Riviera Maya hotel occupancy drops, triggering layoffs

Hotel occupancy in the Riviera Maya, specifically in Playa del Carmen, has dropped to 48.5% for September, leading to significant job losses in the hospitality sector. Former employees report that hotels are reducing payrolls and dismissing long-term staff with three to ten years of experience in favor of newer, more ‘malleable’ workers.

Workers have expressed fear of retaliation, claiming management has threatened to blacklist those who speak publicly about the layoffs. Some former staff members noted that while low seasons are common in September and October, the current downturn is unprecedented.