The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board is reporting some major gains for the destinations hotel scene in 2015. From new hotels to a strong occupancy rate of over 90 percent in December, here are the biggest trends of the year.
In November, the destination started the season with the opening of the new 443-room Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive Adults Only, located on Puerto Vallarta’s South Zone. The property is 20 minutes away from the airport and has oceanfront suites with private balconies, on-site gourmet restaurants and bars, plus the stylish Sky Bar lounge with DJs spinning music late into the night.
The Casa Kimberly in the Conchas Chinas neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta’s Historic Center arose from the transformation of the former homes of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton into a luxury boutique hotel with nine suites, a spa, pool, open-air dining, a tequila bar and the preserved Puente Del Amor (Love Bridge) that links the two properties.
Also in Puerto Vallarta's Historic Center, the Garlands Del Rio on the Rio Cuale is a new, eight room B&B that aims to offer the feel of staying in an upscale private Vallarta-style home with its blend of antique furniture, contemporary as well as traditional Mexican art and décor throughout, multi-level balconies, inviting sitting areas and individually decorated rooms and bathrooms that span around a pool and lush gardens.
In late December the Hotel Zone also got a new offering with the opening of the Sunscape Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. The family-friendly all-inclusive brand from AMResorts has more than 300 rooms, six restaurants, six bars an Explorers’ Club for kids as well as a full service spa.
Looking ahead, Estudio 6 will open in March 2016 on Puerto Vallarta’s main road, Francisco Medina Ascencio Blvd. The 114-room business economy property will target corporate travelers as well those looking for longer stays in suite-style rooms.
In addition, properties like the Villa del Palmar, Friendly Hotel and Villa Premiere have reported million-dollar investments in renovation plans for the coming year.
Hotel and resort construction has been going strong in Puerto Vallarta as tourism arrivals has steadily been increasing since 2008; and 2015 is expected to surpass 2014’s 1.5 million international arrivals.
Puerto Vallarta Hotel Occupancy Passes 90 Percent
In addition to new hotel openings, 2015 was also a strong year for hotel occupancy as a whole in Puerto Vallarta. The Tourism Board has announced an occupancy rate of over 90 percent for the month of December.
According to Puerto Vallarta’s Hotel Association President, Rodolfo Pacheco Hernandez, between the dates of December 19 and January 6 the destination will see a 20 percent increase from last year, and hotels are reporting 100 percent occupancy from December 24-26 and December 31 to January 2.
2015 has already been Puerto Vallarta’s best year on record since 2008, with an average occupancy rate of 65 percent from January to November with approximately 12,326 rooms occupied on a monthly basis. Close to 1.8 million international visitors vacationed in Puerto Vallarta during the same period, representing an increase of nearly 19 percent with an additional 282,975 in international arrivals over the previous year.
International arrivals to Puerto Vallarta’s International Airport (PVR) were up by 12.3 percent from January to November.
Miguel Andrés Hernández, director of the Puerto Vallarta OCV, said that visitors have generated almost $30 million to the destination’s hotels and more than $30 million going to local businesses, including restaurants, bars, local transportation providers, art galleries, shops, and tour operators. This represents a 350 percent increase from 2014.
Hernández also confirmed that Puerto Vallarta hosted 102 events during the calendar year; including meetings, conventions and conferences.
Miguel Ángel García Beltrán González, director of the Puerto Vallarta International Port (API) reported that 2015 saw 135 cruises making their calls in the destination this year, an increase of 25 cruises over the previous year.
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