Unfortunately it’s really common to see hotel openings delayed. It’s such a consistent problem in the industry, and it seems like hotels start accepting reservations based on a best case scenario timeline, when that’s rarely how things play out.
Well, the highly anticipated new Park Hyatt Los Cabos might be in a league of its own when it comes to what a poor job it’s doing with managing the opening timeline…
In this post:
Park Hyatt Los Cabos keeps delaying opening, days out
The Park Hyatt Los Cabos, Mexico, was supposed to open over the summer. Since then, we’ve seen the opening timeline pushed back a countless number of times. But I’d argue that matters have gotten especially bad in recent times.
For example, just to look at the situation over the past couple of weeks:
- On Monday, November 17, 2025, the plan was still to open on Friday, November 21, 2025
- Just four days before opening, the timeline was pushed back to Friday, November 28, 2025
- On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, guests with bookings in the coming days were informed that the opening has been delayed until Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Those are just the two most recent examples, in a string of delays. It’s shocking to me that a hotel is delaying its opening just two days before guests are supposed to check-in. One certainly wonders if the hotel will even be remotely ready for “prime time” when it welcomes its first guests, given how fragile the opening timeline seems to be.
There’s always a risk to booking hotels soon after opening
This situation is a good reminder of the risk of booking a hotel shortly after it’s due to open. There’s always a good chance of the opening being delayed, and beyond that, even if it does open, it’s questionable how ready the hotel actually is to offer a great experience.
In theory, hotels will often take care of guests nicely in situations where they’re impacted by a delayed opening, but even that isn’t consistent. Most nice hotels will accommodate guests elsewhere and refund them the cost of their stay in those situations, but that doesn’t seem to be how Hyatt has handled the situation for most guests.
While Hyatt’s approach has changed over time, it seems that the only thing that has been consistent is that Hyatt has offered guests 10,000 bonus points as compensation if they cancel their stay.
Other than that, they’ve generally just been offered a stay at The Cape, which I wouldn’t say is of a comparable quality to what the Park Hyatt promises to be. For that matter, going back some time, Hyatt wouldn’t even offer guests who had booked with points a stay at The Cape, unless there was standard room availability.
Bottom line
The Park Hyatt Los Cabos has delayed its opening once again. The latest delay comes just a couple of days before the anticipated opening date, making it the latest in a series of delays.
It’s disappointing how common hotel opening delays are, and how poorly hotels often handle this, acting as if it comes as a complete surprise. They consistently choose to accept reservations earlier than they should, only to have it end this way.
But as guests, there’s also a lesson here — if a stay really matters to you, don’t book a hotel shortly after it’s scheduled to open, since there’s a high risk of things going wrong.
What do you make of the Park Hyatt Los Cabos’ opening delays?
I have 2 rooms booked for one night on Dec 19. I am scrambling now to figure out how to handle this disaster. I am pretty confident they will not be opening then. But rooms at the Cape (where I am staying the rest of the week) are fairly expensive now. I am so angry at them. I didn't expect this level of incompetence from Hyatt, especially Park Hyatt.
Hyatt Concierge confirmed this morning that the resort will NOT be opening on its latest Dec 2nd moonshot (today). And will be delayed "a few more days." Options at the Cape are basically nonexistent for the back half of December and the only other offer I'm hearing when you eventually get walked (seemingly less than 48 hours before your stay) is 10% off the published rate at the Four Seasons.
If you believe them,...
Hyatt Concierge confirmed this morning that the resort will NOT be opening on its latest Dec 2nd moonshot (today). And will be delayed "a few more days." Options at the Cape are basically nonexistent for the back half of December and the only other offer I'm hearing when you eventually get walked (seemingly less than 48 hours before your stay) is 10% off the published rate at the Four Seasons.
If you believe them, they push it out again and you get screwed / offered very little recompense. If you cancel and rebook, you pay peak rates at comparable properties. It's unbelievable how much Hyatt goodwill this one property is destroying. Truly an unprecedented bungling of a luxury property.
This property seems to be playing games of “chicken” with guests to see who will blink first and cancel. It seems they’re being deceiving in order to get guests to cancel first, so they aren’t due compensation. I booked a reservation 13 months out for November 21st. I finally cancelled about 5 days out and of course got screwed out of compensation in the process.
Why dont you call Pritzker and ask him his take on HIS hotel? Surely he will take your call Ben.
