RIU Hotels Opens Riu Ventura in Cancun, Transforming Long-Abandoned Site

Cancun, Quintana Roo — RIU Hotels & Resorts has opened its newest property, the Riu Ventura, in Cancun’s hotel zone, transforming a site that had sat abandoned for nearly two decades into a modern resort with 705 rooms and a range of new amenities.

Located near Playa Delfines, also known as El Mirador — a popular spot where tourists take photos with the Cancun letters — the hotel marks the chain’s sixth property in Cancun, bringing its total to 15 in Quintana Roo and 23 across Mexico.

The project was overseen by CEO Luis Riu and involved the fourth generation of the founding family, who paid close attention to every detail.

Design and Innovations

The 14-story complex includes 36 swim-up rooms on the first floor, offering direct pool access with elevated views and enhanced privacy — a first for RIU in Mexico. The sixth floor features an adults-only area with a pool and a Sky Bar offering panoramic Caribbean views, another first for the chain’s vacation resorts in the country.

Outdoor areas include four large pools on the ground floor and a water play area for children.

Gastronomy and Services

The Riu Ventura operates on a 24-hour all-inclusive concept and offers more than eight international dining options: Asian restaurant Kaori, Mexican Agave, Italian Rimini, fusion concept Kulinarium, a steakhouse-style churrascaria, and a main buffet with live cooking stations. Casual options include Pepe’s Food for grilled items and Tiki Tako for Mexican tacos. A Sports Bar serves American-style dishes, drinks, and snacks around the clock. The hotel also has six bars, including the sixth-floor Sky Bar.

Wellness facilities include a fully equipped gym and the Renova Spa offering treatments and massages. The RIU Land kids’ club provides supervised activities, and daily and nightly entertainment is available for all ages. Guests can also attend the chain’s signature parties — White Party, Jungle Party, Pink Party, and Neon Party — held weekly at the nearby Hotel Riu Caribe.

Impact and Projection

At the official inauguration, attended by state and municipal authorities, Governor Mara Lezama highlighted the investment’s role in strengthening tourism infrastructure and promoting inclusive development. Benito Juárez Mayor Ana Paty Peralta noted the historic collaboration between Spain and Cancun since RIU’s first hotel opened there in 2003.

RIU employs more than 7,500 people in Quintana Roo and over 12,800 across Mexico. Globally, the chain operates 98 hotels in 21 countries, with over 74% under the all-inclusive model. In 2024, it hosted 6.7 million guests and employed 38,055 people, ranking as the world’s 40th largest hotel chain, one of the most relevant in the Caribbean, and Spain’s fourth largest by room count.

RIU’s expansion in Mexico will continue in 2026 with renovations of the Riu Palace Peninsula in Cancun and Riu Palace Mexico in Playa del Carmen, as well as the future construction of the Riu Palace Quintana Roo in Costa Mujeres.