According to World Bank, the LAC region the slowest growth region in the world, the region is expected to grow by +2.1% in 2025 and +2.4% in 2026.

Low investment (reflected in the limited number of deals done, below), high debt costs, local issues and an uncertain external environment are major barriers to the region’s development.

Despite this somewhat pessimistic backdrop, the region’s tourism industry has boomed, with UNWTO recording that LAC exceeded 2019 (pre-C19) levels. Compared to 2023, the region witnessed +7% growth. But the key stat is surely #20 for those who know.

The encouraging UNWTO trends were reflected in actual hotel data, whereby there was lots of positive territory within the performance numbers, with Rio de Janeiro being the star (+23.3% in occupancy and +51.1% in GOPPAR) and Miraflores its understudy (+17.5% in ADR and +39.1% in GOPPAR).

At the bottom end of the order, Cartagena GOPPAR fell by -10.6% and Cayman Islands by -6%.

The development of multiple luxury resort projects and the need to build resilient infrastructure are sustaining construction cost inflation across much of the Caribbean. The number of transactions was quite limited again this last year and transparent deal data remains very limited.

Elsewhere, new developments continue to be realised and refurbishments to be undertaken as properties rebadge and/or defend their market positions. Despite the pessimistic backdrop, the region’s tourism industry has boomed.

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The Latin America & Caribbean Hotels Monitor is a collaborative report by Whitebridge Hospitality, RLB, and HOTSTATS. The latest issue for May 2025 reveals a mixed yet promising landscape for the hotel industry across Latin America & Caribbean.