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Yesterday, numerous guests staying in three hotels in the Tulum area were subjected to an abrupt end to their reservations after a land dispute forced the hotels to close and cease their operations without warning. Tulum has grown massively as a destination in recent years, emerging as a wildly-popular place to be since the pandemic ended, and millions of travelers flocked to the resort town over the past year to experience all it has to offer.
However, as more and more hotels spring up around the town to capitalize on its recent successes, it’s these three suddenly closing their doors and turfing out their guests at the drop of a hat that has concerned travelers and really caught attention. Here’s a look at everything we know about this story so far, including which hotels will be removed from the map, why they were forced to close their doors so quickly – and why this practice may be more common than you think.
Hotels Close Doors – Information For Travelers
Finding a hotel for your stay in the Mexican Caribbean isn’t exactly an easy thing to do. Not only are guests spoiled for choice with so many big-name brands and small boutique options to choose from, but with occupancy rates so high, it can even be hard to find a hotel at all on the dates you want to stay. However, while we’ve all suffered the regret of picking a place in the middle of the nightlife district or the middle of nowhere, these mistakes pale in comparison to picking a hotel that shouldn’t have existed in the first place.
As hotels and businesses are built quickly to capitalize on the insane demand that there is to travel to places like Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum, mistakes are often made, and sometimes corners are cut in the process – often leading to businesses being demolished and closed for not having the correct legal footing to operate from in the first place. Unfortunately, three hotels that had been operating in Tulum are the latest to fall foul of such issues in the region.
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Three hotels that were located in the popular coastal area of Tulum were forced to close and cease their operations yesterday afternoon following a dispute between these properties and the company Santa María S. de RL. Believed to be due to an issue regarding a land dispute, the move saw agents from the Quintana Roo Prosecutor’s Office, police officers, and freight units turn up at the hotels and evict the residents and workers in the middle of the day as they acted on official orders issued by the First and Second Civil Courts of First Instance, leaving the ailing holidaymakers to scramble to find alternative accommodation.
The three hotels which were forcibly closed yesterday were named Orchid Beach, Tatich Beach, and Xuuxum hotels. Orchid Beach, which is a modern, attractive resort located in a premium location right on the sand by the beach, was a four-star property and currently has a review score of 8.0 on Booking.com, with reviews praising the friendliness of the staff. Regretfully, whilst guests were evicted from the three aforementioned hotels, the staff employed by them will also find themselves without a place to work as a result of the land dispute.
Los hoteles que desalojaron fueron Orchid Beach, Tatich Beach, Xuuxum, los cuales se ubican entre los kilómetros 6.5 y 8 de la carretera Tulum-Boca Paila. #Tulum @FGEQuintanaRoo https://t.co/kCOsCJJufZ
— Quinta Fuerza (@QuintaFuerzaMX) February 2, 2023
It was a close call for the one other hotel, which was also facing the same fate as the aforementioned three. According to reports, actuaries and police officers arrived at a fourth hotel, Coco Limited. Thankfully, an agreement was reached that saw the resort’s furniture returned and allowed the guests and staff to return to the property. None of the resort’s owners have commented on the events of yesterday as of yet.
Unfortunately, such situations are not as rare as one might think. With businesses keen to turn a quick profit, proper due diligence isn’t always followed, and construction can begin on land which belongs to someone else. Sadly however, it’s often the travelers who suffer the most, as businesses are keen to squeeze every dollar out of the arrangement before shutting down operations at the last possible minute – often without the courtesy of warning those who are set to be affected the most.
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Chigurhs Cattlegun
Monday 8th of May 2023
Lol, sounds like the local officials didn’t like the weekly bribes being “light” or absent altogether lmao.
Dan
Monday 6th of February 2023
This activity is common. It has been an almost normal occurrence on expensive beach property, and no viable explanation ever given. The "authorities" come in and take everything and block the entrance.
Karah
Saturday 4th of February 2023
I am suppost to be staying at Orchid Beach on 2/16 but when I tried to ask them about this, they said they are now back open? Does this mean they were closed by mistake??
Yolanda
Sunday 5th of February 2023
@Karah, I would see if possible rescheduling with another location, you don't want to loose your money if they can't take you or be there & be thrown out.
Sofia Tellez
Thursday 2nd of February 2023
"Sadly however, it’s often the travelers who suffer the most" - It's not. It's the environment, local communities, and local economy.
Guy Jones
Saturday 18th of February 2023
Would you prefer that foreign tourists spend their hard-earned money in other countries and destinations? Do you seriously contend that the "local economy" and residents will be better off without the influx of billions of dollars worth of revenue derived from foreign tourists?
I don't deny that there may be environmental problems that pertain to tourism, but, your inability to acknowledge tourism's positive economic benefits on the local population is irrational and unbalanced.