Top 3 hospitality budgeting tips for 2027

The U.S. hotel industry in 2026 is facing no shortage of challenges, ranging from high construction, energy, and labor costs to general economic uncertainty. Yet, flying in the face of these headwinds, performance in 2026 has been solid, with revenue per available room (RevPAR) forecast to show 2.8% growth, beating earlier projections of 0.6% made in February of 2026. In sharp contrast, RevPAR was down 0.3% in 2025.

So the obvious question now is, how do hoteliers capitalize on this growth and make the budgeting decisions necessary to help drive growth in 2027? We see three main areas of concern that hospitality decision makers should be considering for their 2027 budgets:

1. Focus on the guest experience: According to survey respondents, 84% of hotel guests list fast, reliable, secure and free WiFi as the #1 priority in deciding one hotel over another. Your guests arrive expecting WiFi that works with speed and consistency — from mobile check-in to streaming content in the room and staying connected in every corner of the property. When WiFi falls short, frustration shows up quickly in the lobby, at the front desk and, perhaps most importantly, in reviews.
   
   Hoteliers should strive to deliver reliable connectivity that keeps guests streaming, working and browsing without interruption. This means providing secure access to the live news, sports and entertainment travelers expect, helping create a more satisfying stay. Furthermore, properties need to ensure they provide connectivity across guest rooms and shared spaces.   
   
   To fulfill the above, hoteliers need to partner with a hospitality technology provider that understands how connected experiences influence guest satisfaction. Under the surface, strong hotel performance today depends on fiber-powered internet, managed WiFi, secure networking, easy-to-use in-room entertainment, TV and voice solutions.
   
   Solutions like managed WiFi and in-room entertainment with built in security protocols help you standardize the experience across rooms while keeping complexity behind the scenes, providing peace of mind that your hotel data and that of your guests stays secure. Unified communications and voice services designed for hospitality help staff stay connected and responsive across departments and shifts. And reliable, fast and secure connectivity solutions are needed to bolster it all.
2. Reduce operational complexity to spend less time managing technology and more time serving guests: Hoteliers should seek to combine internet, TV and voice solutions with one trusted provider to simplify vendor management and day-to-day operations. This should reduce administrative burden with integrated solutions designed to streamline property management.
   
   They should also do their research and find out which hospitality technology infrastructure partners can help them resolve issues faster with the 100% US-based dedicated business support that minimizes disruption to guests and staff. 
   
   When something does go wrong, you need fast, knowledgeable help. Always available, US-based support from local teams familiar with hospitality operations can reduce downtime and stress on your staff. Clear ownership of issues and straightforward escalation paths matter, especially overnight and during sell-out periods.
   
3. Future-proof your technology investments with scalable solutions that help your property adapt to evolving guest expectations and changing business needs: A proven way to protect a properties infrastructure investment is to simplify long-term technology planning with a strategic partner that can offer scalable solutions for your portfolio. Hoteliers should seek partners that can support evolving business requirements and AI initiatives with fast, symmetrical dedicated internet with speeds up to 100 Gbps on a private network. In this way, hoteliers can scale technology as property needs change over time without rebuilding infrastructure. 
   
   Behind the scenes, your property management system, point-of-sale, staff tools and operations systems depend on a stable, secure and scalable network. A short interruption affects mobile keys, housekeeping, digital signage and connected devices that keep your property running smoothly. Providing staff with reliable connectivity and easy-to-use collaboration tools will help them quickly address guest concerns, create outstanding experiences, and earn repeat business. 
   
   Hospitality decision-makers should be investing in reliable solutions designed to support changing guest expectations and future business goals. This can be done by focusing on building a technology foundation that helps properties adapt to new services and emerging demands. Collaborate with a partner that brings hospitality expertise to every stage of technology planning.

Your goals are our priorities. Let’s talk.

Spectrum Business is your hospitality infrastructure partner, and much more than just a service provider. With a 100% US based workforce, we are your local company, with employees that live and work in your community. We support integrated hotel operations, stronger performance, and scalable growth. Spectrum Business hospitality solutions deliver the connectivity hotels need to improve guest experiences, run more efficiently and plan confidently for what's next.

We assess your digital infrastructure to design a solution that meets your growing connectivity needs. With network, voice and TV solutions from one vendor, you’ll have just one number to call. Plus, you can easily expand services without costly infrastructure changes. We have more than two decades of experience in hospitality, including designing, implementing and managing solutions that provide a premium guest experience and meet your budget. Our service-level agreement guarantees 100% uptime, which ensures you can count on us 24/7/365.

For detailed information on how you can turn hotel WiFi from a cost line into a strategic asset, read or download our free guide here.