Cancun Travel Mart Showcases Growth in Mexico’s Top Tourism Destination

by Mark Chesnut
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Mon November 3, 2025

The opening-night gala of Cancun Travel Mart 2025 exemplified the optimistic vibe of a destination in growth mode. Hundreds gathered for a festive evening at the soon-to-open Secrets Mirabel Cancun Resort & Spa, a beautifully reimagined property (formerly the Oasis Sens) that will debut in November 2025 as part of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection. 

That lively gathering gave attendees a sneak peek at the newly branded property — and also provided a taste of the positive developments in Cancún, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres and the rest of the region. 

The 37^th annual Cancun Travel Mart, which took place October 22-24 at Iberostar Selection Cancun, provided a platform for the Cancún, Puerto Morelos & Isla Mujeres Hotel Association (CPMIMHA), local tourism officials and hoteliers to share news and connect with domestic and international attendees. A total of more than 550 delegates attended, representing 230 companies and 28 countries, with more than 2,231 business meetings taking place. The hotel association estimates that sales resulting from these negotiations are projected to exceed US $5.2 billion, surpassing the previous year’s total of US $4.95 billion.

Issues including sustainability, hotel growth and the potential of the FIFA World Cup were among the hot topics at this year’s convention.

Sustainability Takes Center Stage

Cancun is poised to become the first Mexican destination to join the Zero Waste initiative, overseen by the UN World Tourism Organization, according to Ana Paty Perala, the municipal president of Cancun.

Noting that the city currently generates some 1,500 tons of waste daily, Perala said the announcement “represents the new view of tourism that we’re building together with our governor, Mara Lezama: more conscientious, more fair and truly sustainable, to generate wellbeing today without putting tomorrow at risk.”

In the first phase, the program will conduct diagnostics of 89 hotels in the hotel zone's plastic, straw, and disposable reduction efforts, with the first results to be disclosed at the upcoming FITUR 2026.

The program, supported by TUI Care Foundation as part of their first Latin America deployment, includes technical and practical actions such as waste generation analysis, beach and mangrove clean-ups, and local-level campaigns.

Hotel Developments Fuel Momentum

In addition to business meetings, participants also had opportunities to visit other destinations in the region, including Puerto Morelos, where The Fives Oceanfront Riviera Maya hosted a press lunch and La Sirena, a restaurant in downtown Puerto Morelos, hosted a rooftop cocktail. On Isla Mujeres, the upscale Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets staged a press lunch.

Attendees also learned about ongoing investment in new and renovated hotels throughout the region.

One of the most unique new hotels is SOTA, a beautiful “holistic jungle sanctuary” near Puerto Morelos. At this design-driven property, guests stay in stylish glass villas and can partake in activities such as sound therapy, temazcal ceremonies, yoga sessions, and swims in a private, on-site cenote. (I enjoyed a post-convention stay at SOTA, and I was impressed by the hotelier’s innovative combination of natural beauty, local traditions and decidedly upscale accommodations and amenities.)

Hotels still in the works include the new-build Hyatt Place Cancún Airport, scheduled to debut in November; the Hotel Riu Ventura, opening in December; the Grand Hyatt Cancun Beach Resort, slated for a summer 2026 opening; and the Park Hyatt Cancun, expected to debut in late 2026.

Properties scheduled to reopen after major renovations include the Royalton Riviera Cancun, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort, the Royalton Hideaway Riviera Cancun, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort – Adults Only, both of which reopen in December, and Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort and Hyatt Zilara Cancún, scheduled for 2026.

The Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancún, meanwhile, has already completed a major transformation that includes new immersive dining experiences (tango-infused steakhouse dinners, beachfront omakase nights), a new adults-only wellness center with beach club and upgraded suites with bespoke turndown services and mixology kits.

Also offering new amenities is the Hilton Cancún All‑Inclusive Resort, which has opened its first adults-only beach area, the AMAI Beach Club.

Spa enthusiasts may be especially interested in two properties in the Lomas Hospitality portfolio that have added new experiences. Wine Wellness, which includes the therapeutic use of wine, is now available at Náay Spa, a facility shared by Palafitos – Overwater Bungalows and El Dorado Maroma.

Soccer and Strategy

Beyond the business appointments and hospitality news, one of the most talked-about announcements during Cancún Travel Mart was the region’s strategic positioning ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Cancun’s tourism officials and hotel community are banking big on the tournament to bring additional travelers, with a new campaign designed to lure stopover visitors — especially those traveling from Latin America and Europe. Among the selling points: Cancun is one of the few destinations with nonstop service to all of the 16 FIFA host cities.

The state government of Quintana Roo, led by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, presented an overview of the promotional campaign and noted that Quintana Roo will serve as the base camp for two international teams.

During a packed-room presentation, the governor said that the base camp designation “fills us with pride, but also commits us to continue transforming tourism with wellbeing, social justice and a vision for the future.” She praised the efforts of thousands of people behind the scenes — from airport staff to beach-cleaning teams. “Through the efforts of our people, the Mexican Caribbean will be the heart of the World Cup 2026, and will demonstrate that in Mexico and Quintana Roo, the transformation continues.”

Lezama Espinosa also stressed the benefits of her government’s progressive stance. “In this new form of governing, we demonstrate that a humanist government with a feminist heart can transform economic development into wellbeing for families,” she said. “This is confirmation that when transformation takes place with honesty and hard work, results are felt in every community.”

The 38th edition of Cancún Travel Mart will take place October 21-23, 2026, with a focus on greater digital integration, sustainability and further international expansion. "While details for next year are still being finalized, we are excited about what’s to come," said Rodrigo de la Peña Segura, president of CPMIMHA. "We have ambitious plans in store for 2026."

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