Some markets grow gradually, almost predictably, while others suddenly seem to accelerate all at once, as if someone had stepped on the gas pedal without warning. Today, Latin America is beginning to resemble the latter. The figures are not only increasing, but they are also converging, reinforcing each other, and forming part of a narrative that economists tend to observe very closely.
The conversation is no longer solely about expansion; now it's about cycles. And when that cycle appears to extend over several years and encompass multiple markets, the term "supercycle" , which the real estate sector doesn't use lightly. The big question, then, isn't whether the market is growing—that's obvious—but whether we're witnessing the birth of a structural phase capable of redefining the hotel landscape of the entire region.
A pipeline that's already playing in a different league
The latest report, “Latin America Hotel Development Trends & Projections (Winter 2025-26), ” from the global firm Lodging Econometrics, specializing in hotel intelligence, paints a competitive picture. Mexico leads the region with 257 projects and 38,669 rooms, followed by Brazil with 133 projects and 17,719 rooms. On this map, the Dominican Republic is no longer an emerging player but a strategic hub, boasting 84 projects and 18,061 rooms, with year-over-year growth of 27% in projects and 7% in rooms.
The most sophisticated indicator lies not only in the volume but also in the concentration of capital. According to Lodging Econometrics, Mexico, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic account for 61% of the projects and 63% of the rooms in the regional pipeline—a typical pattern for markets that have earned the trust of global investors. And when you broaden your perspective, the scale is even more impressive: the Latin American pipeline reached 751 projects and 116,480 rooms, with increases of 17% in projects and 11% in rooms, while 303 projects (51,184 rooms) are already under construction and another 197 will begin construction in the next 12 months.
Dominican Republic: from strong destination to structural actor
If we are truly experiencing an expansionary cycle, the Dominican Republic is becoming a key player. The country closed 2025 with 11.6 million visitors , the highest figure in its tourism history. This performance sends a clear signal to global investors, confirming that there is real, sustained, and measurable demand to fill hotel rooms for years to come.
The international portal Tourism and Society Think Tank, dedicated to the strategic analysis of global tourism, highlights that the country has cemented its regional position thanks to this constant flow of travelers, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most dynamic tourism markets in the Caribbean and Central America . For institutional capital—that which thinks in terms of decades, not seasons—few variables are as convincing as an upward-trending demand curve.
The macroeconomic context also supports this momentum. According to the international consulting firm Mordor Intelligence , the Dominican construction market will grow from US$38.95 billion in 2025 to US$41.51 billion in 2026 , with projections to reach US$57.08 billion in 2031 , driven by infrastructure, nearshoring, and a tourism demand described as “booming.” Furthermore, the report highlights that 61.69% of the sector corresponds to new construction, a particularly revealing figure because expansionary cycles are typically characterized precisely by this appetite for building from scratch. More than just building hotels, what is evident is the construction of an economic platform capable of supporting them.
The market is already betting on several years
Truly transformative cycles are not identified by what is being inaugurated today, but by what is already on the schedule. Projections cited by the specialized publication Hotel Business estimate 97 new hotels in 2025 and nearly 133 hotels with more than 20,000 rooms in 2026 in Latin America—a level of visibility that typically attracts patient and strategic capital.
This phenomenon is also part of a larger trend. Lodging Econometrics forecasts 2,531 new hotels and 382,942 new rooms globally by 2026, with the worldwide pipeline at record highs, while an analysis by Visit Latin America underscores that this growth reflects the sustained commitment of international chains to the rise in tourism and improved connectivity. When the global cycle picks up and the region responds with this intensity, capital tends to flow to the most attractive destinations—and today the Caribbean, with the Dominican Republic leading the way, is clearly on that path.
So… supercycle or just simple growth?
Perhaps the best way to answer this is to observe how the pieces fit together. A pipeline at record highs, capital concentrating in specific markets, unprecedented tourist demand, an expanding construction sector, and projections extending several years into the future. It's not common for all these variables to align simultaneously; when they do, markets typically enter a new phase that is only fully recognized with the passage of time.
Perhaps it still seems too early to say so with complete certainty. But if the current landscape is correct, Latin America is not only experiencing a hotel boom; it could be laying the groundwork for one of the most significant expansion cycles in its recent history. And on this playing field, the Dominican Republic is no longer just an emerging prospect. It is building the kind of scale that redefines entire regions.
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