luxury chain-scale data, tourism-board tier data (notably Singapore’s STB luxury tier), and all-market ADR where luxury-specific figures are not published; the “Basis” column in the table identifies each. Percentage changes are computed only on same-basis pairs. Currency conversions use approximate recent rates and are labeled as such. No figure is estimated or modeled. U.S. weekly figures come from CoStar/STR weekly releases; European figures from STR via trade press and CBRE; Asia-Pacific figures from tourism boards (STB, DET) and STR via regional trade press.
Six icons: what famous hotels charge now vs 2019
Beyond market averages, we verified 5 star hotel prices per night at six iconic properties, with the celebrities who stay there and the major-brand events they host.
Amangiri (Utah)
2019: lowest rate $1,800/night (The Points Guy review, early 2019). 2026: starting rate $3,100/night (World’s 50 Best Discovery listing). Change: +72%.
Celebrity guests include Kim Kardashian, who celebrated her 37th birthday there with Kanye West in 2017, as well as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie; Kanye West returned for a 2022 trip.
Marina Bay Sands (Singapore)
2019: “begins at” S$459/night (~US$337, Kayak 30/04/19 Family Room). 2026: from S$750/night (Trip.com 2026 Updated Prices). Change: +63%.
Celebrity guests: per MBS’s own press releases, the resort has hosted Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Rain, Shah Rukh Khan, Tiger Woods, Ludacris, LMFAO, and Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes; Taylor Swift dined twice at KOMA in The Shoppes during her March 2024 tour visit.
Brand events: the HUGO BOSS FW18 fashion show (~1,000 guests; Chris Hemsworth and Sebastian Stan front row); the Ferrari Lifestyle Asia debut plus Lewis Hamilton’s +44 & Almave Southeast Asia launch in October 2026 (Ferrari SF21 show car in the Tower 1 lobby; hotel towers bathed in Ferrari red).
Beverly Hills Hotel (Los Angeles)
2020 baseline: actually-paid $745/night for a superior room, ~May 2020 (TPG review). 2026: ~$1,151/night (planetofhotels listing average). Change: +54%.
Celebrity guests: Marilyn Monroe (lived on and off in the bungalows; favorite Bungalow No. 7); Elizabeth Taylor (spent six of her eight honeymoons there); Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack (Polo Lounge); Howard Hughes (lived in the bungalows on and off for 30 years).
Brand events: the Chanel & Charles Finch 17th Annual Pre-Oscar Dinner at the Polo Lounge, March 14, 2026 (guests incl. Teyana Taylor, Mick Jagger, Kristen Stewart, Wagner Moura).
Hôtel Plaza Athénée (Paris)
2020 baseline: starting rate €1,220/night (TripAdvisor forum, c. 2020). 2026: from €1,750/night (Qantas Travel Insider review). Change: +43%.
Celebrity guests: Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton (spent six months in the Royal Suite, 1971); Alfred Hitchcock, the Rolling Stones, U2, Coldplay, and David Bowie (who insisted on Dietrich’s suite 209/210).
Brand events: Christian Dior presented fashion shows at the hotel (Dior opened its first boutique at 30 avenue Montaigne in 1947); Pucci and Salvatore Ferragamo launches held at the hotel; the Sex and the City finale was shot at the hotel.
Four Seasons George V (Paris)
2018 baseline: actually-paid €850/night for a basic double room (TripAdvisor review c. 2018). 2025 figure: entry-level starting rate ~€1,200/night (One Mile at a Time review). Change: +41%.
Celebrity guests: The Beatles (stayed during French tours; Paul McCartney said to have written “Can’t Buy Me Love” while staying there); Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich, Sophia Loren, JFK, and Queen Elizabeth II.
Brand events: the launch of “Work Palace” by INSITU at the hotel, January 29, 2026, attended by Natalia Vodianova.
Faena Hotel (Miami Beach)
2019: starting rate $745/night (opening-era figure, TPG’s 2019-era review: “When it first opened, rooms were said to start at $745 a night”). 2026: from $781/night before taxes (BudgetYourTrip, updated 2026-10-07). Change: +5%.
Celebrity guests: the grand opening during Art Basel attended by Leonardo DiCaprio, Adrien Brody, wil.i.am, Andre Balazs, and Mario Testino; in its Saxony Hotel era the building hosted performers Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and Dean Martin.
Brand events: Madonna’s Raising Malawi benefit concert/auction at Faena Forum, December 2016 (raised $7M; guests Ariana Grande, Sean Penn, DiCaprio, Sean Combs); the Cartier high-jewelry collection Étourdissant private reception at the hotel.
