The Weekly Journal - Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

www.theweeklyjournal.com

>Josian E. Bruno Gómez

Wednesday, September 15-21, 2021 - // no. 125

Consumers ‘Confused’ About Current State of Travel P6 Pandemic Will Change Life Expectancy P7

>All photos are courtesy

Treasury Issues Return-to-Work Program Rules P10

Sunny 2022 Forecast for the Events Industry Puerto Rico Convention Center is open for meetings and conventions

B

>Courtesy of the PRTC

Rosario Fajardo

Paradores Celebrate 48th Anniversary P13

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

efore the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc around the world, the global events industry generated an estimated $1.13 trillion in 2019, and postpandemic, is expected to recover and reach more than $1.5 trillion by 2028.

The global events industry is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.2 percent from 2021 to 2028.

That is the rosy forecast from a March 2021 Allied

Research Market report, and Puerto Rico is looking forward to having a nice slice of that trillion-dollar market, once the pandemic is over.

In terms of the current COVID-19 scenario, the report notes that the Covid-19 pandemic and followed lockdowns have negatively impacted the event industry, as countries around the world imposed strict travel restrictions. Moreover, worldwide adoption of work from home and restrictions on public gatherings hampered the industry.

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The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, September 15, 2021 > 2

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a week in review San Juan Among Most Booked Cities on Airbnb

>Courtesy

>Carlos Rivera Giusti

>Archive

Airbnb, the short-term accommodation platform, reported that during the long Labor Day weekend, San Juan was positioned among the 10 favorite destinations of millions of users looking to vacation in large cities. During that weekend, a large part of the trips lasted seven nights or more. For this, many of those who traveled opted for distant getaways to destinations like San Juan, Anchorage, Alaska and Mexico City.

Governor Announces Million-dollar Norwegian Gem Arrives in Puerto Rico Norwegian Cruise Lines returned to Puerto Rico with the arrival of Norwegian Gem in Old San Juan on Sept. 19. The vessel arrived with 1,300 passengers, which is 48 percent of its maximum capacity of 2,800.

The ship, one of four in the Jewel category, has 11 restaurants, three pools, a theater, casino, art gallery, medical facilities and a cinema.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Co. said the cruise ship’s initial visit had an economic impact of $250,000 from passenger spending.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 However, virtual events gained popularity during the pandemic as market players aimed to strengthen their digital presence.

At the same time, vaccination rates against COVID-19 have continued apace in Puerto Rico, the United States and many countries, raising hopes that despite the recent increase in positivity rates – due in large part to the delta variant and many people who still refuse to be vaccinated – that the pandemic will slow down and the crisis will abate.

With that in mind, the events industry is looking forward to a sunnier 2022.

Puerto Rico is officially open for meetings and conventions once again, as anti-COVID measures continue and the island has surpassed the 60 percent rate in local vaccinations. That is the message that officials want the world to know.

With an ambitious promotional agenda, ASM Global and the Puerto Rico Convention District Authority jointly announced the launching of a strategic communications campaign featuring the Puerto Rico Convention Center (PRCC) and the iconic Antiguo Casino building.

“We are very excited to unveil this new campaign as part of an aggressive effort with our government and industry partners to continue driving the momentum we are already seeing. The Puerto Rico Convention Center has to become one of the top venues worldwide in the meetings and conventions segment,” said Jorge Pérez, regional manager for ASM Global.

The new joint advertising campaign will entail an investment from CARES Act funds, and will include executions in print, digital, social media and “out of home,” which includes billboards and posters in such venues as airports, subways and taxis.

Focus on Cleanliness and Safety

ASM Global also developed and implemented Best-in-Class environmental hygiene, disinfection and safety programs and protocols, proprietary to ASM VenueShield and GBAC Gold Star, across 325 venues globally as well as Puerto Rico.

In Puerto Rico, ASM Global operates the most important event arenas locally – the Puerto Rico Convention Center, the Coliseum of Puerto Rico, the Antiguo Casino, and the recently inaugurated Coca-Cola Music Hall at the Distrito T-Mobile at the Convention District.

VenueShield provides the most advanced hygienic safeguards and health and safety protocols covering areas such as environmental hygiene, technology and equipment, communication and public awareness, food safety, customer experience, workforce safety and temperature screening, according to ASM Global. The measures also contemplate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), food safety measures, air quality control, surface cleaning, physical/social distancing, temperature checks, thermal cameras, hand sanitizers, reduced touch points, contactless transactions, daily monitoring systems, and more.

