The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest sporting event in history, spanning 16 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. With over 5 million fans expected to attend, hotels and restaurants are preparing for an unprecedented surge in global guests, media, and exposure.
If you’re a hospitality business with an elevator, your interior presentation will be under more scrutiny than ever before. And yet, many property owners overlook one key detail: the condition of their elevator cab.
As we approach high season in 2026, there’s one upgrade you can’t afford to delay, modernizing your elevator interior.
Why Now? The Urgency Behind Pre-World Cup Renovations
The hospitality industry is already reporting early bookings, renovation plans, and staff expansion to accommodate the influx of visitors during the World Cup. But time is short.
According to data from @STR Global and @HospitalityNet, hotels in host cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Vancouver, Toronto, and Mexico City are already forecasting near-capacity levels months before kickoff.
With limited availability of renovation crews, increasing material costs, and tight timelines, early preparation is critical. Any upgrade delayed beyond early 2026 may not be completed in time.
Your elevator cab, in particular, is one of the most visible and heavily used elements of your space. It influences:
- Guest perception
- Brand reputation
- Cleanliness standards
- ADA compliance
An outdated or scratched elevator interior can silently damage your guest experience at a time when your property is under the world’s spotlight.
The Problem: Traditional Elevator Renovation Is Too Slow
Let’s face it: traditional elevator renovation is:
- Expensive: $30,000–$50,000 per cab
- Disruptive: 1-3 weeks of downtime
- Logistically difficult: permits, elevator shutdowns, noise, mess
If you’re fully booked, you can’t afford to take elevators out of service. And if you wait too long to start, supply chain delays or labor shortages could push your project past the tournament window.
This is exactly why hospitality operators across North America are turning to Elevator Refresh
The Solution: Resurface Instead of Replace
Elevator Refresh uses fire-rated architectural vinyl film to wrap existing elevator panels and transform their appearance, without removing or replacing anything.
Our process:
- Takes just one day
- Budget friendly at $5k-$10k per cab
- Requires no shutdown or construction
- Offers 450+ finish options (woodgrain, metal, marble, leather, and more)
- Is Class A fire-rated and UL 10B/10C tested
- Leaves elevators clean, scratch-resistant, and visually stunning
What This Means for Your Business
With the World Cup approaching:
- Guest expectations will be higher than ever
- Online reviews and first impressions will directly affect bookings
- Brand image will influence future partnerships and press exposure
Elevators are one of the first physical spaces your guests interact with. If the interior feels old, scratched, or out of sync with your brand, it sends the wrong message.
Refreshing now means you’ll:
- Be ready before the renovation rush
- Avoid inflated high-season construction costs
- Improve operational flow and guest satisfaction
Don’t Wait Until Q1 2026: The Window Is Now
Most properties will begin their renovations in early 2026, but by then, installers will be fully booked.
Elevator Refresh has already seen an increase in requests from properties in host cities. We anticipate limited availability by Q3/Q4 2025.
To stay ahead, we recommend starting your planning process no later than Fall 2025.
Most elevators are ready the same day, with no permits, no construction, and no disruption.
Finish Options That Fit the Hospitality Experience
From bold boutique textures to luxury metallics, we offer vinyl films that help match any hospitality design concept. Favorites among hotels and restaurants include:
- Brushed bronze metal
- Italian walnut woodgrain
- White marble matte
- Matte black or soft-touch textures
All are designed to resist wear, clean easily, and photograph beautifully, a bonus when social media is part of the guest experience.
Next Steps: Secure Your Spot Before the Rush
If you operate in any of the World Cup host cities (Vancouver, Toronto, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Mexico City, and more), your window of opportunity to renovate without service disruption is closing fast.
Book a free consultation now or request a finish sample.
Be ready for the world. Renovate smarter.