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Why The Mexican Caribbean Is Opening More Hotels Than Any Other Destination In Mexico

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The Mexican Caribbean travel industry is booming – and so is the number of new hotels and resorts opening their doors to travelers in the sunny destination.

New statistics show that Cancun and Quintana Roo are home to the lion’s share of all new hotel openings in Mexico.

aerial view of a new resort area in cancun

The local hospitality industry is responding to unprecedented travel demand by launching dozens of new properties; from towering all-inclusives in Cancun to more modest hotels elsewhere, some 5200 hotel rooms are currently under construction in the Mexican Caribbean.

As more travelers flock to the Mexican Caribbean this year, here’s the latest on the region’s ongoing hotel construction boom and what it means for travelers.

aerial shot of a beautiful  beach in cancun

Cancun Continues To Be The Most Attractive Location In Mexico For New Resorts

Although Mexico is home to a handful of leading resort destinations, including Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos, none outrank Cancun in terms of popularity. And this year, the crown jewel of the Mexican Caribbean is officially the most popular location for new hotels and resorts.

That’s according to new statistics published this week by the Global Commercial Real Estate Services, a leading construction & real estate consultancy firm.

@sallytrubella The best hotel in Cancun, Mexico 🇲🇽 #travelbucketlist #mexico #cancun ♬ Ginseng Strip 2002 – Yung Lean

According to the company’s latest analysis, more than 7,700 hotel rooms are currently under construction in Mexico for three to five-star properties. Of that total, a whopping 4000 are being built in Cancun, which continues to dominate the local travel industry as the most popular location for tourists.

Cancun’s Resort Zone is home to by far the largest number of hotel and resort rooms and the city’s inventory currently encompasses some 35,000 rooms. 

With the Resort Zone reaching its limit in terms of new properties, new sub-destinations within Cancun are starting to see new undertakings, including Costa Mujeres and Puerto Morelos. Offering quieter beaches and more intimate settings, these destinations are poised to rival the Resort Zone in terms of popularity in the future.

@xobridenise I didn’t wanna leave 🥹😍 #fyp #paradisuscancun #resorthotels #paradisushotel #cancunmexico #cancunresort ♬ Kemuel Kulosa cover sped up version – Kemuel

After Cancun, the Riviera Maya is officially the second-most popular region for new hotel openings in Mexico. Encompassing a long stretch of coastline from Playa del Carmen all the way to Tulum, the Riviera Maya is dotted with an endless array of resort destinations. 

The largest ones, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, both offer enchanting views of azure Caribbean waters and increasingly, exciting cultural opportunities. While Playa del Carmen is famous for its vibrant city life, Tulum is trending for cultural and historical tourism.

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Some 17 new properties are currently underway across Quintana Roo, and over a dozen new ones are set to join that list by 2024. All-inclusive resorts remain the most popular type of accommodation across the sunny destination, although online rentals and Airbnbs are quickly catching up. 

The launching of the Maya Train in late 2023 is expected to massively boost Tulum’s popularity as a hub for exploring Mayan ruins. With new investments in infrastructure and safety, the Riviera Maya is set to become one of the fastest-growing hotspots for travel in the years to come.

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Some of the most exciting projects that have recently wrapped up in the popular region include the St Regis Kanai Resort, which opened its doors to travelers in March. Boasting a unique blend of luxury lifestyle and pristine nature, the resort is one of many that immerse guests in the Riviera Maya’s unique atmosphere. 

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Meanwhile, the new Tulum International Airport, which is slated to begin operations this December, is also expected to supply new resorts with a steady flow of international guests.

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