According to Pérez, other capital and facility and infrastructure improvements completed during the lockdown months included: carpet replacement,

The Convention Center has reopened its doors and is ready to welcome the events industry.

the Convention Center and has been a major air purification systems and HVAC improvements, focus of operation for us,” said Jorge L. Pérez, ASM and installing disinfecting safety stations and general manager, Puerto Rico Convention Center. educational signage to help ensure visitors have “Deploying a new state-of-the-art peace of mind as they return wireless network is a complex for events and activities at these undertaking. We’re excited to venues. provide visitors, exhibitors and “We want the world to conferences with an unmatched know that Puerto Rico is open Discover network experience while visiting for business. We have taken Puerto Rico PRCC.” advantage of mandatory announced that closings to make the necessary the island will be investments and our facilities Forecast for a Quick the host of Connect are ready to host inbound Rebound Marketplace meetings and events. Visitors According to Pérez, there are 2022, bringing will find improved facilities, more several events and conventions 2,000 tourism entertainment options and most already scheduled for the next and hospitality of all, a safe environment to avoid six months at the PRCC with a professionals to the COVID infections,” said Mariela potential economic impact of island. The event will Vallines Fernández, executive 35,000 room nights. Despite early take place May 22-23, director at the Puerto Rico industry predictions that the 2022, at the Puerto Conventions District Authority. recuperation of the meetings, Rico Convention Other facility investments incentives, conventions and Center. include improvements in network events segment (MICE) could take connectivity with a new stateyears, Puerto Rico seems to be of-the-art wireless network, experiencing a quick rebound. designed with robust and Encouraged by COVID scalable 5G capable architecture, vaccinations, Discover Puerto Rico has reported a ensuring that the visitors attending conferences, substantial increase in interest in the destination, meetings and other special events have reliable with double digit increases in lead volume during and seamless connectivity throughout the entire the first quarter of 2021 and generating hundreds convention center. of prospects for the remainder of the year.

“Network connectivity plays a crucial role within Discover Puerto Rico’s current portfolio of

In fact,

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We want the world to know that Puerto Rico is open for business. We have taken advantage of mandatory closings to make the necessary investments and our facilities are ready to host inbound meetings and events. Visitors will find improved facilities, more entertainment options and most of all, a safe environment to avoid COVID infections.

- Mariela Vallines Fernández, executive director at the Puerto Rico Conventions District Authority

active prospects is at 96 percent of where it was in July 2019, with an estimated economic impact

The Connect Marketplace 2022 Convention will be held in Puerto Rico.

of $262.1 million for the island. From July 2020 to March 2021, the most active segments interested in Puerto Rico are health and medicine, finance and insurance, high technology, meeting shopping and sports.

New entertainment options include the Distrito T-Mobile, adjacent to the PRCC, recently built at a cost of over $175 million. It features a new 177room Aloft hotel, eight movie theaters with a total capacity for 800 people, the Coca Cola Music Hall, a central plaza with a 4k horizontal display - the largest in the hemisphere, an indoor zipline and

restaurants, among other amenities.

“As a meetings destination, Puerto Rico is a place like no other. We offer an unparalleled combination of the best meeting infrastructure, hi-speed internet and 5G, world class gastronomy, natural attractions, great hotels and new state of the art entertainment options like the Distrito T-Mobile, providing a complete experience for visitors,” Pérez said.

Hosting Connect Marketplace 2022

Meanwhile, Discover Puerto Rico announced that the island will be the host of Connect Marketplace 2022, bringing approximately 2,000 tourism and hospitality professionals to the island.

The event will take place May 22-23, 2022, at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, utilizing numerous hotel properties and Distrito T-Mobile, with an estimated economic impact of $3 million.

“As the meetings industry experiences a great deal of change and transformation, Puerto Rico is positioned to play a key role in the recovery of this important segment. This event positions Puerto Rico well to accelerate the recovery of our island by hosting key buyers and enlightening them on all that Puerto Rico has to offer,” according to Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico.

Connect Meetings is an organization that provides planners and suppliers with education and professional development to advance their careers while conducting business through oneon-one marketplace appointments. This event is expected to generate over 35,000 one-on-one business appointments between meeting and hospitality professionals, attracting people from the United States and beyond, representing the following markets: Corporate, Financial, Technology and Insurance; Associations; Sports Diversity; Women in Sports; Luxury/Incentive; and Citywide.

“Connect is very excited to go to Puerto Rico next year. It’s always been a great destination to bring events, but the addition of Distrito T-Mobile takes it to a whole new level. We look forward to working with Discover Puerto Rico to activate a great conference for 2,000 members of the best event professionals in the industry,” said Chris Collinson, president of Connect Meetings.

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Consumers ‘Confused’ About Current State of Travel

Analysts hope uncertainty will be short lived

T Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

he latest consumer sentiment data points to consumers who are “confused” about the current state of travel and how they should feel about it, according to the latest Travel Sentiment Index Report from Discover Puerto Rico’s partner Destination Analysts.

