Mexico City accommodation registration system faces host rejection amid operational failures

Mexico City's new digital registration system for hosts and temporary accommodation platforms is facing significant backlash from the sector, with organizers labeling it a clear "operational failure" just 39 days after its launch. The collective of hosts reported a minimal number of registrations, contrasting sharply with the 27,000 active listings on digital platforms that the government acknowledges.

The response from hosts has been largely legal, with approximately 600 legal challenges, known as amparos, filed in 2024 alone. This figure is expected to rise in 2026 as the restrictions become more concretely enforced. The hosts argue that the modification to the Local Tourism Law has proven so unworkable that the government itself struggled to implement it for over a year and a half.

According to Héctor Rivera, the sector's legal advisor, numerous legal challenges have already secured definitive suspensions in appellate courts. These rulings often cite the 183-night occupancy limit as a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Mexican Constitution. The host community claims they participated in numerous working groups and submitted regulatory proposals, but the local government ultimately adopted a unilateral approach.

Many hosts have chosen not to register, either awaiting favorable judicial decisions or because they believe the 183-night restriction infringes upon their rights and livelihood. Aurora Acosta, a host from Coyoacán with 10 years of experience renting out a department, stated, "This is what happens when regulations are imposed from a desk, driven by narratives and particular interests, without allowing for understanding of the sector." The hosts also accuse the regulation of being designed without their participation and unfairly targeting those operating through digital platforms, while exempting hotels, motels, and guesthouses.