Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe, S.A.B. de C.V. ($HOTEL)

Earnings Call Transcript · April 24, 2026

BMV MX Consumer Discretionary Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure Earnings Calls 16 min

Highlights from the call

In the first quarter of 2026, Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe reported revenues of MXN 917 million and EBITDA of MXN 266 million, reflecting a challenging operating environment due to exchange rate volatility and a slowdown in tourism. Net income decreased 28% year-over-year, leading management to signal ongoing challenges with occupancy and average daily rates (ADR). The company is maintaining its focus on cost reduction and strategic acquisitions, including the anticipated closing of the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo acquisition in Q2 2026.

Main topics

  • Revenue Decline: The company reported revenues of MXN 917 million, a decrease attributed to lower hotel activity and a 4.4% decline in room revenue. Management noted, "the necessity to get a RevPAR based on reduction of the ADR, unfortunately."
  • Cost Reduction Initiatives: Management implemented cost-cutting measures, achieving an 8% reduction in expenses, equating to MXN 58 million. This was crucial in mitigating the impact of lower revenues on profitability.
  • Occupancy and ADR Challenges: Occupancy increased by 100 basis points to 73%, but ADR decreased by 5% to MXN 2,030. Management indicated that "the market is very contracted" due to cancellations and external factors affecting demand.
  • Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Acquisition: The acquisition of the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo hotel is on track for completion in Q2 2026, which management views as a strategic move to enhance the portfolio. They stated, "the notification has already been filed with the competition authority."
  • Net Income Decline: Net income fell 28% to MXN 140 million, primarily due to lower operating income. This decline raises concerns about the company's profitability amidst challenging market conditions.

Key metrics mentioned

  • Revenue: MXN 917 million (vs MXN 1.0 billion in Q1 2025, -8% YoY)
  • EBITDA: MXN 266 million (vs MXN 318 million in Q1 2025, -16% YoY)
  • Net Income: MXN 140 million (vs MXN 160 million in Q1 2025, -28% YoY)
  • Occupancy Rate: 73% (up 1% YoY from 72% in Q1 2025)
  • Average Daily Rate (ADR): MXN 2,030 (down 5% YoY from MXN 2,140 in Q1 2025)
  • RevPAR: MXN 1,482 (down 3% YoY from MXN 1,530 in Q1 2025)

The results indicate significant headwinds for Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe, with declining revenues and net income raising concerns about the sustainability of its business model. Investors should monitor the impact of the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo acquisition and the effectiveness of cost management strategies as potential catalysts for recovery, while remaining cautious of ongoing market volatility.

Earnings Call Speaker Segments

Rodrigo Ancira Fuentes

Executives
#1

Good afternoon and thank you for joining us today. My name is Rodrigo Ancira, Investor Relations Director of Hotel, and I would like to welcome you to the company's earnings webcast for the first quarter of 2026. On the line, we have Francisco Medina, our Executive Vice President; and Alberto Santana, our Administrative Director. The presentation slides we will follow during this call are available on our webcast which you can find on our Investor Relations section of our website. Before we begin, I would like to remind you that this call is being recorded and that information discussed today may include forward-looking statements regarding the company's financial and operating performance. Our projections are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially based on a number of factors. Please refer to the detailed notes in the company's press release regarding forward-looking statements. At the end of the presentation, we will open the call to any questions you may have. Now I will pass the call to Francisco, our CEO.

Francisco Medina Elizalde

Executives
#2

Thanks, Rodrigo, and good afternoon, everyone. As you know, we began the year facing a more challenging environment, stemming from the exchange rate volatility and a slowdown in the tourism activity in Mexico, together with events that took place in Jalisco during February, which had significant repercussions in our sector in February and March, as well as the war in Iran, which caused a contraction in the U.S. market. We have a solid and resilient business model that enables us to face this type of situation. Regarding the operating indicators across all hotels, during this quarter, we posted 100 basis points of growth in occupancy, reaching 73%. We have an ADR of MXN 2,030 and RevPAR of MXN 1,482. Revenues were MXN 917 million in the quarter, and EBITDA was MXN 266 million. We implemented a variety of initiatives to reduce costs and expenses, which allow us to mitigate the effects and balances the difference in revenues, lower expenses and rationalize across our portfolio. The Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo acquisition transaction continues to progress as planned. The notification has already been filed with the competition authority, CNA, and we anticipate closing during the second quarter of '26. Now I will pass the call back to Rodrigo. Thank you.