The data indicates that “over half (51.2 percent) of American travelers expect the pandemic to get worse in the next month; comparatively only 16.2 percent felt this way heading into the Fourth of July holiday just two months ago. When asked how close to “normal” the U.S. is in terms of leisure activity, just 21.6 percent of American travelers felt that the U.S. was at least 70 percent back to normal, down from 42.7 percent at the beginning of July.”

With this, when asked to use one word to describe travel in July, the overwhelming sentiment was “exciting.” Now, that has been tempered.

Encouragingly, most consumes continue to feel “good” about travel, though other terms like “scared” and “no” are more dominant with rising COVID-19 cases, according to Destination Analysts.

Meanwhile, the overall decline in the perception of the safety of travel is seen most acutely in a handful of activities. The Destination Analysts report shows that “although Americans generally continue to see travel and leisure activities as safe rather than unsafe, air travel, indoor attractions and restaurants have suffered notable declines in safety perceptions. Since early July, perceptions of commercial air travel as safe has fallen to 37.1 percent from 51.1 percent, while indoor attractions (like museums and aquariums) have declined to 44.4 percent from 59.9 percent, and dining in restaurants to 52.8 percent from 67.7 percent.”

Another report by Longwoods International indicates that over half of consumers continue to say they are changing their plans because of the current COVID situation; however, this is a decline over the past month.

Amir Elyon, president of Longwoods said that “uncertainty about the future path of the pandemic is taking its toll on traveler confidence.

The impact of both Labor Day gatherings and back-

All passengers arriving in Puerto Rico must register in the Health Department’s website that monitors COVID-19, called the Sara Alert. >Josian E. Bruno Gómez

Encouragingly, most consumes continue to feel “good” about travel, though other terms like “scared” and “no” are more dominant with rising COVID-19 cases.

- Destination Analysts report

to-school for tens of millions of primary, secondary and college students on the spread of the virus probably won’t be known for weeks. Expect lastminute cancellations and bookings and volatility in visitation over the coming months.”

The shifting consumer sentiment is evident in Puerto Rico’s advance booking pace, noted Discover Puerto Rico. “Though hotel bookings for the rest of the calendar year continue to outpace

2019 through August, there was a dip each week of the month. In evaluating the percent hotels were booking above 2019 levels each week of August as well as the first week of September, there was a turnaround at the beginning of September,” said the island’s destination marketing organization (DMO).

Though Puerto Rico has not seen cancellations that Elyon said should be anticipated, the booking window has become much shorter in recent weeks, with more weekly pickups for the coming month than was seen in August, the DMO indicated.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR), whose company Aerostar operates the Luis Muñoz Marín (SJU) International Airport that serves the San Juan metro area, reported that When compared to prepandemic levels of August 2019, passenger traffic increased by 14.8 percent in Puerto Rico in August 2021.

Last month, passenger traffic at SJU numbered 935,781 people, which represents a 14.8 percent increase from the 815,043 passengers recorded in August 2019, before the pandemic. Last year, during the pandemic’s height, passenger traffic at SJU was just 302,237 people.

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>Josian E. Bruno Gómez

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Pandemic Will Change Life Expectancy

COVID-19 is already among the top five causes of death in Puerto Rico

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Maricarmen Rivera Sánchez

mrivera@elvocero.com

@mriverasanchez

he 3,028 people who have died from COVID-19 in Puerto Rico, as of press time, and those who will die before the pandemic ends – will have an impact on demographics of changing life expectancy on the island and in the rest of the world.

Demographer Raúl Figueroa explained that life expectancy was already reduced in the United States by several years due to deaths caused by COVID-19.

In Puerto Rico, he indicated, the Department of Health has not updated the life expectancy age of 79 as the average age that Puerto Ricans live, but he did not rule out that life expectancy will eventually be updated.

“Right now, COVID-19 is among the top five causes of death. Since most of the people who are dying are older people, it is not going to have such a strong effect on the future of the population or the workforce. But yes, obviously, there are many

of those deaths that could be prevented, but they did happen,” he said. “Now, a little younger people are dying - who are the unvaccinated - and there we are going to have a greater effect on life expectancy.

Of the more than 3,000 people who have died from COVID-19 in Puerto Rico, at least 946 — an estimated 31 percent of the deceased — were over 80 years of age. The Health Department has reported at least 783 people killed by COVID-19 between the ages of 70 to 79 years, and another 576 deaths between 60 and 69 years of age. An estimated 14 percent of the deceased are between 50 and 59 years old and another 6 percent are between 40 and 49 years old.

“Since 2011, Health has not updated the age of 79 as the life expectancy. There may be an effect in lowering the expectation. In the United States we have already seen that life expectancy fell.

They divide it by race and have already lowered it for two or three years,” he said, indicating that the number may go up after the pandemic ends and health situations return to “normal.”

