Special report: Over 500 new hotels to launch across LATAM region

by | 08 Feb 2020 | Projects

Latin America is due to see over 500 hotels open in the coming years.

The LATAM hotel sector is experiencing steady growth with 521 properties set to launch in the coming years.

In the coming years, 521 hotels are expected to add 124,515 rooms to the Latin American hotel market.

We find out which countries and cities will experience the most growth and which properties will be stunners.

A growth spurt in the early 2020s

With 229 planned openings and 45,023 new rooms, 2020 will be the busiest year for the Latin American hotel market in terms of hotel launches. 2021 also looks promising with 152 new properties and 33,500 rooms.

56 hotels are slated to open in 2022 while 22 and 62 properties are planned for 2023 and 2024 respectively.

The focus here is clearly on high-end hotels with 270 properties going for 4 stars and 251 aiming for 5-star certification.

Leading national growth markets in LATAM

Mexico takes the lead with 133 openings and 37,459 rooms. Brazil follows in a distant second place with 66 launches and 14,456 rooms and Argentina closes out the top three with 49 new properties.

Colombia is next with 35 openings and 6,159 rooms, followed by the Dominican Republic with 28 launches and a whopping 11,955 rooms, which hints at a high average room count.

Chile, Cuba and Peru will see 26, 24 and 22 new hotels respectively while Costa Rica and Belize close out the top 10 with 12 and 11 properties each.

LATAM’s fastest-growing urban hotel markets

Cancún, one of Mexico’s most popular beach-side destinations, will see 20 hotel launches which will add another 11,427 rooms to an already very well-established market.

15 hotels will open in São Paolo, Brazil, adding 2,563 rooms. Punta Cana rounds out the top 3 with 13 openings and 8,278 rooms, again hinting at a high average key count.

Buenos Aires will also get 13 new hotels, however, they will ‘only’ bring 1,574 rooms. 12 hotels will open in Peru’s capital, Lima, while Mexico’s capital city will see 10 hotels launch.

7 openings are slated for Tulum, Santiago and Havana and Playa del Carmen, the final member of the top 10 will have 6 new properties soon.

Top international hotel brands growing in LATAM

Hampton by Hilton is the leading international brand in LATAM in terms of upcoming hotel openings with 17 projects and 2,141 rooms. Howard Johnson and Hilton Garden Inn follow with 15 properties each.

Marriott Hotels & Resorts has 9 projects with 3,089 rooms in the pipeline, followed by the Autograph Collection, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Selina with 8 planned properties each.

Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, Dreams Resorts & Spas and Ritz Carlton Hotels each have a pipeline of 7 properties.

Noteworthy hotel projects across Latin America

Roughly the size of a small village, the 3,350-room Moon Palace Punta Cana is scheduled to open in early 2023. The new luxury all-inclusive is the first Palace Resorts project in the Dominican Republic. It will include an 18-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman, 20 eateries, 9 bars, 7 swimming pools and a water park, along with a 75-booth wellness spa, a casino and a large convention centre.

In Jamaica, the 800-room Amaterra Resort is already making waves and construction has only just begun. The Amaterra Group recently signed a management agreement for the property with Marriott International. One of the main points both parties agreed on, was to give Jamaican firms and staff preference, both for construction and operations. This step is meant to ensure local people and businesses get to benefit from the island’s growing tourism sector.

The Sam Lord’s Castle Barbados – a Wyndham Grand Resort will be another a stunning property guests will love. Set to launch its 450 rooms in late 2020, the resort will be in a spot previously known as a haven for pirates and a site of historically important events.

Finally, the 351-room Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman hotel and Residences will offer guests a variety of accommodation options including rooms, studio suites and multi-room apartments from early 2021. It will also boast six cafes and restaurants, a spa and fitness centre, three swimming pools, shops and a private screening room. Its 2,300 sqm (25,000 sqft) of indoor meeting and event space will be the largest function space in the Cayman Islands.