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Iberostar Hotels & Resorts posts strong nine months

Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancún beachfront resort with palm-lined walkway, illustrating Iberostar Hotels & Resorts expansion and new hotel openings.
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5 min read

Iberostar Hotels & Resorts reported solid global momentum for the first three quarters of 2025, citing an 8 percent rise in average daily rate and a 10 percent increase in sales versus January to September 2024. The company outlined selective growth plans, including a new 5-star resort near Puerto Morelos in November and its first property in Zanzibar in late 2026, alongside recent openings in Aruba, Miami, Havana, and Mallorca. Leadership said the trajectory reflects a focus on quality, guest experience, and disciplined investment.

Key points

  • Why it matters: ADR up 8 percent and sales up 10 percent signal sustained demand and pricing power.
  • Travel impact: New Riviera Cancún resort adds more than 440 rooms; Zanzibar debut expands brand reach into East Africa.
  • What's next: Portfolio investments continue with targeted renovations across Spain, Greece, and the Canary Islands.
  • Five hotels added YTD: Aruba, two Miami properties, Havana, and Mallorca.
  • CEO Phil Mc Aveety underscores long-term strategy centered on quality and talent.

Snapshot

The brand's Americas and EMEA divisions both contributed to growth, with direct channels expanding at a double-digit clip. JOIA Aruba by Iberostar completed its first nine months with strong reception, while two Iberostar Waves hotels enhanced the group's presence in Miami Beach. Looking ahead, the Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancún is set to open in November as a 5-star beachfront resort roughly 7 miles, or 12 kilometers, from Puerto Morelos. Farther afield, Iberostar signed its first property in Zanzibar, a 360-room, five-star hotel on Muyuni Beach slated for late 2026. Renovation programs continue across flagship beachfront assets to elevate product and sustainability standards.

Background

Iberostar's 2024 results set the stage for 2025 expansion plans, with the hotel division reporting revenue growth and signaling approximately €210 million in openings and asset transformations. The refreshed brand architecture centers on Iberostar Waves, Iberostar Selection, and JOIA by Iberostar, aimed at clarifying position and guest promise across upscale and luxury tiers. This year's additions include JOIA Aruba by Iberostar on Eagle Beach; Iberostar Waves Berkeley Shore and Iberostar Waves Miami Beach, which bring Art Deco flair and boutique footprints to South Beach; Iberostar Selection La Habana in the Cuban capital; and Iberostar Selection Es Trenc on Mallorca. The company continues to emphasize responsible tourism and investment in people, aligning product upgrades with its sustainability framework.

Latest developments

Iberostar Hotels & Resorts expansion highlights for Mexico and Zanzibar

Iberostar confirmed the Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancún will begin operations on November 1, 2025, as a 5-star beachfront resort with more than 440 rooms, broad dining options, entertainment, and family-friendly amenities. The opening will mark the company's twelfth hotel in Mexico and deepen its footprint along the Riviera Maya. In East Africa, Iberostar signed a newly built, five-star hotel on Muyuni Beach, Zanzibar, with 360 rooms targeted to open in late 2026 under the Selection category. The company also detailed recent renovations, including the September reopening of Iberostar Selection Fuerteventura Palace, and referenced prior upgrades at Iberostar Waves Gaviotas Park, Iberostar Selection Albufera Resort, and Iberostar Selection Creta Marine. Management framed these moves as part of a selective, quality-led growth strategy supported by continued investment.

Analysis

The 8 percent ADR lift alongside 10 percent sales growth points to both favorable demand and effective revenue management, particularly in sun-and-sand destinations where shoulder seasons have lengthened. New supply is carefully targeted: Riviera Cancún leverages entrenched airlift and strong U.S. and Latin American demand, while Zanzibar opens a gateway to East Africa that can diversify seasonality and source markets. The brand's tiering, with JOIA, Selection, and Waves, gives clear pricing ladders and merchandising opportunities across distribution, including direct channels that Iberostar says are expanding at a double-digit rate. Renovations in the Canaries, Mallorca, and Greece should help sustain ADR by elevating room product, F&B, and wellness-key levers for premium beachfront resorts. Execution risks include macro softness or FX shifts, but the measured development pipeline, combined with asset upgrades and loyalty partnerships, positions Iberostar Hotels & Resorts to defend margins and capture incremental demand.

Final thoughts

For travelers comparing upscale and luxury beachfront options, Iberostar's 2025 performance and pipeline signal fresh room inventory, upgraded amenities, and expanding geographic choice. With Riviera Cancún imminent and Zanzibar on the horizon, the brand is adding capacity where demand is resilient while reinvesting in core Mediterranean assets. Expect continued emphasis on quality, sustainability, and direct booking value as Iberostar Hotels & Resorts advances its selective growth strategy-positive signals for guests planning 2026 vacations and beyond with Iberostar Hotels & Resorts.

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