Cancun Hotels Are Packed With Americans and Canadians With 80% Of Rooms Booked

Last Updated 2 years ago

Even though the winter holiday rush is over, Cancun hotels are still reporting positive occupancy rates for the beginning of the year. Hotels in Cancun have maintained an occupancy rate of above 70% going into 2023. And while this is positive news for many of those in Quintana Roo’s hotel industry, interestingly, 80% of the hotel bookings are being made by tourists from the U.S. and Canada. 

This rate of 80% means that Cancun hotels have registered approximately 70,000 visitors from the U.S. and Canada alone so far in 2023. The latest estimates reveal that the region has around 120,000 hotel rooms, and that doesn’t count all of the properties currently under construction. And despite rising hotel prices in the region, travelers continue to flock to Cancun.

Officials in the state of Quintana Roo are pleased with these numbers and aren’t planning to stop any PR for the destination anytime soon, in hopes that Cancun and the Riviera Maya will continue to smash travel records in 2023 and beyond.

Cancun Is So Popular That Nearby Destinations Are Filling Up

Nearby Puerto Morelos is already gaining popularity among all types of travelers. Once a very sleepy beach town, this destination has become more appealing to a wide range of tourists as a Cancun alternative. Puerto Morelos, as well as Isla Mujeres, the tiny island about 20 minutes off the coast of Cancun, have both reported hotel occupancy rates of above 80%.

“We see a very good year, and we are lucky to continue receiving tourists since many destinations around the world have opened and continue to choose destinations in the Mexican Caribbean to spend a few days here,” stated local Cancun hotelier Abelardo Vara Rivera.

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Why Cancun Continues To Be Popular With North American Tourists

Trying to figure out why Cancun is such a popular destination is hardly a conundrum. Not only is Cancun a quick direct flight away from most major U.S. and Canadian cities, but it’s also a destination with something for everyone, not to mention one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.

Cancun is a destination with everything from amazing tours, hotel choices aplenty, fantastic food and drinks, and sunny skies so inviting that every traveler will feel welcome there.

Cancun isn’t just a winter destination. While it’s no surprise that the winter months in Cancun are filled with U.S. and Canadian travelers looking to escape the snow and cold, it also performs well the rest of the year. Just this past summer, we reported that Cancun was the most popular destination in Mexico for American tourists over the summer. With so many all-inclusive hotels, amazing beaches, and good weather — what’s not to like?

What Do High Tourist Numbers Mean For Budget Travelers To Cancun?

But, these high occupancy rates in Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean, in general, have also meant higher hotel costs, something that has really increased over the past year. What will this evolution mean for the future of tourism in Cancun?

With a number of all-inclusive stays in Cancun going for over $1000 a night, the days of Cancun being a budget travel destination are far gone. As a result, many long-term travelers, backpackers, and digital nomads opt for cheaper options nearby. But this has driven rental prices up in those destinations as well.

For instance, accommodation prices in neighboring Playa del Carmen are going up, with the cost of hotel rooms reportedly increasing by 30% over the winter from the previous year. Any frequent traveler to the region will also tell you that prices in the Riviera Maya (food, accommodation, tours, taxi fares) have gone up steadily, especially over the past few years as the region has massively grown in popularity.

However, while prices have increased across the board, there are still properties that offer deals for budget-savvy travelers. Prices will continue to rise as popularity skyrockets, but this is just a sign that Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean are well worth the dollars spent there.

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