Frequently asked questions
How much more expensive are luxury hotels in 2026 than in 2019?
It depends on the market and the segment. U.S. luxury hotel rates booked through Virtuoso are up 83 percent ($790 to $1,445). Indonesia’s hotel rates are up 42 percent with luxury leading. Spain’s August rates are up 53 percent. New York’s all-market rate is up 17 percent in nominal terms. The luxury segment consistently outpaces the overall market.
Which city has the most expensive luxury hotels in 2026?
By published luxury-tier ADR, Singapore leads the verified figures at above S$640 per night (January-April 2026), with Sydney luxury at around A$450. U.S. luxury bookings through Virtuoso average $1,445, though that reflects a high-end agency clientele rather than a city average. For the priciest rooms of all, see the world’s most expensive hotel suites, ranked by price per square foot.
Are hotel rates still rising in 2026?
Mostly yes, but unevenly. CoStar and Tourism Economics revised the 2026 U.S. outlook upward in August, projecting 4.4 percent RevPAR growth. But Dubai’s ADR is down 9 percent year over year through August on regional travel disruption, and London’s all-market ADR has been flat at just under £200. Luxury keeps rising; the middle is mixed.
Why are luxury hotel rates rising faster than regular hotel rates?
Constrained supply (luxury is the only segment where new construction pencils out, per CBRE), structurally stronger demand from affluent travelers (Virtuoso sales up 20.8 percent), rising labor costs, and event-driven compression nights that let luxury properties yield aggressively.
Is 2026 a bad year to book a five-star hotel?
Not necessarily. Rate growth is concentrated in peak weeks and peak markets. Shoulder-season dates in cities like London (January occupancy sits at 67 percent) offer real value, and in softer markets like Dubai, headline rates hold while perks and packages quietly improve.
Will rates keep rising in 2027?
CoStar’s STR arm expects the momentum to continue but notes a likely slump in year-over-year comparisons next summer due to the absence of a major event like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Europe’s 2027 RevPAR forecast was actually downgraded slightly, from 1.3 percent to 0.6 percent growth.
What is the average price for a 5 star hotel?
U.S. luxury-tier bookings via Virtuoso averaged $1,445 per night in 2026 (vs $790 in 2019); New York’s all-market average was $333.71 in 2025.
How much does a 5 star hotel cost in America?
For 5 star hotel prices usa, the U.S. luxury tier averaged $1,445 a night in 2026, up 82.9% from $790 in 2019; Miami Beach luxury-market averages were ~$401 a night (Jan-Apr 2026).
Sources
- i-journey.com (Virtuoso luxury ADR $790 to $1,445)
- Bisnow (U.S. weekly ADR record, 2026 forecasts)
- Bisnow (NYC $333.71 record, inflation adjustment, supply rules)
- NYC Tourism (PDF) (NYC 2019 ADR $285)
- CoStar (NYC July 2026 $351.18, World Cup)
- Travel and Tour World (Miami Beach $401 ADR)
- Business Travel News (San Francisco August 2026)
- Hertelier (London STR outlook)
- The Caterer (London luxury ADR growth)
- Hospitality Net (Paris H1 2026)
- CoStar (Paris March 2026 records)
- CoStar (Europe forecast, Milano-Cortina, Paris luxury upgrade)
- FTN News (Spain August €109 to €166.90)
- Hotelier Middle East (Dubai 2019 vs 2022 ADR)
- AGBI (Dubai DET figures)
- Hotel & Catering (Dubai Jan-Aug 2026 ADR, luxury -6.2%)
- Breaking Travel News (Dubai H1 2026 luxury)
- BridesBlush / DCG (Dubai 2025 records: 19.59M visitors, AED579 ADR)
- Singapore Business Review (Singapore luxury above S$640, Jan-Apr 2026)
- Singapore Business Review (Singapore Q1 2026)
- Singapore Business Review (Singapore luxury S$679.37, Feb 2024)
- 1M1B Changemakers (Singapore luxury S$757.13 Sep 2024, S$653.54 Oct 2024)
- Travel and Tour World (Sydney luxury A$450)
- HTrends (CBRE Australia luxury: 2.9% CAGR, premium +53%)
- CoStar (Sydney December 2025)
- TTG Asia (Indonesia luxury recovery, +42% vs 2019)
- Hospitality Net (Indonesia STR luxury occupancy)
- Travel and Tour World (Vietnam 5-star USD 170-188)
- Hotel Online (Sydney NYE record)
