Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
Puebla hotels rule out hiring and investment amid low occupancy
Puebla’s hotel association says its 302 member hotels will make no new investments for the rest of 2026.
The businesses expect to keep about 6,000 workers, with no plans to hire more.
Many hotels are below half occupancy, and only a few exceed that level.
The association says tourism in Puebla has been unstable throughout the year, with weak visitor numbers dating back to 2024.
Hotels are also facing rising food costs, staff turnover and difficulty paying wages.
Summer holidays brought less occupancy and spending than hoteliers expected, missing targets of 70% and 30%, respectively.
The association says the city has 302 hotels and 12,470 rooms, and that the sector is already saturated.
Puebla’s hotel association says its 302 affiliated businesses do not expect to hire more staff or invest in new properties for the rest of 2026.
The hotels have about 6,000 workers, and some are operating below 50% occupancy.
The association’s president said tourism activity has been unstable throughout the year and that low visitor numbers have affected hotels since 2024.
Hoteliers had hoped summer occupancy would reach 70%, but the target was not met.
The association says rising costs and staff turnover are adding to pressure on hotel businesses.
- Who
- The Puebla Association of Hotels and Motels and its affiliated hotels.
- What
- The hotels do not expect to hire more staff or invest in new properties for the rest of 2026.
- When
- The rest of 2026. The article was published on October 20, 2026.
- Where
- Puebla, Mexico.
- Why
- Low occupancy, unstable tourism activity, and rising costs have made hiring and investment difficult.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hotels have been coping with low visitor numbers, according to the association’s president.
Local hoteliers had no investment plans because of uncertainty.
Hotel occupancy did not reach the 70% target hoteliers had set.
The association expects its affiliated hotels to maintain about 6,000 workers, with no new hiring or investment in new properties.
- Affiliated businesses
- 302 hotels and motels
- Workers
- About 6,000
- Hotel rooms in Puebla city
- 12,470
- Summer occupancy target
- 70%
- Hotel occupancy
- Some hotels are below 50%】【。
1 source
What people are saying
Every fortnight it is difficult for us to meet payroll, but we also cannot lay off more people, because they are needed for cleaning and maintenance work, where it is essential to guarantee services
If we had four chefs, now some have barely two, also because of the high staff turnover