Figueroa pointed out that another factor in the number of deaths is that many people stopped going to hospitals and medical appointments for fear of contagion, which caused some deaths that could have been prevented.

“In Puerto Rico, people die of chronic and degenerative diseases. This (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that is among the leading causes of death and you have to work hard so that this

does not happen because this is going to last for several years and you have to work so that people understand that this is going to last a few years, “ he warned.

Hope the Numbers Go Down

Marcos López Casillas, research manager for the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust, said that if the measures that have been taken on the island do not change, the COVID-19 numbers should continue to decrease. Although days with deaths in the double digits could be reported, his expectation is that these numbers will start to decline again. The positivity rate of the coronavirus, which had already exceeded 11 percent on the island, is now at 7.1 percent, according to government figures.

“It is a relatively high positivity [rate], but we have been going down because we were at 11 percent. As we have cases in the vulnerable population - which is those over 60 years of age - if these people arrive at the hospital and enter intensive care, it is likely that they will turn into deaths,” he said. “But hospitalizations are going down and that’s a good thing. The deaths tomorrow may return to 10 or 15 because we have 100 people in intensive care.”

The positivity rate, said López, is decreasing slowly and responds to the continuing vaccination efforts and restrictive measures. As the positivity rates go down, so too will hospitalizations and deaths, he noted.

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Long Wait for Solar Net Metering Affecting Customers Thousands do not receive credit for the surplus energy they produce

O Ileanexis Vera Rosado

ivera@elvocero.com

@iverarosado

ver 6,000 cases of residences and small businesses are pending approval for net metering, which prevents them from accessing credits for exporting excess energy to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) network, now operated by LUMA Energy.

The delay does not comply with the Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act, which promulgates the approval on or before 30 days from when the solar panel system is located on a property.

The situation has caused companies that install photovoltaic systems to file claims with the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) to protect their customers, and others are preparing to make their own. Entrepreneurs assured that the situation discourages the law’s expectation of generating 40 percent renewable energy by 2025. Currently, only 4 percent of the island’s energy is obtained through renewable sources.

While the net metering cases are not approved, the transmission network can already transmit the surplus energy produced in homes and businesses, and LUMA collects it from customers.

Alfonso Baretty, director of Grid Transformation at LUMA Energy, acknowledged the delay but said that they have been expediting what they received from PREPA. “On June 1, 2021, we found 8,000 cases pending net measurement. This is not a static process, as we continue to receive cases every day and the total continues to increase. Right now we are averaging about 1,000 cases per month,“ Baretty said. He explained that when LUMA took over PREPA’s operation, the approval took between 175 to 180 days, and they have already reduced it to 50 days, which is still 20 days above what is stipulated by law. In addition, in the May-July quarter, LUMA only had interference in the last two months, noting that they managed to activate 28 percent more accounts than PREPA was able to manage in its best quarter.

In the Puerto Rico Solar Energy and Storage Association, the head of public policy - Javier

The Puerto Rico Solar Energy and Storage Association estimated that some 25,000 solar panel systems have been installed on the island. >Courtesy

Rúa - said that he is concerned that the situation slows the advance of renewable energy, and confirmed that there are complaints presented before the PREB by Windmar and Solar Maximum.

“Before Hurricane Maria, some 9,000 solar panel systems had been installed on the island. Today, that number already reaches 25,000 systems, equivalent to an increase of 178 percent,” Rúa explained, insisting that they need the benefit of net measurement.

PREB Associate Commissioner Ferdinand Ramos confirmed the existence of the complaints and pointed out that since they are under evaluation, he cannot reveal details. He reported that there was a hearing on Aug. 16 in which LUMA accepted that there were over 7,000 unattended interconnection requests. He added that the company has promised “to catch up” in the next three months, serving some 3,000 requests per month. According to the law, if the non-compliance with the approval continues in 30 days, the PREB can issue fines to LUMA of up to $1,000 per day.

Significant Delay

Another company that is considering filing a complaint with the PREB is Verdifica, which designs electrical infrastructure for the residential,

commercial, and industrial sectors. Its president, Gabriel Rivera, assured that so far this year they have not approved a net measurement for any of their clients.

“We file all the documents on the agency’s website, but we are not provided with any effective information that allows us to know the status of our application. There is a regulation, but they are not following it. Right now I have about 20 projects that have not been approved. Today it is easier to assemble the complete project from the plans to the installation than to obtain the approval of LUMA, which is affecting companies,” Rivera affirmed.

Sunlight Technology is in a similar situation, and its sales manager - William Rivera - pointed out that the company has clients with net metering requests for a year. He argued that the situation is worrisome and that customers cannot obtain the legislated incentive. “Unfortunately, everything translates into not achieving the net measurement, in the face of a reality where only 15 percent of those who have a renewable energy system will be able to achieve it because the island does not have a network that supports 100 percent of homes or businesses that adopt photovoltaic systems,” Rivera said.

