Riviera Maya Hotels Slash Rates as Summer Bookings Lag

Riviera Maya, Mexico — Hotels in the Riviera Maya are maintaining rates at 30% below their usual cost at the start of the high season in an effort to attract guests, following lower-than-expected occupancy levels in the destination.

Andrea Lotito, Vice President of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, stated that hotels are keeping prices at low-season levels due to uncertainty about summer bookings, which are increasingly being made last-minute.

“The concern is that because of the trend of last-minute reservations, we cannot take many risks, so rates remain at low-season levels or 30% below what was expected,” said Lotito.

Occupancy Below Previous Year’s Levels

The latest report from the Tourism Promotion Council indicated a 64% occupancy rate across approximately 58,008 hotel rooms. The average occupancy rate for the first two weeks of July stands at 63.8%.

During the same period last year, hotel occupancy had already rebounded to over 70%, coinciding with the start of summer vacations.

Lotito noted that current occupancy levels resemble those seen during the post-pandemic economic recovery. However, the recent decline in sargassum seaweed arrivals has given hoteliers some optimism.

“The season begins with some good news and some concerns. The good news is that in recent days, the beaches have recovered from the impact of sargassum seen earlier, and in the city, the Feria del Carmen calendar is attracting visitors,” she added.

Domestic Tourism Expected to Drive Demand

Regarding occupancy in downtown Playa del Carmen hotels—a key indicator for the broader destination—expectations are set at reaching at least 65% occupancy.

“Domestic tourism will be the protagonist of the season, and the Riviera Maya will compete with Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, and Holbox, hoping to achieve 65% occupancy in downtown hotels,” Lotito said.