59 NEW LUXURY HOTELS AND RESORTS IN THE PIPELINE. The tourism is flourishing, more and more visitors travel to Mexico: by 2030, according to government plans, the number of overnight guests should be doubled to 174 million per year. Each year the number of hotel guests will increase by about 3.6 percent, according to the forecast. This promotes the real estate investors and set free significant investments: According to TOPHOTELPROJECTS, the worldwide leading provider for global b2b hotel data, currently 59 new top hotels with 12,480 rooms are in the pipeline in Mexico.
The number of hotel construction projects could still rise. The number of required hotel rooms is expected to increase to 854,000 by 2030 (currently 533,000) according to the official tourism plans.
Outstanding hotel construction projekte in Mexico
Capella Bahia Maroma, Riviera Maya – 86 rooms – opening: February 2015
Grand Hyatt Punta Raza – 443 rooms – H2 2015
JW Marriott Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas – 300 rooms – May 2015
MGM Resort Cabo San Lucas, Cabo San Lucas – 500 rooms – September 2015
The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya – 124 rooms – late 2016
W Retreat & Spa Kanai. Playa del Carmen – 180 rooms – July 2015
The state has also recognized the need to develop tourism infrastructure and expects investments of more than ten billion euros during 2014 and 2018. More than 60 percent of this amount will be applied by the private sector. The National Infrastructure Program 2014-2018 devotes a separate chapter to the tourism and identified a total of 83 projects, which the State intends to contribution its share.
The existing infrastructure should be developed especially in those places where a bigger flow of tourist are going to. Public money will help to retain beaches, those who suffering from erosion or are threatened by it. Also the historical centers of important colonial cities will get support. Municipalities, who are in the program “Pueblos Mágicos” (Magical Villages) of the Ministry of Tourism, will also benefit from grants for urban regeneration, including street lighting, underground wiring, restoration of historic buildings and drinking water supply.
Another trend, which has a positive impact on hotel construction is the growing health tourism. According to Pro México, the expenditure of foreign patients in Mexico have doubled in seven years and reached in 2013 almost three billion US dollars. Due to the geographical proximity and cost advantages, patients from the USA and Canada are the most important target group. The wellness tourism and specially oriented hotel deal expected to continue growing.
Hotel construction investment
AM Resort – US $ 500 million – New construction of three hotels in the state of Quintana Roo (Riviera Maya), the period is not known; current portfolio: around 8,000 rooms
Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe – $ 150 million – 2014 to 2016: Expansion of its portfolio from 3,735 up to 5,735 rooms; Focus on all-inclusive hotels with 4 or 5 stars
Grupo Meliá – $ 150 million – 2014: construction of a new hotel with 500 rooms in Huatulco
Grupo Posadas – 420 million US $ – 2014-2015: 36 new hotels by the brands Fiesta Inn and One; Focus on regions of the oil and automotive industry
Hilton – 340-360 million US $ – 2014-2016: 34 new hotels, expansion of its portfolio from 5,000 to 7,700 rooms; Focus on regions of the oil and automotive industry
Hoteles City Express – US $ 230 million – 2014 to 2016: 28-32 new hotels; long-term expansion of the portfolio from 100 (end of 2014) to 200 hotels by 2020
Hyatt – $ 800 million – 2014 to 2017: opening of seven new hotels, including in Mexico City, Guadalajara, in the state of Baja California Sur and on the Riviera Maya
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) – US $ 202 million – 2014: opening of 16 new hotels, thus expanding its portfolio from 1,839 to 21,366 rooms; Focus on business and the brands Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express
Marriott – 2014-2017: Expansion of its portfolio from 24 to 60 hotels, including in Los Cabos, Hermosillo, Queretaro, Monterrey and Mexico City
New players try to jump on the train. The Mexican implant manufacturer Grupo Venta Internacional has announced its plans to build a hotel for patients who want to undergo a plastic surgery in Mexico.
Growth potential is also seen for ecotourism in Mexico. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) its growth rate is three times higher the conventional tourism. Hotels are likely to respond to the growing interest in sustainable tourism with such an offer.
Certification for sustainable construction such as the “Leed” label from the US Green Building Council are on the rise. Hoteles City Express, one of the three largest hotel chains in Mexico, plans to certified ten of its current 90 hotels to “Leed” until the end of 2014.
These also provide opportunities for foreign companies, offering technical solutions for energy efficiency measures in buildings. This applies, for example, LED lighting systems, innovative zero-emission insulating materials, technologies for the reduced water consumption and local water treatment systems.
