Small hotel chains have seen a significant drop in their rates since April 2024.
An average of 35 small hotels in Playa del Carmen, representing 500 rooms and at least 500 employees, have been in crisis since April 2024 due to the low rates they have to offer.
Offner Arjona, president of the Small Hotels Association of the Riviera Maya, noted that in 2019 and 2022, rates exceeded 1,000 pesos, but now they are around 800 pesos per night, which implies a 30 percent decrease; a significant drop.
The interviewee mentioned that new promotional planning is required, along with other issues such as noise pollution in many places in the downtown area. “We have the capacity to continue hiring more people, but it completely depends on occupancy and rates, which have significantly decreased in recent months.”
He commented that with the new municipal administration, there will be close communication, which will benefit the recovery of jobs and rates, as visitor attention is crucial to the city’s economic mechanism. He said that climate change has increased the volume of sargassum, but it has been well managed so far; and other viral contagion situations are under control in the health sector, making the outlook good for the rest of the year.
Hotel Occupancy Plummets
Overall, the Riviera Maya experienced the lowest hotel occupancy level of the year, with a rate of just 54% in approximately 57,000 available rooms. According to the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council, the decline in the number of visitors has been continuous since the beginning of September. This latest percentage, recorded on September 10, had already been anticipated since August, after the end of the summer holidays, when occupancy was between 60 and 65 percent, also moderate figures.
The most recent data from the Council indicates that the month began with an occupancy of 63 percentage points, which was the highest level recorded in the first 10 days of the month. However, the average rate at the beginning of September stands at 59, showing a downward trend.
Compared to the same day last year, when occupancy was 63, the current situation is less favorable. Hoteliers had predicted this decline, largely due to external factors. Andrea Lotito, vice president of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, attributes the decrease to the reduction in the number of flights arriving at Cancun International Airport.
Although an improvement in occupancy is anticipated in the coming weeks due to the celebrations of the national holidays, which will include events in various lodging centers. José Gómez Burgos, secretary of the Caribbean Sea tourism cooperative, expects an increase in tourist activities in the coastal area for that time. However, he foresees that after these festivities, there may be another drop in occupancy, possibly more pronounced.
Source: Por Esto
