New Hotel Project in Quintana Roo: Terraesmeralda
Quintana Roo, a Mexican state renowned for its tourism infrastructure, is on track to reach approximately 150,000 hotel rooms in the near future. This ambitious goal places Quintana Roo as the second-largest destination globally for hospitality infrastructure, just behind Las Vegas.
The Terraesmeralda Project
Among the ongoing projects is the Terraesmeralda hotel, a 954-room establishment with an initial investment of 100 million pesos. The project also includes a 20-year environmental mitigation plan.
Scheduled to commence by mid-2026 within the Punta Maroma complex in the Riviera Maya, this hotel will be situated 2.3 km from Federal Highway 307. The construction site spans 11.85 hectares, featuring a 450-meter frontage along the coast with views of Cozumel island.
- The development plans for 10 buildings, housing a total of 954 rooms across junior, executive, and presidential categories.
- A “destination spa,” event hall, gym, commercial areas, tennis courts, and eight swimming pools for adults and children.
- 802 underground parking spaces and various service and consumption areas to accommodate the hotel’s capacity.
Growth Overview
As of September this year, Quintana Roo has nearly 138,000 hotel rooms across the state. This figure positions Quintana Roo as the second-largest destination globally for hospitality infrastructure, trailing only Las Vegas, according to Quintana Roo’s Tourism Secretary, Bernardo Cueto Riestra.
In July of this year, the entity had 135,961 rooms. The recent update places the count at 137,937—an increase of 1,976 units.
This growth represents a 10.8% increase since August 2022, as the state had only 124,463 rooms three years ago. Since then, 13,474 new units have been constructed, primarily in the northern region.
If this trend continues, Quintana Roo could surpass 150,000 rooms within five years, potentially matching Las Vegas’ count, as predicted by the state’s Tourism Secretariat.
Moreover, according to CBRE’s latest report, 2,280 new hotel rooms opened across Mexico in the first half of 2025. Of these, 1,715 (75%) were in Cancún, 355 (16%) in the Riviera Maya, and 140 (6%) in Riviera Nayarit.
This concentration signifies that Cancún and the Riviera Maya account for 91% of the newly opened hotel rooms in Mexico during the first half of 2025.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Quintana Roo’s current hotel room count? As of September 2025, Quintana Roo has nearly 138,000 hotel rooms.
- What is the Terraesmeralda project? It’s a new hotel development in Quintana Roo with 954 rooms, an initial investment of 100 million pesos, and a 20-year environmental mitigation plan.
- Why is Quintana Roo significant in the global hospitality industry? With almost 138,000 rooms, Quintana Roo ranks second globally in hospitality infrastructure, just behind Las Vegas.
- How has Quintana Roo’s hotel room count grown? The state had 124,463 rooms three years ago; now it has nearly 138,000, a 10.8% increase.
- What percentage of new hotel rooms in Mexico opened in Cancún and the Riviera Maya? 91% of the newly opened hotel rooms in Mexico during the first half of 2025 were concentrated in Cancún and the Riviera Maya.
