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Aussie demand to Seattle surges 400% as Expedia Group unlocks new sports tourism forecasting

Expedia Group
Images by Expedia Group

Expedia Group today announced a new partnership with PredictHQ, the leading provider of real-world context, integrating its verified event signals and predictive demand intelligence directly into Partner Central1, the platform lodging partners use to manage their business. The integration gives lodging partners a clearer view of rising travel demand by combining PredictHQ’s forward-looking demand forecasts with Expedia Group’s rich traveller insights, empowering them to identify, anticipate, and act on demand shifts with greater confidence.

New PredictHQ forecasts show traveller spending across accommodation, ground transportation, and food and beverage in North America’s host cities is projected to exceed $8.1 billion USD between June and August 2026 – an increase of nearly $750 million USD over the same period last year.2

Top cities expected to see major economic growth

Several host cities are set to experience dramatic jumps in fan-driven economic activity. Arlington, Texas, is predicted to see the largest total spend increase, with total traveller spend expected to exceed $562 million USD – a 135% year-over-year increase. Foxborough, Massachusetts (+161%), Kansas City, Missouri (+73.4%), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (+19.9%), and Houston, Texas (+18.3%) are also projected to experience substantial boosts to their local economies.

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Global fan demand surges toward host cities

New international demand insights reveal dramatic match-week surges, with global fans driving steep percentage increases across several host cities.

Expedia Group data shows Japan and the UK leading inbound demand into Dallas, up 1,820% and 1,530% above typical weeks, respectively. Brazil-to-Philadelphia and Germany-to-Houston routes are also recording four-digit growth as supporters travel across borders to follow their teams. Meanwhile, demand from Australia to Seattle is rising 400%.

Taken together, these trends signal how global fan movement is accelerating – a clear reflection of fast-rising flow corridors, grounded in bookings already made across key international routes.

Accommodation spending expected to nearly double

Across host cities, projected accommodation spending from June to August 2026 is projected to surge from $2.6 billion to $4.8 billion USD year-over-year – driven by fans booking rooms that extend well beyond match days.

The cities seeing the biggest percentage jumps in accommodation spending include:

  • Arlington, Texas – projected 369% increase YoY
  • Foxborough, Massachusetts – projected 310% increase YoY
  • Santa Clara, California – projected 159% increase YoY

Turning insight into impact for lodging partners

Campbell Brown, CEO of PredictHQ, said: “Major global events or groupings of harder-to-track, smaller events both create highly concentrated and fast-moving demand patterns that traditional forecasting models and AI systems lack the real-world context to detect. Demand does not move in straight lines; it responds to what is happening in the world every day. By partnering with Expedia Group, we are embedding this trusted, explainable context directly into decision-making, enabling travel providers to anticipate demand shifts earlier and capture revenue that would otherwise be missed.”

Susan Spinney, Senior Vice President, Hotel Market Partnerships at Expedia Group, said: “What makes this powerful is how we connect predictive intelligence directly to commercial action. We’re not just identifying demand – we’re enabling partners to respond immediately in Partner Central, whether that’s adjusting strategy, increasing visibility through TravelAds, or targeting the right domestic and international travellers at the right time. It’s about turning foresight into measurable growth.”

Tags: Aussie, Seattle, tourism forecasting

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