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A container ship leaves the Port of New York and New Jersey in Elizabeth, N.J. >AP/Seth Wenig, file

Massive Jump in International Freight Rates Impacts Puerto Rico Need to rethink cabotage laws and risks in the global context

T

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL Staff

he dramatic increase in international maritime freight rates, which was triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, should force a rethinking of cabotage laws and the issue of food selfsufficiency in Puerto Rico. That’s the assessment of Estudios Técnicos in the firm’s latest publication of ETI Trends.

“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, maritime cargo freight rates have increased dramatically. For example, from Asia to the United States they have increased by 1,065 percent and from Europe to the United States by 238 percent between March 2020 and August 2021. However, in Puerto Rico, this excessive increase has not had the impact that it has had in other places. The freights charged by companies that bring maritime cargo from the United States to Puerto Rico, which operate under the Jones Act (cabotage), have not increased and their service has not undergone substantial changes,” according to the ETI Trends analysis.

The report specified that Puerto Rico did experience an impact from increases in cargo arriving from other destinations, mostly from Europe and China, though these represent a small proportion of the total cargo that reaches Puerto

Puerto Rico? At the very least, it should stimulate Rico. The cost of shipping a 40-foot container from us to think of ways to become more self-sufficient Asia to the United States has risen from $1,502 to in various products, particularly food. It is evident $17,507 since the onset of the pandemic in early that it is not possible to achieve total food self2020. From Europe, the cost has increased from sufficiency, but it is possible to reduce dependence $1,754 to $5,929. on different products from the exterior, both food These increases, particularly in shipments from and others,” said José Joaquín Villamil, founder and China, have impacted local prices. Puerto Rico CEO of Estudios Técnicos. obtains direct imports from China of about $1 On the other hand, he billion a year, but the island explained that this increase in also has imports from China maritime freight rates forces that arrive through the United us to rethink assumptions States. The prices of products that have been present in the that ship to the island directly discussion on the issue of or indirectly from China have The international cabotage, in particular on the increased as a consequence. maritime-cargo operation of the international As for the reasons behind system is not a maritime-cargo system. For the increase in ocean freight particularly stable or example, it is not a particularly rates, analysts have cited many competitive industry, stable or competitive industry possible causes, including a and that has been and that has been reflected in shortage of containers, limits on reflected in what what has happened in the last ship capacity, the skyrocketing has happened in the year. demand for products from last year with the Although the situation with China, problems with supply increase in freight chains and the restrictions the maritime freight rates has rates, according to had some repercussions on local imposed by the pandemic that the report. consumers, it is no less true that have affected cargo handling. it has raised a flag regarding The report indicated that the risk that an economy like there’s no relief in sight in the that of Puerto Rico runs, due to short-term for these increases. changes in the global context.

International container shipping “We need this risk element to always be considered rates are expected to remain at high levels in in our economic policies, not just the risk of natural 2022. A recent forecast from Moody’s estimated events. The reality is that this has not been the case. that they will remain at record levels for the Traditionally, we have acted without incorporating remainder of 2021 and through 2022, “as demand risk and without taking the necessary measures to significantly exceeds capacity.” manage it,” Villamil indicated.

“What implications does this situation have for

In fact,

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Puerto Rico Treasury Issues Returnto-Work Incentives Program Rules Report from O’Neill & Borges outlines the details

T

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL Staff

he Puerto Rico Treasury Department has issued Circular Letter 2021-18, establishing the rules to apply for the Returnto-Work Incentive Program announced by Gov. Pedro Pierluisi in June 2021, according to a report by San Juan-based law firm O’Neill & Borges LLC. The program has up to $150 million for eligible individuals on the island who return to work before Sept. 4, 2021 in industries such as hospitality, restaurants, agriculture and construction.

“The Return-to-Work Incentive Program aims to help Puerto Rico emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and assist industries in need of economic development, making available up to $150 million for eligible individuals who return to the workforce in specific industries before Sept. 4, 2021. Of the total amount available, $50 million is allocated for eligible individuals returning to work in restaurants and bars; $20 million for the hospitality industry, $30 million for the agriculture industry, and $30 million is available for the construction industry,” as per the report, written by O’Neill & Borges attorneys José F. Benítez and Laura E. Díaz, of the firm’s

Eligible employees must meet all the following Labor and Employment Department. criteria: The program rules adopted in Treasury’s • Be receiving Pandemic Unemployment Circular Letter 2021-18, which was issued on Aug. 30, establishes that eligible employees may receive Assistance (PUA) up until the date in which they started working in an eligible industry; an initial award payment of $500 when hired • Stopped claiming unemployment benefits before Sept. 4, 2021, and award payment of $1,500 upon receiving offer of employment in an eligible if they meet the eligibility requirements provided in the Circular Letter. Both awards are paid directly industry; • Start working with a new employer with an to the employee, according to the two attorneys. eligible NAICS code, as provided in CC-21-18; The program operates as part of the federal • Secure part-time or full-time employment with government’s Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery an eligible employer between July 1, 2021, and Fund.

