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FIFA World Cup: Hotel occupancies below expectations so far
By Michael Doudna at WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· June 29, 2026
· 2 min read
At the same time that thousands of people packed Atlanta ’s stadium and fan fest, data show thousands of hotel rooms stayed empty.“When FIFA first came out and said, you know, this is going to be eight Super Bowls, we host Super Bowls. And, you know, I think we pretty much realized that it wasn’t ...
Key takeaway And, you know, I think we pretty much realized that it wasn’t going to be like eight Super Bowls, especially the first couple of weeks,” William Pate, president/CEO of Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, told Channel 2’s Michael Doudna.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The lower-than-expected hotel occupancy rates during the FIFA World Cup have significant implications for Atlanta's hospitality industry. With international visitors making up only 8% of bookings, compared to the typical 5% on any given week, it's clear that the city's hotels are not benefiting as much as they had hoped from the tournament. The late release of tickets, lack of premier matchups, and inconvenient kickoff times have all contributed to this disparity. However, with the knockout stage approaching, experts believe that bookings will increase, particularly with high-profile teams like England and Argentina set to play in the city. The potential matchup between Argentina and Lionel Messi and another top team could be a major draw, with fans booking flights to experience Atlanta. The city's hospitality industry will be watching closely to see if these upcoming games can help boost occupancy rates and make up for the slow start.
About this story
Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 29, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? At the same time that thousands of people packed Atlanta’s stadium and fan fest, data show thousands of hotel rooms stayed empty.“When FIFA first came out and said, you know, this is going to be eight Super Bowls, we host Super Bowls. And, you know, I think we pretty much realized that it wasn’t ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 29, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Michael Doudna at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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