Rodrigo Ancira Fuentes

Executives
#3

In room revenue, we see that it decreased 4.4% to MXN 447 million in the first quarter compared to the first quarter of 2025, driven by lower hotel activity. Food and beverage revenue decreased 6% to MXN 383 million in the first quarter of '26 compared to the first quarter of 2025. Other income, which includes, among other items, event room rentals, parking, laundry, telephone and leasing of commercial spaces, decreased 7% to MXN 45 million in the first quarter compared to the first quarter of 2025. Vacation Club income increased 4% to MXN 13 million and third-party hotel management fees were MXN 29 million, which were down 9% in the first quarter compared to the first quarter of 2025. Moving on to our key operational metrics. On a consolidated level this quarter, we posted a 1% point increase in occupancy to 73% combined with an ADR decrease of 5% to MXN 2,030. RevPAR in the quarter was MXN 1,482 which was 3% lower than in the first quarter of 2024. EBITDA in the quarter decreased 16% to MXN 266 million compared to MXN 318 million in the first quarter of last year, reflecting lower revenues combined with operational leverage. Moving on, we posted an operating income loss of 27% from MXN 240 million in the first quarter of 2025 to MXN 175 million in the first quarter of 2026, driven by the same factors as EBITDA. Net income in the quarter decreased 28%. It went from MXN 160 million in the first quarter of last year to MXN 140 million in the first quarter of 2026. This was mainly driven by the lower operating income. Net debt was $1.6 million at the end of the first quarter of 2026, which represented a total debt-to-EBITDA last 12-month ratio of 1.9x. Total debt is 100% U.S. dollar denominated and have an average cost of 7.4%. Additionally, I would like to mention that over 90% of debt maturities are long term. Our short U.S. dollar position by the end of the quarter was $290,000, equivalent to [ MXN 5.26 million ]. Now I will pass the call back to Francisco to end the call.

Francisco Medina Elizalde

Executives
#4

Thank you, Rodrigo. Lastly, I would like to highlight and express my gratitude to the more than 4,600 associates who have supported the company unconditionally as always. We are especially thankful to the trust and support of our shareholders and again, to all our tremendously professional and cooperative teams. With that, I would like to open the call for questions and answers.

Operator

Operator
#5

[Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from Martin Lara from Miranda Global Research.

Martín Lara

Analysts
#6

Only 2 questions. Could you please explain the ADR reduction in this quarter? And also, why was the tax rate so low in this period?

Francisco Medina Elizalde

Executives
#7

Thank you, Martin, for your questions. Well, I was explaining to you that we reached a level of 73% occupancy. And based on the situation we have for the 22 of February that represented a lot of cancellations for the month of February and March, not only us as well as the competitive set, means all the hotels and the destination has to create volume throughout, reducing the prices and reducing the packages rate in different destinations, mainly Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and then Cancun and Riviera Maya. So that is why we have a level of 73% compared to 72% of last year, which is a good level, but a reduction of 4.5% in terms of ADR. And that will continue in the second quarter based on the [ slowness ] of the demand that is still contracted in the -- mainly in the American market. And talking about the tax reduction, I will pass the microphone to Alberto Santana, our administrative director.

Alberto Santana Cobian

Executives
#8

This is just a provision based on what we estimate to have at the end of the year. And when the final calculation was made and also it is based on the last year that we have that's similar. So this is just a provision.

Operator

Operator
#9

[Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from Carlos Alcaraz from Apalache Research.