Im going to Cabo in two weeks and was really interested in checking out the park Hyatt. Staying in the first week or so of opening seams like a recipe for potential disappointment on service, so I’m currently booked at Nobu but if I read any good early reviews before then I’m open to changing my mind.
Ben, I think the PH Cabo is now scheduled to open at the end of December…
Really?! Like... after Christmas? Did you receive an email from the hotel on this new opening date? I have a reservation starting 12/20 but I haven't heard anything yet...
I’m booked for the end of February. With your experience should I book a backup hotel?
Why would you not book a backup? Take control of your destiny.
Depends on cancellation policies. A lot of hotels are not very flexible
Thanks for the insight Captain Obvious.
I frequent the area quite often and though I haven't been in last couple months the construction always seemed a bit slow to progress. That said memories of the construction issue at Solaz come to mind. Sad to bring it up and it's not exactly the same but the Hyatt Rancho Pescadero now an IHG kimpton los olas I believe. Look, point is, yes it sucks for guests but do it right do it safe.
I frequent the area quite often and though I haven't been in last couple months the construction always seemed a bit slow to progress. That said memories of the construction issue at Solaz come to mind. Sad to bring it up and it's not exactly the same but the Hyatt Rancho Pescadero now an IHG kimpton los olas I believe. Look, point is, yes it sucks for guests but do it right do it safe.
By the way I have heard n found 0 lately about the fallout/results of the two found dead at Los Olas / Pescadero. Anyone else know anything? So sad/disappointing but now it seems it's under the rug
*sucks when guests get caught up in the mess
I booked several rooms at the Park Hyatt Los Cabos in Nov 2024 for a group trip in Nov 2025 and unfortunately it did not open in time. It cost a significant amount to book a comparable property on short notice. They did give me 20k points per room but that is a very small amount of points compared to what I paid out of pocket for a new booking at a luxury hotel.
It seems like Mexico and in particular the Cabo San Lucas and Los Cabos areas have a particular problem. No doubt caused by shoddy construction or a bad local owner who cut corners, causing the property to fail final inspection by corporate.
Wrong - criminal corruption, better known as money laundering, is the root of the issue.
Another problem is a shortage of labor. Baja Sur is very expensive and they don't pay enough to draw people from the mainland to come and work. The local baja folks are pretty laid back and don't fancy hard labor.
I've stayed in La Paz, the capital of Baja Sur, and it's amazing how long it takes to build a single family home let alone a luxury resort. I suspect it will only get worse.
As a construction lawyer, I suspect that the PH failed some sort of an inspection - likely a fire and life safety inspection. Either the architect failed to desing a safety feature in or the construction contractor failed to execute the plan. And the failure was not detected until the inspection occurred.
This is obviously disruptive - I can only imagine that a full slate of employees have been hired. Whether a legal requirement or...
As a construction lawyer, I suspect that the PH failed some sort of an inspection - likely a fire and life safety inspection. Either the architect failed to desing a safety feature in or the construction contractor failed to execute the plan. And the failure was not detected until the inspection occurred.
This is obviously disruptive - I can only imagine that a full slate of employees have been hired. Whether a legal requirement or not, it is a practical requirement that they be paid lest they walk. And it is a guest relations nightmare - an esteemed brand is left looking terrible. PH needs to lawyer up an identify just who dropped the ball so they might shift the loss to someone else
Construction delays are unacceptable. This may well be criminal corruption (MONEY LAUNDERING) and should be referred to court.
I avoid visiting hotels, bars or restaurants that have just opened - nearly always have issues, so prefer to give the place a chance to bed-in, train their new staff and then I'll go a bit later.
So true, Ronald!
I'm working in Vienna this week and I almost booked the Mandarin while I was making reservations two weeks ago. They were accepting bookings with an opening from November 17th. However, I decided to stick with my regular Park Hyatt in the end. Well, I was walking through the 1st District near the MO two days ago and decided to drop by for a drink and see the lobby and offerings. At the front entrance...
I'm working in Vienna this week and I almost booked the Mandarin while I was making reservations two weeks ago. They were accepting bookings with an opening from November 17th. However, I decided to stick with my regular Park Hyatt in the end. Well, I was walking through the 1st District near the MO two days ago and decided to drop by for a drink and see the lobby and offerings. At the front entrance was a security guard who informed me that the hotel has now been delayed to open "We hope sometime in December." I imagine this was really difficult for those who did book some time ago as Vienna is packed as always this time of year and the Park Hyatt, as one example, is often at 100% occupancy.