Lodging Econometrics’ (LE) Q3 2026 Latin America Construction Pipeline Trend Report shows that at the close of the third quarter, the total construction pipeline stands at 783 projects/114,148 rooms, up 4% by project count year-over-year (YOY).
At the close of the quarter, hotel projects under construction in Latin America stand at 288 projects/45,186 rooms. Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months stand at 195 projects/30,111 rooms. Projects in early planning leads pipeline growth at Q3, rising 29% by projects and 21% by rooms YOY to 300 projects/38,851 rooms. This stage is the largest in the region’s pipeline by project count, accounting for 38% of all projects.
The luxury chain scale reaches a record-high project total of 148 projects/24,584 rooms. The upscale chain scale follows with 142 projects/20,699 rooms, and the midscale chain scale stands at 142 projects/16,956 room. Combined, these three chain scales total 432 projects/62,239 rooms, accounting for 55% of the projects and rooms in the region’s total pipeline. Notably, the upper upscale chain scale reaches record-high project totals of 137 projects/22,795 rooms, up 11% by projects YOY.
New project announcements in Latin America rise 44% by projects and 16% by rooms YOY to 56 projects/7,461 rooms at the Q3 close. Additionally, 22 projects/3,279 rooms begin construction during the quarter. Combined hotel renovations and brand conversions reach record-high project and room totals of 189 projects/33,835 rooms, up 9% by projects and 16% by rooms YOY. Conversion projects alone also reach record highs, at 139 projects/20,826 rooms, up 21% by projects and 48% by rooms YOY.
Mexico continues to lead Latin America’s construction pipeline with 229 projects/32,856 rooms, accounting for 29% of the region’s projects and rooms. Brazil follows with 145 projects/19,885 rooms, up 18% by projects and 22% by rooms YOY. The Dominican Republic reaches a record-high project total of 88 projects/17,356 rooms. Together, these three countries account for 59% of the projects and 61% of the rooms in the region’s total pipeline.
Cities in Latin America with the largest pipelines by project count include Mexico City, Mexico, with 25 projects/2,702 rooms; Lima, Peru, with 19 projects/2,421 rooms; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, with 15 projects/2,978 rooms.
Latin America opens 51 new hotels/9,107 rooms through the first three quarters of 2026. LE forecasts another 39 new hotels/5,933 rooms to open in Q4, bringing the 2026 total to 90 new hotels/15,040 rooms. Looking ahead, LE forecasts new hotel openings in Latin America to rise to 115 new hotels/17,300 rooms in 2027, followed by 116 new hotels/15,426 rooms in 2028.