Visit Raleigh, JLL and Wake County Economic Development successfully hosted the 2026 Wake County Hotel Development Summit last week at the Raleigh Convention Center — an exclusive, invitation-only gathering designed exclusively for seasoned hotel developers and investors seeking insight into one of the nation’s fastest-growing markets. The event brought together economic development teams from all 12 Wake County municipalities and over 30 hotel development companies for a full day of direct, highly curated conversations highlighting the region’s most promising hotel development opportunities.

“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,” said Dan Fenton, managing director, global tourism and destination advisory. “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.”

With Wake County continuing its rapid ascent as the third-fastest growing large county in the United States, the summit showcased the transformative momentum driving the local hospitality sector. With 19 million annual visitors generating over $3.4 billion in tourism spending, the area’s hospitality landscape represents one of the most compelling investment stories in the country today. This year’s summit played a key role in advancing Wake County’s Destination Strategic Plan initiatives, helping strengthen collaboration with municipal partners and further aligning hotel development opportunities with the county’s long‑term vision for growing overnight visitation and destination development strategy.

“The energy and interest we received at this year’s summit reflects the tremendous economic momentum driving Wake County,” said Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of Visit Raleigh. “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 region’s economic trajectory is remarkable, with the new North Carolina Children’s Health Campus expected to bring more than 8,000 jobs to southwestern Wake County, serving as a catalyst for an additional $8+ billion wave of announced investments that include major biotech expansions and massive infrastructure projects that will redefine the area’s economic landscape. Simultaneously, RDU International Airport — now the fastest‑growing large airport in the country for passenger traffic — drove a significant rise in both business and leisure travelers, further increasing the demand for high‑quality accommodations throughout Wake County.

“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,” said Michael Haley, executive director of Wake County Economic Development. “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.”

The 2026 Wake County Hotel Development Summit provided a rare alignment of opportunity, timing and access that seasoned developers recognize as truly uncommon. With all 12 Wake County municipalities prepared to move swiftly with the right partners, the summit created an ideal environment for initiating conversations that often spark transformational projects. The connections formed and insights shared throughout the day set the stage for future collaborations that will shape the next chapter of hotel development throughout Wake County.

Following the event, a dedicated landing page will remain live year‑round and updated quarterly for hotel developers seeking the latest resources and development insights from across Wake County.