Sept. 4, 2021; As provided in the Circular • Commit to abide by the Letter, the eligibility criteria for program’s terms and conditions; participating in the program are and the following: • Agree to return program Eligible employers must meet funds if it is determined that all the following criteria: The program has he or she did not comply • Be a private sector employer; up to $150 million for with the program’s eligibility • Be an active business at the eligible individuals requirements. moment of applying for the grant; in Puerto Rico who The final award payment • Be engaged in the food and return to work of $1,500 is subject to the beverage (bars and restaurants), before Sept. 4, employee’s continued hospitality, agriculture or 2021 in industries employment for at least 90 construction industries; such as hospitality, days since the initial award • Be duly registered in the restaurants, payment was received by eligible Merchants Registry of the agriculture and employees.

Department of the Treasury, and construction.

Applications must be have at least one of the NAICS submitted through the Puerto Codes listed in CC-21-18 as their Rico Department of Treasury’s main trade or business activity; SURI system starting on Aug. 30, and 2021. Treasury expects initial award payments to • Have filed a 2020 Puerto Rico Income Tax be disbursed by Sept. 30, 2021, and final payments Return or a Request for Extension of Time to File between Dec. 6, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2021, according the Income Tax Return (Form AS 2644) for taxable to O’Neill & Borges. year 2020.

In fact,

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Ricardo Álvarez-Díaz,

Licensed Architect and co-founder of the architectural firm Álvarez-Díaz & Villalón www.advfirm.com

O

A Guide to Puerto Rico’s Economic Recovery Funds

ne of the ways to boost our economy is to take advantage of all federal programs that focus on the island’s recovery and reconstruction.

The Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG – DR) Program was created to grant support to disaster recovery activities, including housing redevelopment and rebuilding. The program is responsible for assuring decent affordable housing opportunities, provision of services, assistance to those most vulnerable in our communities, career opportunities and the conservation of jobs.

The CDBG-DR Program is funded by the Disaster Recovery Program for community development of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Puerto Rico

Department of Housing (PRDOH) has been designated as the entity responsible for administering this grant that will help in the recovery from disasters caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. This includes long-term recovery, restoration of housing, economic infrastructure, and revitalization.

The CDBG-DR’s Economy Sector focuses on transforming Puerto Rico’s economic landscape through economic development initiatives.

Some of the key programs that the CDBG-DR Economy Sector offers are the Economic Development Investment Portfolio Program and the City Revitalization Program.

The Investment Portfolio for Growth (IPG) Program has been allocated a total of $800 million in the Puerto Rico CDBG-DR Action Plan to fund sizable development projects that are transformative in nature, and

create and retain Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) jobs.

The program intends to award gap funding for largescale commercial and industrial development as well as a wide variety of economic revitalization initiatives. This may include the development/redevelopment of Commercial Developments, Mixeduse Developments and Infrastructure Development in support of an economic development investment.

The IPG Program establishes the funding of projects that will significantly impact and enable the long-term economic growth and sustainability of the island.

The CDBG-DR’s Multisector Program brings together the funds of multisectoral initiatives that incorporate aspects or provide benefits in each of the four sectors that make up the Action Plan. The

most important program of the Multisector Program is the City Revitalization Program.

The City Revitalization Program (City-Rev Program) program establishes a fund for municipalities to enable a variety of critical recovery activities aimed at reinvigorating urban centers and key community corridors to focus investments, reduce sprawl and create a symbiotic environment to nurture complimentary investments from the private sector.

The program allocates nearly $1.3 billion from CDBG-DR funds to help shape and implement a future vision in communities that were affected by hurricanes Irma and María. Through this funding, the PRDOH will support the 78 municipal governments and other eligible organizations to undertake a variety of recovery activities aimed at reinvigorating downtown areas, urban centers and key community corridors.

The purpose of the program is to help create projects that will promote the redevelopment, re-greening and restoration of lost natural resources, and further incentivize private investments in restored urban areas.

Using these economic and multisector funds at our disposal will allow us to rebuild our Island and communities. Let’s not waste this incredible opportunity!

Miguel L. Vargas-Jiménez,

Former Executive Director and CEO of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce

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Tourists are Flocking to the Island, Thanks to Discover Puerto Rico’s Nonstop Efforts

ourism accounts for just 6% to 7% of Puerto Rico’s economy.

In my opinion, that number should be twice as high.

And we at the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce are supporting the efforts of our partners at Discover Puerto Rico, who are aggressively trying to bolster those tourism numbers.

