Visit Raleigh, JLL, and Wake County Economic Development hosted the 2026 Wake County Hotel Development Summit last week at the Raleigh Convention Center. The invitation-only event brought together economic development teams from all 12 Wake County municipalities and over 30 hotel development companies for a day of discussions about hotel development opportunities in one of the nation’s fastest-growing markets.
Dan Fenton, managing director of global tourism and destination advisory, said, “JLL is incredibly proud to have led the coordination of this landmark summit, which showcased the exceptional passion and commitment of all 12 Wake County municipalities toward strategic hotel development. The collaborative spirit we witnessed demonstrates why Wake County continues to attract national attention from developers and investors. This event perfectly exemplifies the partnership approach that has driven so many successful tourism infrastructure projects throughout the region, and we’re excited to continue supporting Wake County’s vision for thoughtful hospitality growth that strengthens both the visitor experience and local communities.”
The summit highlighted Wake County’s rapid growth as the third-fastest growing large county in the United States. With 19 million annual visitors generating over $3.4 billion in tourism spending, organizers said this year’s summit advanced Destination Strategic Plan initiatives by strengthening collaboration with municipal partners and aligning hotel development with long-term goals for overnight visitation.
Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of Visit Raleigh, said, “The energy and interest we received at this year’s summit reflects the tremendous economic momentum driving Wake County. We are committed to supporting thoughtful hotel development that meets the needs of our rapidly expanding visitor base and strengthens our position as a premier destination. The level of engagement from developers and municipal partners alike demonstrates a shared commitment to shaping a forward‑looking hospitality landscape for our region.”
The area’s economic outlook includes major investments such as the North Carolina Children’s Health Campus expected to bring more than 8,000 jobs to southwestern Wake County. Additional announced investments total over $8 billion across biotech expansions and infrastructure projects. RDU International Airport was cited as now being the fastest-growing large airport in passenger traffic nationally.
Michael Haley, executive director of Wake County Economic Development, said, “Wake County stands out as one of the fastest growing metros in the country, and each of our municipalities are eager to seize the opportunities such growth brings. In 2025 alone, Wake County announced eight projects totaling more than 1,300 new jobs and nearly $4 billion in planned capital investments. The partnerships created by this summit will support further growth that benefits both residents and visitors alike.”
A dedicated landing page will remain live year-round with quarterly updates for hotel developers seeking resources related to developments across Wake County according to the official roster page.
