Puerto Rico lodging revenues hit $819M as rentals lead ’25 growth
Puerto Rico’s tourism sector began 2025 with record-breaking lodging revenue, reaching $819 million in the first four months of the year — the earliest the island has ever hit that mark, according to Discover Puerto Rico.
The destination marketing organization attributed the growth primarily to short-term rentals, which brought in $291 million from January through April, a 21% increase over the same period last year. Hotel revenue also rose, increasing 7% despite inconsistent demand from group and business travelers.
“The year got off to a strong start in Puerto Rico, and we are confident that if we continue working together, we can continue reaping the benefits during these times of great change and challenges,” said Fernando Rodríguez, chief financial officer and interim chief executive of Discover Puerto Rico, during the organization’s latest industry update.
The upward trend extended across other tourism indicators. Passenger arrivals at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport increased 11%, while overall lodging demand grew 9%. Room tax revenue climbed 8%.
Looking ahead, the marketing organization projected continued momentum for short-term rentals, while hotel bookings for the summer months presented a mixed outlook. Reservations for June and July are expected to fall 7% and 4%, respectively, but improve in August and September.
“We see the pace of hotel bookings above last year, up 44% in August and 29% in September, influenced by the concert series that has been integrated into Puerto Rico’s tourism offering,” said Laressa Morales, director of research and analysis at Discover Puerto Rico, referring to Bad Bunny’s “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí” residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot. The Puerto Rican artist is scheduled to perform 30 shows from July 11 to Sept. 14.
The data was released as global tourism faces ongoing uncertainty, including tariff concerns and softening international demand. Still, Puerto Rico’s early-year performance stood out, supported by a diversified promotional strategy targeting both leisure and cultural travelers, according to the organization.
Discover Puerto Rico credits its results to sustained marketing investments and partnerships designed to expand visibility in key source markets and maintain steady demand.
