Mexican Association of Hotels and Motels

Mexican Association of Hotels and Motels
Name	Mexican Association of Hotels and Motels
Native name	Asociación Mexicana de Hoteles y Moteles
Formation	1940s
Headquarters	Mexico City
Region served	Mexico
Membership	Hotels, motels, inns
Leader title	President

Mexican Association of Hotels and Motels is a national trade association representing lodging businesses across Mexico, including urban hotels, resort properties, and roadside motels. The association interacts with a wide range of institutions from federal ministries to state tourism boards to advance the interests of members in hospitality, finance, and infrastructure. It participates in international forums and cooperates with regional chambers, educational institutes, and private sector partners.

History

The association traces roots to mid-20th century initiatives that convened hotel owners in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Puebla alongside actors such as the Banco de México, Secretariat of Tourism (Mexico), and state agencies in Jalisco, Nuevo León, and Puebla. Early collaborations linked the association with prominent hotel chains like Hotel de México, Camino Real Hotels, and Grupo Posadas and with hospitality pioneers associated with figures from Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, and municipal authorities in Mexico City. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s it engaged with economic actors including Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit (Mexico), Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior, and private investors such as executives from Grupo Empresarial Ángeles and Grupo Xcaret. During crises it coordinated with organizations like Cruz Roja Mexicana, Protección Civil (Mexico), and international partners including World Tourism Organization, Inter-American Development Bank, and United Nations Development Programme.

Organization and Membership

The association's governance typically features a presidential board and regional directors drawn from leading properties in cities such as Cancún, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos. Members include independent proprietors from municipalities like Tulum and San Miguel de Allende, national brands such as Grupo Posadas, Crown Holdings, and international operators including Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, and IHG Hotels & Resorts. Institutional partners span regulators and associations like Mexican Tourism Promotion Council, Secretariat of Economy (Mexico), and state tourism secretariats in Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur, and Yucatán. The membership roster has historically encompassed heritage establishments like Hotel Imperial, boutique operators in Oaxaca, and roadside chains servicing highways under oversight by agencies like Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico).

Functions and Activities

The association organizes industry gatherings, training, and certification programs and liaises with lenders such as Banco Santander (Mexico) and BBVA México for financing solutions. It facilitates partnerships with educational institutions including Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and hospitality schools tied to Universidad Anáhuac. It convenes forums with trade partners like Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic, Consejo Coordinador Empresarial, and international bodies such as World Travel & Tourism Council and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Operational activities have included standardized safety protocols linked to agencies like Secretariat of Health (Mexico) and municipal police in Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Industry Advocacy and Policy Influence

As an industry voice, the association engages with legislative and regulatory actors including Chamber of Deputies (Mexico), Senate of the Republic (Mexico), and federal ministries such as the Secretariat of Tourism (Mexico) and Secretariat of Economy (Mexico). It has advocated on taxation, labor, and zoning in coordination with unions and institutions like Confederation of Mexican Workers and legal advisors connected to Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. The group has participated in national discussions around tourism stimulus with bodies such as ProMéxico, Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit (Mexico), and international lenders like the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank to shape incentives, emergency relief, and infrastructure priorities affecting corridors like the Riviera Maya and Baja California Peninsula.

Programs and Services

The association offers accreditation programs, disaster-preparedness training with agencies such as Protección Civil (Mexico), and marketing support aligned with promotional efforts by Visit México and state tourism boards in Quintana Roo and Yucatán. Member services include legal counsel interfacing with courts like the Federal Court of Administrative Justice (Mexico), human resources training in partnership with institutions like Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare (Mexico), and sustainability initiatives coordinated with NGOs and multilateral programs including United Nations Environment Programme and Global Sustainable Tourism Council. It also provides research and data services leveraging statistics from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography and collaborates with payment networks and fintech firms working with Banco de México.

Regional Structure and Affiliates

The association maintains federated affiliates and state chapters in regions such as Chiapas, Veracruz, Sinaloa, Colima, and Sonora, and works with municipal hotel associations in destinations like Zacatecas, Morelia, and Querétaro. It coordinates with sister organizations including the Mexican Council of Tourism Industry, local chambers such as the Chamber of Commerce of Mexico City, and regional development agencies in states like Hidalgo and Guanajuato. International collaborations have involved counterparts such as the American Hotel & Lodging Association, European Hospitality Association, and tourism promotion agencies from Spain and United States delegations.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters credit the association with professionalizing lodging standards in hubs like Cancún and Puerto Vallarta, aiding recovery after events involving Hurricane Wilma, Hurricane Dean, and public health responses coordinated with Secretariat of Health (Mexico), while critics have raised concerns about influence on local land use debates in places like Tulum and the balance between large corporate members such as Grupo Posadas and small independent innkeepers in San Cristóbal de las Casas. Environmental advocates and community groups in regions including Bacalar and Holbox have criticized tourism expansion promoted through some association-backed projects, prompting dialogue with conservation organizations like Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad and international environmental NGOs such as World Wildlife Fund. Ongoing scrutiny involves taxation policy debates in the Chamber of Deputies (Mexico) and labor practices examined by institutions including International Labour Organization.

Category:Hospitality industry in Mexico