Mexican Caribbean Showcases Charm at the 2024 Cancun Travel Mart

The Mexican Caribbean is increasingly consolidated as one of the favorite destinations of visitors from around the world, especially the United States and Canada, as demonstrated by the recently celebrated Cancun Travel Mart 2024, in which 3,850 business appointments were made, and more than 4,950 million dollars were contracted for the next holiday season.

The 12 destinations benefited were Cancun, Costa Mujeres, Grand Costa Maya, Isla Mujeres, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Bacalar, Chetumal, Mahahual, and Maya Ka’an. According to Jesús Almaguer Zalazar, President of the Cancun, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres Hotels Association, this winter season is expected to have a hotel occupancy of between 85 and 95 percent in the 135,000 rooms that make up the Mexican Caribbean.

This global tourist power is supported by four international airports operating in the tourist area, which link 134 cities with direct flights, the most important destinations, several cruises, and more than 133 thousand hotel rooms available. In addition, the Mayan Train already operates with most stations open, and one of these links directly to the international airports of Cancun and Tulum.

To make it clear that the Mexican Caribbean does not rest on its determination to lead the tourism industry, this forum announced the subsequent opening of the new hotel of Grupo Xcaret, to be inaugurated in 2025, in which the company invested 700 million dollars. “This is Mexico’s largest investment in tourism, which joins the $600 million investment announced a few days ago by Royal Caribbean,” said Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, Mexico’s Minister of Tourism. On the other hand, Mara Lezama Espinosa, Governor of the state of Quintana Roo, stressed that the success of the Cancun Travel Mart 2024 results from the workers’ commitment to benefit their families.

Grupo Xcaret forms a portfolio that combines the highest-quality hotels and gastronomy with experiences for the whole family in a series of theme parks located in the Riviera Maya, such as Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xoximilco, Xenses, and Xavage. In addition to this, they also offer Xichén, Xenotes, Tulum-Xel-Há, and Tulum-Cobá-Xel-Há tours.

At Xenses, a theme park owned by Grupo Xcaret, visitors enjoy sensory experiences. (Photo Credit: Valentín Fuentes)

The event was attended by the most critical hoteliers in the industry, such as Mauricio Serna, CEO of Fives Hotels & Residences. This Spanish company owns four All-Inclusive hotels in the Puerto Morelos Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, with 1,000 rooms that continue to invest in the region. “We just incorporated, six months ago, the fourth hotel of the chain, The Beachfront by the Fives Hotels, with 43 rooms with beachfront, adults only, and personalized service,” says the hotelier.

Another of the main participants, Alicia Mejía, founder of Mexitours, an agency with 45 years of experience in the industry, highlighted to TravelPulse the importance of Cancun Travel Mart 2024 for the industry by providing a space to approach its customers. “We are suppliers of the most important online services, such as Booking Expedia, and we are closing here with Azabache, PriceTravel, and Despegar, among others,” says the board of this agency recognized in the past Tianguis Turístico de México as the best Destination Management Company.

In Cancun Travel Mart 2024, more than 3,850 business appointments were made, and more than 4,950 million dollars were contracted for the next holiday season. (Photo via Valentín Fuentes).

Mexitours is a company well positioned in the United States and Canada due to the importance tourism from these countries represents for Mexico. “They manage the online booking a lot, not only for beach destinations but also for places of religious importance and colonial destinations, and for that, we offer group and individual routes,” says Mejía.

What’s New in Luxury Resorts

By the end of 2024, the Mexican Caribbean will launch new and wholly renovated resorts, showing that it is still one of the most active regions in world tourism. One of the most recent launches is Hyatt Vivid Grand Island, a 400-room property opposite the Nichupté Lagoon.

In addition to its luxurious rooms, Hyatt Vivid Grand Island has an All-Inclusive offer with ten restaurants, six bars and lounges, and several pools. Menus range from local flavors to sophisticated international dishes, plus a full drinks menu.

Hyatt Vivid Grand Island, a 400-room property opposite the Nichupté Lagoon in Cancun, is a novelty in the luxury hotel market in the Mexican Caribbean. (Photo Credit: Valentín Fuentes)

Another recently opened resort in the Mexican Caribbean is Secrets Playa Blanca, Costa Mujeres. This adults-only All-Inclusive resort has 507 rooms, and guests can enjoy the benefits of Hyatt’s Unlimited Luxury. However, higher categories like the Preferred Club offer ultra-luxury rooms. Secrets Playa Blanca, Costa Mujeres has nine restaurants, six of which are a la carte, a buffet, a grill, and a coffee shop, among other amenities.

Ava Cancun is one of the newest resorts in the Mexican Caribbean. It is a massive property with 1,600 rooms overlooking the sea. This All-Inclusive property features 17 fine-dining restaurants and several nightlife spots, a luxurious spa, bowling, a wide walking area with several pools, and an artificial saltwater lagoon where guests practice water sports.

Ava Cancun is one of the newest resorts in the Mexican Caribbean. It is a massive property with 1,600 rooms overlooking the sea. (Photo Credit: Valentín Fuentes)

Desire Riviera Maya Resort is another place that has recently been upscaled, offering more luxury in its amenities and rooms, including exclusive Diamond Suites. This all-inclusive resort, only for adult couples, has natural spaces where guests can dispense with clothes. It also offers haute cuisine in six restaurants, entertainment during the day, themed nights, and pool parties.

Cancun Travel Mart 2024 was a carbon-neutral event thanks to the sponsorship of The Top Connections and The Dolphin Company. In addition, through a significant sponsorship of the organization Oceanus, it compensated almost 100 tons of carbon to restore the Mesoamerican reef. With these strategies of opening hotels and providing quality service, the Mexican Caribbean is consolidated as a top destination for travelers worldwide. 

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