Mexico Leads Hotel Development in Latin America

Mexico boasts the largest hotel construction pipeline in Latin America, according to the latest Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics (LE). A total of 207 projects and 38,671 guestrooms are currently in development in the country, far exceeding’s Brazil’s second-place status of 97 projects and 15,901 guestrooms.

At the close of 2021’s fourth quarter, Mexico City also yielded the largest pipeline of all Latin American cities with 23 projects and 3,291 guestrooms. Lima, Cancun, Guadalajra, and São Paulo rounded out the top five.

A total of 88 new hotels and 14,929 guestrooms opened in Latin America last year, with 28 hotels and 4,737 guestrooms opening in the final quarter alone. The region’s combined construction pipeline totaled 563 projects and 101,523 guestrooms at the close of 2021. This total, however, reflects a year-over-year (YOY) decrease of 11 and 7 percent in projects and guestrooms, respectively. Furthermore, 139 new projects were announced during 2021 (a 4 percent increase YOY) and guestrooms declined 1 percent YOY with 27,811 guestrooms announced.

The final quarter of 2021 also comprised 281 projects and 58,813 guestrooms under construction, and construction was slated to begin on 147 projects and 20,732 guestrooms within the next 12 months. A total of 135 projects and 21,978 guestrooms were in early planning as well.

LE analysts anticipate new hotel openings in Latin America to increase in 2022 and 2023.

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