The Riviera Nayarit’s tourism success story continues, with average hotel occupancies from January to June rising by 11.1 percent higher – for an average of 82.5 percent – compared to the same period in 2014.

Better still, tourism officials say they are anticipating this summer’s hotel occupancies will soar to an average of 98 percent.

“The continual training sessions with travel agents and meeting planners, plus the public relations, marketing and promotional strategies keep bearing fruit – although the best motive for the increase in occupancy has definitely been word of mouth,” said Marc Murphy, managing director for the Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Murphy said that 23.7 percent of visitors choose Riviera Nayarit as a vacation destination based on the recommendations of friends and family. All told, Riviera Nayarit a repeat level of 33.7 percent.

Meanwhile, growth in the luxury segment has been particularly strong, with occupancies averaging 84 percent from January to June, versus 75 percent in 2014.

To accommodate increasing numbers of tourists, new hotels continue to debut while existing properties undergo facelifts.

One&Only is in the process of developing the One&Only Mandarina, an ultra-resort with 145 villas. The Matlali Hotel in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle debuted late last year with 40 villa-style accommodations.

The Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit unveiled the results of a $20 million facelift, while the Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa completed a four-year renovation.

In 2018, the scheduled debut of a 300-acre Cirque du Soleil theme park in Nuevo Vallarta is expected to further boost tourism numbers.

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