Destination PUErto Rico
Meet Puerto Rico
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uerto Rico continues its emergence as one of the most sought-after meeting destinations, offering delegates a distinctive and memorable experience as well as an ever-growing roster of top-rated hotels and resorts totaling approximately 15,000 guestrooms throughout the island. In addition, with more than 1.3 million sq. ft. of meeting space, the Caribbean’s largest and most technically advanced convention center and the ability to host major citywide conventions and upscale luxury incentives, Puerto Rico is an attractive option for meeting and convention groups. “Meet Puerto Rico is an innovation-driven organization,” said Milton Segarra, President and CEO of Meet Puerto Rico. “We try to stay ahead of the trends and offer what our planners need — before they ask. We listen to their feedback and provide accordingly. There is a new generation of meeting planners and attendees and we have to be thinking ahead in how we structure our offerings to meet the new ways in which they are looking to design meetings. Authentic experiences are still key as well as the use of social media, and Meet Puerto Rico answers the call in both of these areas.” The experiences groups take away from visiting Puerto Rico are vital to the meeting’s success. With the Super Bowl behind us, Spring Training just starting and the Olympics around the corner, sports are top of mind. This year, the MLB returns when the Pittsburgh Pirates play the Florida Marlins, May 30-31, on the newly renovated field of Hiram Bithorn Stadium. The May 31 game also marks MLB’s 15th Annual Roberto Clemente Day — the Puerto Rican Hall of Famer outfielder and humanitarian — celebrated throughout the MLB and marks the MLB’s return to Puerto Rico after six years. This summer, USA Swimming has selected Puerto Rico as the site of the 2016 post-Olympic-Trials, pre-Olympic-Games “foreign” training camp. They will utilize Puerto Rico’s Natatorium of San Juan, a covered outdoor swim facility designed after the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games pool with capacity for 1,800 spectators. Puerto Rico’s experiences extend beyond sports. There is 500 years of history, culture, and top-quality cuisine unique to the culture and destination. Myriad activities allow groups to go outside and explore nature, such as hiking the only subtropical rainforest in the United States. Other activities allow attendees to participate in Puerto Rico’s culture by trying out the local dances or helping to grow local foods. A wide variety of CSR elements rounds out the offerings. To help increase attendance, engagement and content for meetings, Meet Puerto Rico offers planners a social media program called Eleventes. The program can enhance current social media strategies already established by the groups, or it can help create a custom social
media program targeted for a particular audience — at no cost to the planner. New Developments The Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino has completed a $15 million+ renovation. The $29.7 million, 149-room Hyatt Place San Juan has opened in the Puerto Rico Convention District, adjacent to the recently opened Hyatt House San Juan. The latter property is Puerto Rico’s first extended stay hotel and the brand’s first Hyatt House hotel outside the continental United States. In addition, the 260-room Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde recently completed a $10 million renovation; there is a planned multimillion dollar renovation of The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan’s lobby lounge and surrounding area; Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa’s approximately one million dollar renovation updated the arrival experience, pathways, pools and some of their 106 guestrooms; and the Wyndham Hotel Group recently opened TRYP by Wyndham® Isla Verde, representing a nearly $8 million investment in the lifestyle brand’s first opening in both the Caribbean and in Puerto Rico. In addition, the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (LMM), which has recently undergone a $750 million renovation and will be embarking on an additional $200 million enhancement program, has consistently demonstrated the effective and efficient handling of security measures. Seven of the major U.S. Federal agencies and Puerto Rico security forces all work together onsite at the LMM international airport facilities to monitor and combat potential threats. Meet Puerto Rico closed out the first half of the new fiscal year (FY) 2015-16 with the organization’s best finish on record for the past six years: 125 groups booked their meetings in Puerto Rico from now to 2018, for a total of 89,750 room nights. This reflects a 116 percent completion of MPR’s midyear goal and a direct impact of $50 million to the local economy. Upcoming groups include the 9th Routes Americas event, February 2016; the Purdue University Women’s NCAA Golf Tournament, February 2016; the Latin American & Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), May 2016; and the GE Corporate Staff Meeting, May 2018. While Puerto Rico is a tropical island in the Caribbean, it’s also a U.S. commonwealth. That means U.S. citizens can travel to the island without a passport; flights are considered domestic. And with more than 1,800 weekly flights from the United States and international destinations (1,499 nonstop and 382 direct flights from U.S.), Puerto Rico is undeniably a quick Caribbean getaway for Americans.
Ochoa Building, 500 Tanca Street, Ste. 402, San Juan, PR 00901 (800) 875-4765; (787) 725-2110; Fax: (787) 725-2133 • meetpuertorico.com 48
Facilities & Destinations 2015-2016 Winter