2026 Booking Pace Shows YOY Improvements Over Record Year 2025, when 8.1 Million Visitors Arrived in Puerto Rico
Reservations for hotels and short-term rentals showed signs of strengthening demand for room nights at least through July of this year.
This continued increase in bookings follows the pattern observed in 2025, when Puerto Rico welcomed 8.1 million visitors, who generated $8.2 billion in economic impact, according to estimates from Tourism Economics.
“This is momentum that we will continue accelerating with the recently launched ‘Awaken Your Senses’ campaign, which invites travelers to explore all their senses through our gastronomy, music, scenic beauty, and all the elements that make us unique as a destination,” said Jorge L. Pérez, Chief Executive Officer of Discover Puerto Rico, during the Industry Update held at the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan.
“The work carried out by Discover Puerto Rico together with the industry, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, and the Government demonstrates that the visitor economy is essential for economic development, job creation, and generating business opportunities for Puerto Ricans,” Pérez added.
Early data on the tourism industry’s performance in 2026 showed that bookings for the months of March through July, recorded in hotels as of February 22, were between 3% and 17% higher than last year. The same trend applies to short-term rentals, where booking pace was between 12% and 36% higher than in 2025, according to Laressa Morales, Director of Research and Analytics at Discover Puerto Rico.
In January alone, accommodation demand increased 10% year over year, lodging revenues rose 8%, employment grew 4%, and the cruise industry recorded an impressive 25% increase.
“Cruise passenger arrivals in San Juan surpassed 257,000, representing a 25% increase compared to the same period last year. This is an excellent start for this important segment of the Island’s tourism industry,” Morales said.
Service Excellence Recognition Program
During the event, Discover Puerto Rico announced the launch of a program designed to promote excellence in service for travelers visiting the Island to attend meetings and conventions.
The initiative encourages meeting and event planners in Puerto Rico to nominate service providers who have demonstrated outstanding excellence. This includes transportation providers, experience operators, hotel staff, rental property employees, and attraction personnel, among others.
Nominations will be evaluated by a committee composed of leaders from the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Ana G. Méndez University, Olive Collection, and Discover Puerto Rico.
Winners will receive awards, industry recognition, and a distinction as professionals who deliver exceptional service.
“This program sends a clear message: hospitality is not a tactic for Puerto Rico—it is part of our DNA. What makes this recognition even more powerful is that we are not the ones who nominate the recipients. The client does it. The meeting planner does it. We already have 17 nominations, which is incredible—seventeen stories of people who went above and beyond, seventeen moments where service created a real impact,” said Vanessa Figueroa, Senior Director of Destination Experiences at Discover Puerto Rico.
Winners will be selected quarterly and announced during Discover Puerto Rico’s industry events.