Cancún, Quintana Roo — Grupo Piñero, owner of the largest resort complex in the Caribbean, has confirmed plans for continued investment in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, despite challenges including rising fuel costs and a severe sargasso seaweed season.
Encarna Piñero, the company’s global president and CEO, said that the group recently completed major renovations at two of its hotels and has a third remodeling project underway within the same resort complex. The company operates a 3,000-room resort in Akumal, near Tulum.
Piñero also highlighted the growing importance of the Tulum Country Club development in the company’s Mexico strategy, saying the project has strengthened the group’s position in the golf tourism segment. Recent international competitions at the club are part of a broader effort to position the Riviera Maya as a specialized golf destination.
Regarding the massive sargasso influx, Piñero acknowledged that this year’s situation has been more difficult than expected for the tourism industry. Companies continue to implement protocols to remove the seaweed and minimize its impact on visitors while protecting reefs, coastal dunes, and beach ecosystems, she said.
However, Piñero noted that the phenomenon requires a solution beyond the individual capacity of tourism companies. She called for a comprehensive Caribbean-wide strategy involving governments, international organizations, and research centers. While scientific initiatives are underway, no definitive solution has been found due to the problem’s complexity.
Despite current challenges, Piñero reaffirmed the company’s confidence in Mexico’s tourism potential and confirmed that Grupo Piñero will continue pursuing new projects in the Mexican Caribbean.
Hotels in Playa del Carmen are now allocating up to 15% of their annual budgets to combat sargasso, with rising costs forcing some to close rooms.
