Chaos in Mexico: Cruise Lines Reroute as Cartel Violence Grips Tourist Hotspots

Why So Serious? The Triggering Event

Alright folks let's put a smile on that face. Word on the street or rather the burning barricades is that Mexico is experiencing a bit of a… disagreement. Seems someone decided to retire a certain cartel leader known as "El Mencho," prematurely. Now I'm not one to judge but you know what they say: "If you're good at something never do it for free." And apparently El Mencho was very good at… stimulating the economy… in his own way. This untimely exit has led to a domino effect of chaos leaving tourists wondering if their vacation package includes a complimentary escape plan.

Havoc and Hijinks on the High Seas (and in the Air)

The news channels are showing images of cruise ships diverting desperately trying to escape before they become "hostages". Airlines are grounding flights faster than you can say "fentanyl." Carnival Norwegian the whole lot of them are playing a high stakes game of "avoid the burning vehicle." I am sure the board meeting will be interesting. While some are fleeing others like MSC Cruises are playing it cool adjusting excursions like a slightly unhinged magician pulling rabbits out of a hat. I wonder whether these corporate giants are also assessing the risks or are simply in denial. Perhaps they should read the analysis about Schroders Acquisition: A Logical (or Illogical) End for a City Bastion and learn a thing or two about sensible long term planning?

Airbnb's Little Anarchy: A Chance to Make a Mess

Ah Airbnb bless their cotton socks. They’ve activated their "major disruptive events policy," which sounds like a fancy way of saying "Everyone gets a free pass to cancel their reservations and point fingers." It's all part of the plan you see. Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order and everything becomes chaos. I’m kidding of course… But it’s really tempting…

Travel Insurance: A Fool's Errand?

Now let's talk about insurance. Those oh so helpful policies that promise to protect you from the unexpected. Turns out "political violence" is a bit of a gray area. Apparently setting cars on fire and causing general mayhem is not covered in the fine print. Who knew? Squaremouth those delightful purveyors of travel insurance reality are suggesting you buy CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) or IFAR (Interruption for any reason) add ons. Translation: pay extra for the privilege of escaping the madness. But hey as I always say "Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order and everything becomes chaos. I'm an agent of chaos."

Hyatt and Marriott Feel the Heat

It appears that Hyatt and Marriott have a bit of a sunburn in Mexico. They hold the most rooms and rooms equate to revenue. According to Truist analyst Patrick Scholes Hyatt has the most exposure with 8.5% of its room total south of the border. Marriott is coming in second at 3.3%. I wonder how they will deal with the violence and potential drop in visitors. Maybe they could hire me to fix the situation. After all "All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy."

The Punchline? Uncertainty

So what's the moral of the story? Travel to Mexico at your own risk. Bring a good book a strong drink and maybe a bulletproof vest. And remember sometimes the only way to stay sane is to embrace the chaos. As for me? I’m off to stir the pot somewhere else. After all it's not about the money. It's about sending a message. Everything burns.