Quintana Roo Accelerates Hotel Boom With New Projects, Nears 140,000 Rooms

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Quintana Roo is cementing its position as one of Latin America’s top tourism engines, with hotel capacity approaching historic levels. The state is on track to reach nearly 140,000 hotel rooms, a figure that rivals major international destinations.

The milestone was highlighted during the 29th edition of ExpHotel 2026, held June 2–4 in Cancún. The trade fair brought together key players from Mexico’s and the Caribbean’s hospitality industry, serving as a platform for investment, innovation, and supply chain strengthening. Organizers projected participation from more than 8,800 specialized buyers and over 600 national and international exhibitors, underscoring the event’s growing importance.

ExpHotel: A Barometer for the Tourism Industry

Over three days, suppliers, hotel chains, restaurateurs, procurement directors, chefs, and business leaders analyzed trends, technologies, and opportunities in a sector that continues to expand rapidly. The program also included gastronomic tastings, workshops, and training sessions for hospitality professionals.

Pablo Casas, Quintana Roo’s deputy secretary for tourism promotion, said ExpHotel’s significance lies in its ability to concentrate the entire value chain that sustains the state’s tourism leadership.

“We’ve held 29 editions here in the state; it has definitely become the main B2B supply and business fair for the entire tourism and services value chain across our 12 destinations,” he said.

Casas noted that the event’s continued presence in Quintana Roo demonstrates the strength of the local tourism sector. “It’s relevant, important for the state, and very special that we can host it year after year here in Cancún,” he added.

Unprecedented Hotel Growth

Hotel development remains a key indicator of the state’s tourism strength. According to data from the Deputy Ministry of Tourism Promotion, Quintana Roo is close to reaching 140,000 hotel rooms, a figure that places it among the world’s top destinations by lodging capacity.

“We are approaching 140,000 hotel rooms in our destination,” Casas said, comparing the figure to Las Vegas, one of the world’s most important hotel markets, which has around 150,000 rooms.

The growth has been steady: for nearly a decade, the state has added between 3,500 and 4,000 new rooms each year, driven by confidence from national and international investors and sustained demand for the Mexican Caribbean.

For the remainder of 2026, officials expect about 3,000 additional rooms to come online in Cancún alone, spread across four new hotel developments.

Casas emphasized that growth must remain sustainable. “Yes to investment, yes to growth, but always respecting environmental sustainability and our natural resources,” he said.

Infrastructure and Diversification: New Challenges

From the business perspective, Quintana Roo’s tourism growth requires parallel investments in services and urban infrastructure to maintain destination competitiveness.

María Jovita Portillo, president of Coparmex Quintana Roo, noted that the business organization currently has more than 165 members, several of whom actively participate in ExpHotel to seize business opportunities.

“It generates good economic spillover for our hospitality sector in terms of seeing different opportunities to condition, improve, and innovate the hotel offerings we have today,” she said.

Portillo explained that Cancún continues to expand its tourism infrastructure while new areas such as Isla Blanca are being developed. Strategic projects like the Tren Maya and the creation of a financial and technology district aim to diversify the state’s economy.

“We already have a decree for a financial and technology district, we have the Tren Maya — several aspects that contribute to improving the experience in Quintana Roo,” she said.

However, she warned that the main challenge to sustaining growth is related to basic infrastructure.

“Essential services like drainage, water, electricity — all of that needs improvement from both the state and the private sector,” she said.

Coparmex Quintana Roo will continue promoting training, innovation, and business linkage programs to strengthen local companies’ competitiveness.