Rome hotel group forecasts steady growth as airport capacity ramps up for 2026

Speaking at the annual “Albergatore Day” in Rome on 21 January 2026, Federalberghi Roma president Giuseppe Roscioli painted an optimistic picture for inbound travel to the Italian capital. The city now boasts 70 five-star properties – a record – and the two-airport system of Fiumicino and Ciampino is undergoing further expansion just as the EU Entry/Exit System reaches full deployment by April.

Roscioli expects 2026 hotel occupancy and average daily rates to edge higher than 2025’s post-pandemic highs, albeit at a more sustainable pace. He credits the Jubilee events, a packed calendar of corporate congresses and easier long-haul connectivity: Fiumicino’s new Pier D adds ten extra wide-body gates, while Ciampino is upgrading ground-handling capacity for business jets. Those improvements, he argues, make Rome a more attractive base for multinational meetings and short-term assignments.



For global-mobility teams, the trend means competition for extended-stay inventory and serviced apartments could intensify during peak event weeks. Employers should lock in corporate rates early and monitor the progressive roll-out of the Entry/Exit System, which requires first-time biometric enrolment by all third-country travellers. Airport operator ADR has already installed 210 self-service kiosks to pre-register fingerprints and facial images to minimise queues.

Federalberghi also highlighted the importance of seamless ground transport from airports to the city centre. With rail strikes planned later in the month, the association urged authorities to protect Leonardo Express services and guarantee taxi availability, warning that mobility bottlenecks could erode Rome’s competitive edge if left unaddressed.

Overall, the outlook supports continued investment in hospitality and transport infrastructure, reinforcing Rome’s role as a gateway for business travel into Italy and the wider Mediterranean region.