Research Monthly report
Iowa hotel market update, January 2026
- Iowa
Iowa hotels ran 52.19% occupancy at a $110.10 ADR over the last twelve months, RevPAR -1.26%. 1 hotel sold and 8 new hotels are in the works.
Iowa's hotel market for January 2026 and the 2025 year-end: how hotels performed, what sold, where rates stand and what is being built. For a closer look at a specific market or hotel, ask for a report.
Occupancy, trailing 12 months
52.19%
ADR, trailing 12 months
$110.10
RevPAR, trailing 12 months
$57.46
-1.26% year over year
RevPAR, Dec '25 vs Dec '24
+2.7%
Luxury and upper upscale +4.3%
Performance
As we move one month into 2026, all STR data reflects 2025 year-end performance. Based on hotel sales, listings, and underwriting activity over the past year, several clear trends have emerged. Overall hotel performance softened on a trailing twelve-month basis, with statewide RevPAR declining year-over-year, though December results showed modest improvement. Performance varied meaningfully by scale, with Luxury and Upper Upscale hotels showing relative resilience late in the year, posting the strongest December RevPAR growth despite slightly negative full-year results. Upper Midscale hotels followed a similar pattern, with year-over-year RevPAR pressure offset by late-year momentum, while Midscale and Economy hotels underperformed overall, reflecting weaker occupancy and the greatest year-over-year RevPAR decline across segments.
Across every Iowa hotel, the trailing twelve months averaged 52.19% occupancy, a $110.10 ADR and $57.46 RevPAR, with RevPAR -1.26% on the year before.
RevPAR for Dec '25 was +2.7% against Dec '24. Luxury and upper upscale hotels did best at +4.3%; midscale and economy hotels were at +3.1%.
| Scale | T-12 Occ | T-12 ADR | T-12 RevPAR | RevPAR, year over year | RevPAR, Dec '25 vs Dec '24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All hotels | 52.19% | $110.10 | $57.46 | -1.26% | +2.7% |
| Luxury & Upper Upscale | 56.92% | $157.23 | $89.50 | -0.68% | +4.3% |
| Upper Midscale | 56.99% | $118.44 | $67.50 | -1.18% | +4.3% |
| Midscale & Economy | 46.54% | $76.22 | $35.47 | -2.79% | +3.1% |
Month by month, Iowa RevPAR in 2025 against 2024, through December:
All figures are from STR and run a month behind. For a specific market or scale, reach out.
Sales
| Hotel | City | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country Inn & Suites Waterloo | Waterloo | $2,750,000 |
Sale prices come from public records and may not include capital allocated to FF&E or goodwill. Want to know more about one of these sales? Get in touch.
Capital markets
| Rate | As of January 30, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Prime rate | 6.75% |
| 10-year Treasury | 4.24% |
| 5-year Treasury | 3.81% |
New developments
Boundaries, roads and water: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line).
New hotels in Iowa:
- AC Hotel Cedar Rapids West, Cedar Rapids
- Boutique Hotel at Field of Dreams, Dyersville
- The Key Hotel Dubuque (Tapestry Collection), Dubuque
- Holiday Inn Express Cedar Rapids SW, Cedar Rapids
- Hotel Osceola, Osceola
- Element Hotel, Des Moines
- Hyatt House, West Des Moines
- Tru by Hilton, Ankeny
Another 30 hotels have been proposed. Call or email to learn more about any of them.
Other developments that bring travelers:
- Meredith / Dotdash HQ Expansion, Des Moines
- Krause+ Gateway District Redevelopment, Des Moines
- DSM Airport Terminal Expansion, Des Moines
- Iowa Events Center / Wells Fargo Arena Upgrades, Des Moines
- University of Iowa Hospital Expansion, Iowa City
- Riverfront Crossings Redevelopment, Iowa City
- Collins Aerospace Expansion, Cedar Rapids
- Field of Dreams Stadium & Campus Expansion, Dyersville
- Ames Research Park Expansion, Ames
- Iowa State University Campus & Research Buildouts, Ames
- Google Data Center Expansion, Council Bluffs
- Sioux City Downtown Revitalization, Sioux City
- QTS Data Center, Cedar Rapids
- Google Data Center, Cedar Rapids
- Cedar Crossing Casino, Cedar Rapids
Tools
- Full hotel underwriting and waterfall model. Download the Excel model free. Questions or changes you'd recommend are welcome.
- A report on your hotel or market. Ask for one and we'll be in touch.
Thinking about what your hotel would sell for? Request a valuation.