Carlos Alcaraz Pineda

Analysts
#10

Hello. Good afternoon. Congratulations on the results. I have several questions. I will ask them one by one, if that is okay with you. So first, considering the recent changes in the portfolio and the current market environment, how are you deciding between new acquisitions, renovation of existing hotels and making the balance sheet stronger?

Francisco Medina Elizalde

Executives
#11

Thank you, Carlos, for your questions. Based on the strategy that we had last year, we are implementing the first big CapEx, which will be the acquisition of the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Hotel. And as I expressed, we will continue with the end of the transaction, and that was part of the strategy and the money was [ partly ] from the cash of the hotels. And the second and third more important investment will continue, which is the frontless conversion in Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos. We basically had a successful year coming from last year, the CapEx support for those investments, and we will continue based on the strategy that we implemented last year and will continue throughout this year.

Carlos Alcaraz Pineda

Analysts
#12

Okay. Let me move to my next question. You mentioned that the company has started actions to reduce costs and expenses, looking ahead, what level of cost reduction could we expect.

Francisco Medina Elizalde

Executives
#13

Sure. Let me start saying that the year started very complicated since January because we have a big [ affectation ] of the main airports in United States, for the snow, as you remember, at the last week of January. Since that moment, we decided to implement some -- different actions mainly starting from the reduction of the staff, which represents 40% of the expenses, then operating and indirect expenses. If you see the expenses that we presented are the same expenses from last year, that represents that based on these plans that we implemented in a very good moment since the last week of January, a reduction of 8% of expenses in the first quarter, which represents almost MXN 58 million.

Carlos Alcaraz Pineda

Analysts
#14

Okay. Very clear. My next question is about your commercial strategy. Are you planning to keep the strategy focused on attracting more guests with a lower ADR during the next quarters?

Francisco Medina Elizalde

Executives
#15

Unfortunately, we will have the necessity to continue next quarter with the same strategy. We are convinced that it's always to have a RevPAR base and a very good ADR and not a high level of volume or occupancy. But the market is very contracted mainly for the cancellations we had from the 22 of February and then the contraction of the American market because of the war with Iran. And then that represents that Puerto Vallarta, Riu Vallarta, Los Cabos, Cancun and Riviera Maya are very contracted mainly in the American market. So all the hotels have been sending and posted different offers throughout this first quarter. And April looks the same and May will be the same. So we will have a necessity to get a RevPAR based on reduction of the ADR, unfortunately.

Carlos Alcaraz Pineda

Analysts
#16

Okay. And finally, which resort hotel regions have shown lower momentum compared to 2025?

Francisco Medina Elizalde

Executives
#17

Could you repeat the question, Carlos?

Carlos Alcaraz Pineda

Analysts
#18

Yes, sure. Which resort hotel regions have shown lower momentum compared to 2025?

Francisco Medina Elizalde

Executives
#19

Well, as we expected, Vallarta -- Puerto Vallarta because of the situation of 22 of February and then the second will be Los Cabos because of the American market and third, but not least, Cancun and Riviera Maya. Riviera Maya, I am talking about basically [indiscernible] and Tulum. There because it's more affected for the necessity of American market where we have expressed the necessity of reducing the prices because of the loss of the demand. Something that I would like to add is that in the case of Acapulco, it's completely opposite because the -- our hotel ended 70% occupancy compared to 56% occupancy last year with 1,700 ADR compared to 1,600 last year. So Acapulco is doing great.

Carlos Alcaraz Pineda

Analysts
#20

Okay. Okay. I understood. Maybe for the national travelers.

Francisco Medina Elizalde

Executives
#21

Exactly, yes.

Operator

Operator
#22

With no further questions in the queue, I would like to turn the call to the management for the close of this conference.

Francisco Medina Elizalde

Executives
#23

We would like to thank you for the trust that you have placed in us and reaffirm our commitment to maximize your investment. We also would like to thank you for all -- and all our associates for their constant effort, and I wish you have a great day, everyone.

Operator

Operator
#24

Thank you. You may disconnect. Goodbye.

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