Finally, Some Encouraging News for Cancun!
After months of reporting declining tourism numbers, I am happy to share some encouraging news!
For the first time in several weeks, hotel occupancy across the Mexican Caribbean has exceeded last year's numbers.
We are certainly not out of the woods yet, but this is a welcome change!
Cancun Hotel Occupancy Is Finally Improving
According to Informativo Peninsular, hotel occupancy across the Mexican Caribbean reached 55.7% during October 10–16, 2026.
That compares with 55% during the same period in 2025.
The region also welcomed approximately 396,285 tourists, an increase of 7,808 visitors over last year.
Cancun hotel occupancy exceeded 56%.
These may not sound like dramatic improvements. However, after watching tourism numbers decline for months, I am encouraged to finally see some positive movement.
International Flights Are Still Down
Unfortunately, we still have a problem with international flights.
According to Diario Cambio 22, Quintana Roo received 222 fewer flights than during the comparable week in 2025.
The encouraging part? Arriving airplanes carried more passengers.
This helped offset some of the lost flight capacity.
We need more visitors flying into Cancun, especially from the United States. Our vacation rental business depends heavily on families and large groups choosing Cancun for their vacations.
I will continue watching the airline numbers closely.
Cancun Vacation Rental Prices Are Still Under Pressure
The latest AirDNA Cancun market report, updated October 20, shows vacation rental occupancy around 54%.
However, the average daily rate is down approximately 19.3% year-over-year, and revenue per available rental (RevPAR) remains 1.8% lower.
In other words, vacation rentals are getting booked, but these properties are earning less per night.
This is an important distinction.
We need to remember that these figures represent the broader Cancun vacation rental market. They include smaller apartments, studios, and other properties that are not directly comparable to our large beachfront penthouses.
I still do not believe we should lower our rates simply because the overall market is discounting.
Instead, we need to pay attention to what comparable vacation rentals are charging and, more importantly, what guests are booking.
What Does This Mean for Tim's Ocean Condos Owners?
For the first time in a while, we have a little positive momentum!
However, one good week does not mean Cancun tourism has completely recovered.
For now, I recommend that we:
- Maintain our current Christmas and New Year's pricing while monitoring inquiries and reservations.
- Continue using targeted promotions where they make sense.
- Watch international flights and U.S. traveler demand.
- Focus on making our beachfront penthouses stand out from the competition.
Our penthouses offer something quite different from the average Cancun vacation rental. Large families and groups need the bedrooms, living space, private terraces, and beachfront location we provide.
We need to continue communicating that value rather than competing on price alone.
My Thoughts Moving Forward
I am encouraged by these latest tourism numbers!
We have been watching a difficult Cancun vacation rental market throughout 2026. Reduced international flights, weaker tourism demand, and increased competition have all affected our business.
It is nice to finally have some positive news to report.
Nevertheless, I want to see several consecutive weeks of improvement before calling this a recovery.
With the winter travel season approaching, I am hopeful that this positive movement continues.
As always, I will keep monitoring the Cancun vacation rental market and sharing developments that could affect our owners and their rental income.
