Riviera Maya Hotel Occupancy Plunges to 36% in Early September

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Hotel occupancy in the Riviera Maya has dropped to about 36% in the first days of September, an unusually steep decline for the low season that brings the destination close to levels not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council, occupancy reached 36.04% on Tuesday, Sept. 1; 36.32% on Wednesday, Sept. 2; and 37.95% on Thursday, Sept. 3, the most recent data available. The destination has roughly 59,036 hotel rooms.

The figures surpass the previous record low of 46% occupancy recorded in early October of last year.

By comparison, during the first three days of September 2025, average occupancy stood at 51%, with about 58,035 rooms available — a sharp difference from this year’s numbers.

Andrea Lotito, vice president of the Riviera Maya Hotels Association, described the situation as worrying, noting that the summer holiday season also finished with below-average figures.

“September is starting with a significant drop in the number of operations at Cancun airport, greater than the trend seen in other years,” Lotito said. “While attractions and rates are drawing the attention of potential visitors, the cost of airfares in a national and international context is generating a lot of uncertainty and holding back bookings.”

He added that the recent reduction in sargassum seaweed on area beaches could help attract tourists.

“In the context of Playa del Carmen, we can’t ask for much more than people making the most of beaches and sands free of sargassum, boutique hotels with promotions below 500 pesos per person, and restaurant deals as well,” Lotito said. “But having everything in order will also help sell the winter season. We’ll work to be ready for the coming months, and the most successful properties will probably reach around 55% occupancy, taking advantage of the patriotic month, Day of the Dead and last-minute bookings.”