Cancún Hotels Face Fines Over Storm Shelter Violations

Cancún, Mexico — The Municipal Civil Protection Directorate of Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo, has warned that sanctions will be imposed on lodging centers that do not have anti-cyclonic shelters, despite the fact that the compliance deadline expired in July and the region is in the midst of hurricane season.

The head of the department, Antonio Riveroll Ribbon, reported that of the 212 hotels registered in Cancún, with a total of 45,723 rooms, 100 already have adequate shelters and 25 have been approved as self-shelters, representing a 58 percent compliance rate.

42% of Hotels in Process of Updating Protocols

The remaining 42 percent are still in the process of updating their protocols. Riveroll Ribbon stated that meetings with business owners are ongoing to guarantee the safety of guests. He added that inspections of the pending lodging centers will be carried out this week.

Although he did not specify the amount, Riveroll Ribbon reiterated that hotels failing to enable spaces for shelter will be subject to sanctions.

Inspections Underway

The official emphasized that this year inspections began in the first few months, which allowed for progress in the renewal of both community and hotel shelters. Furthermore, it was verified that vacation rentals have protocols in place to prevent tourists from being stranded at airports or bus stations.

Riveroll Ribbon also explained that self-shelter hotels are only authorized to handle hurricanes of categories 1 and 2. In the event of a category 3 to 5 phenomenon, tourists must be evacuated and transferred to external shelters.

Currently, 100 shelters are ready to accommodate guests from between 103 and 107 hotels that may need to evacuate in an emergency. The Benito Juárez municipality, for its part, has enabled 87 shelters, including one exclusively for pets.

In the scenario of a major hurricane, category 3 to 5, up to 50 shelters will be activated immediately.