Fortunately, Discover Puerto Rico has a lot to work with. Few spots in the Caribbean, or anywhere, have the cultural richness, natural beauty, culinary delights and fascinating history as our beautiful Island. But competition for travel dollars – be it from tourists or corporate event planners – is intense, especially amid

the COVID-19 crisis and, before that, natural disasters that sent Puerto Rico and other destinations into a tailspin.

Puerto Rico also has to deal with the cost factor. As a territory of the United States, Puerto Rico is more expensive than some other Caribbean destinations, with higher labor, water, electrical power and other resource costs. Those are facts we can’t change, and it simply means we have to work harder to convince potential travelers that Puerto Rico is worth the extra expense (and it is!)

Thus, Discover Puerto Rico – which was formally founded and funded by the Legislature in 2017 – is a muchneeded institution. And their mission as a destination marketing organization (DMO) – an official entity that promotes a location as an attractive travel

destination – perfectly aligns with ours.

Since 1913, the Chamber has supported and stimulated the growth of Puerto Rico’s businesses in ways that contribute to the Island’s economic growth. While Discover Puerto Rico is a much younger organization, they have hit the ground running, overcoming natural disasters and a pandemic to position Puerto Rico as a must-see destination for tourists and corporate meetings.

And it’s working.

Despite a century’s worth of devastating hurricanes, earthquakes and a pandemic in just the last four years, Puerto Rico tourism – with a major helping hand from Discover Puerto Rico – has achieved some amazing results. In May and June, room nights sold on the Island surpassed the

figures for 2019, which was the Island’s best year to date; and meetings and convention leads also outpaced 2019 totals for nearly every week.

The future looks bright, too.

Independent research carried out

by Destination Analysts shows that two-thirds of consumers residing in markets targeted by Discover Puerto Rico recalled hearing about travel to Puerto Rico in the past six months and 40% of them anticipate visiting Puerto Rico in the next two years. These figures are much higher than what has been reported by most U.S. states and other Caribbean destinations.

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Paradores encourage tourism beyond the San Juan metropolitan area. >Courtesy

Paradores Celebrates 48th Anniversary With Special Discount Enjoy $48 off select inns until Nov. 18

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The Weekly Journal Staff

his year, the Puerto Rico Association of Parador Owners and Tourism is celebrating the 48th anniversary of the Paradores de Puerto Rico™ brand, for which it is offering an exceptional offer to continue linking guests and visitors with the island’s culture, history, music, gastronomy, and Puerto Rican hospitality. This brand was created by the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. (PRTC) in 1973 to highlight Puerto Rican culture and encourage both domestic and foreign tourists to discover the thousands of assets available in municipalities beyond the San Juan metropolitan region.

“On the occasion of the celebration of October, Month of the Paradores, the Paradores Association is launching an offer with a discount of $48 dollars in the total of stays of two nights or more.

This offer applies to new reservations for stays on weekdays, from September 7 to November 18, 2021. Certain restrictions apply and vary by parador,” said Xavier A. Ramírez, president of the

Association and co-owner of the Combate Beach Resort.

Ramírez affirmed that each of these familyowned inns has prepared to celebrate this event and stressed that they feel very proud of the contribution they make to the tourism sector and the local economy, by creating hundreds of jobs and attracting thousands of visitors to municipalities outside the metropolitan area. “We have a unique and diverse tourism product. Each parador is different and has its own history and charm. In addition, several of our paradores are recognized worldwide for their high quality and service, and we are Puerto Rican families serving other families around the world,” he asserted.

The participating inns in this discount offer of $48 dollars per stay are; Boquemar in the town of Boquerón, Cabo Rojo; Combate Beach Resort on El Combate Beach, Cabo Rojo; El Buen Café in Hatillo; Guánica 1929 in Guánica, and Villas Sotomayor in Adjuntas.

They highlighted that travelers seek to live a unique and authentic experience, and enjoy nature and outdoor activities, along with the cuisine, music, history, and culture of the place they visit, and at an affordable cost; experiences that inns have been offering for 48 years. “Puerto Rico has over 10,000 attractions and high-quality restaurants, and the vast majority operate at capacity following the safety regulations dictated by the [COVID-19] pandemic. The paradores are

located in centers of high ecotourism interest and represent Puerto Rican traditions and hospitality,” added Christian Rivera, vice president of the Association and co-owner of Parador Guánica 1929.

From March to August 2021, the inns in the association observed a higher occupancy level than the same period of 2019. They attributed this increase to two factors: the support that guests provide to inns and businesses that maintain high standards of health and safety, as well as the marketing and promotion efforts carried out by the Tourism Co. and Discover Puerto Rico - the island’s Destination Marketing Organization - to foment responsible tourism and attract domestic and foreign travelers to all tourist regions of the island.

