Rates Spike As Much As 20% As Vacation Demand Soars
Cancun hotel rates are seeing huge increases as the world’s demand for travel soars. Cancun’s position as one of the most popular destinations on the planet is seeing it disproportionately affected.
According to Jesus Almaguer, President of the Cancun, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres Hotel Association, many hotels are already reaching 100% occupancy for June, while some are already full for July. This summer is widely expected to be one of the biggest in travel history, fueled by the pent-up frustrations of the past two years.
“Revenge Travel,” as it has been nicknamed, is likely to see most visitors to Cancun and Tulum reaching far deeper into their pockets than in previous years. With occupancy so high, rates are being hiked as much as twenty percent in some cases.
Speaking at a Mexican tourist event, Almaguer said, “they are increasing, there are hotels that report significant increases, and I believe that this flea market will serve as a good platform to increase rates by between 10 and 20%, since now what operators are looking for are not rates, they are looking for spaces because the product is in demand.”
The July rates are particularly interesting, considering the month is generally a slower month for Cancun. After the chaos of easter, when millions of visitors passed through the state, Quintana Roo experienced something of a lull, possibly caused by the extremely high volume of sargassum being deposited across the coastline.
Bookings are already starting to rise for the winter season- traditionally one of the busiest periods for the region- as Americans escape the cold during their winter breaks. As most of those bookings are well ahead of the game, it’s unclear how those rates are being affected.
It’s good news for the tourism industry in Quintana Roo, as the state has been struggling with several high-profile problems that could potentially scare off visitors. Luckily, occupancy and rates have risen with the gang violence. Bars and restaurants are being attacked, the murder rate is shocking, and several tourists have been killed in the crossfire, yet rates seem unaffected.
Most tourists seem to have kept the violence in context and are aware that they remain extremely safe. Still, the government is doing what it can to quell the chaos being created by organized crime. A reputation for violence is not something any tourist destination wants to have, and Tulum and Cancun risk turning into another Acapulco – one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
For now, at least, the explosive growth of both cities will continue. Investment seems never-ending, evident in hotel giant Hilton’s continued interest in the area. It’s just opened two new hotels in Tulum on top of a massive all-inclusive in Cancun. It’s already planned multiple more projects in Quintana Roo and around Mexico.
Tourists should prepare for some eye-watering rates if trying to grab last-minute deals to the state. Once considered a dying breed in the face of online aggregators, travel agents are making a comeback as their expertise becomes especially valuable. The connections many of them have to individual resorts and airlines are proving beneficial and their ability to sniff out a good deal. Utilizing the help of an agent may be the key to keeping the cost down – at least a little.
However, there is a lot of evidence that people simply don’t care about the cost of their next vacation. Multiple surveys suggest that the average traveler is willing to spend far more after two years of restrictions.
Those traveling to Cancun in the summer should plan ahead as much as possible. Contact hotels, activity providers, and restaurants to reserve spots and avoid disappointment.
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