“We invite the public to join in this great celebration and take advantage of this discount offer for a family getaway. We thank all of our clients for their support over the past 48 years, and we congratulate the entire family of Paradores de Puerto Rico on our anniversary,” Ramírez stated.

Paradores are family-owned inns. As reported

by THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, several decades ago there were more than 40 of these establishments islandwide, but now there are only 11. To operate as a parador, the facilities cannot have more than 75 rooms, they must be located outside the metropolitan area, and the owner must hail from a Puerto Rican family.

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Options to Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Para La Naturaleza offering a variety of nature-focused tours

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Melissa M. Cruz Ríos

>mcruz@elvocero.com

iven ongoing concerns over COVID-19, outdoor activities continue to be the most recommended and safe way to spend time with family. Not only because open-spaced environments help maintain the recommended physical distance, but also because it is proven that contact with nature contributes positively to health and improves mood.

With this in mind, the interpretive walks and volunteer activities offered by Para la Naturaleza are presented as a suitable alternative. Para la Naturaleza is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to offering transformative experiences through lands of high ecological value that it guards in different parts of the island.

After more than a year without offering direct service to the public, due to the emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the entity resumed its ideal routes, both for people who seek to connect with our natural environment and improve their physical and emotional health, as well as for those who wish to learn more about the characteristics of our ecosystems - flora, fauna, and endemic and native species - and learn to work the land, even for students who require hours of green contact.

“With this type of activity, our environmental interpreters carry a message of conservation towards our natural resources. Puerto Rico has a wide diversity of ecosystems and protected natural areas that are for the enjoyment of all, which we must conserve to continue enjoying,” said César Echevarría, service representative at Para La Naturaleza, told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. According to Echevarría, the routes are classified according to the level of difficulty.

For example, the historical or classic ones are classified as level 1. And those that require a higher physical activity can be classified between level 2 and 4. “In any of the cases it is recommended to have water available, clothing and shoes that are suitable for walking, hat or cap, and sunscreen, as well as garbage bags, to

La Esperanza Nature Reserve offers visitors the opportunity to explore on wheels. >All photos are courtesy

not leave anything in the area,” he stated.

He also explained that “in keeping with the current situation, participation for the tours is limited to groups of between 7 to 10 people maximum, so it is required to book in advance.”

You can do so by calling 787.722.5882 or visiting the reservation portal, paralanaturaleza. org, where you can also find a description of the available offers. You could also join and participate as a volunteer in the plantings, orchards, and other activities. Social distancing and mask use are required.

“For the moment, we urge participants to present a vaccination document against

COVID-19. What we do urge is to respect physical distancing and to arrive in time so that you can go through the COVID-19 screening process.

Rigorous questions will be asked and, once the process is completed, the participant can already be part of the tour. All events have been affected in the number of participants that we can attend, to safeguard the health and physical integrity, both of the colleagues who work daily in the properties and of the participants. The protocol is quite rigorous in all areas,” Echevarría assured.

Next, we present two of the protected natural areas that Para la Naturaleza guards in the northern and eastern regions of the island:

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Discover the History and Nature of This Protected Area

Interpretive tour through the extensive protected natural area, which houses ecosystems such as wetlands, estuaries, a mangrove forest, a coral system, the marine habitat, riverbanks, and a dry forest, as well as countless species. The approximate duration of the journey is two hours.

Cycling Through the Los Machos Wetland

This alternative invites you to learn about the biodiversity and ecosystems of what was the Roosevelt Roads Naval Base while learning about the Medio Mundo y Daguao Protected Natural Area and the history of the Los Machos wetland.

The journey covers a six-mile bike ride. Another similar tour combines the sport of cycling with kayaking to enter canals surrounded by mangroves and wetland wildlife. The combined experience comprises six miles by bike and approximately 1.3 miles by kayak. The minimum age to participate in this tour is 15 years old and a bicycle for rocky terrain is required, with a helmet and closed comfortable shoes.

Volunteering Programs Hacienda La Esperanza, in Manatí, is a historic site dating from the 19th century.

Hacienda la Esperanza, in Manatí

It is a historic site that preserves the only existing steam trap in the world, and that has become a tourist reference for the northern town.

The reserve occupies an extensive area, which allows it to offer a variety of experiences to its visitors, who can take the self-interpreting walk or participate in a variety of tours, accompanied by an environmental interpreter. For example, La conquista del azúcar,’ ‘La Esperanza en bici,’ and voluntary programs.

La Conquista del Azúcar

‘La conquista del azúcar (The Conquest of Sugar) is a guided tour that - following all health security measures - relives the history of sugar in Puerto Rico from one of the most important farms of the 19th century. You will visit a cane field, explore the ruins of the historic site, and visit the Casa del Marqués de La Esperanza. You will be able to observe the interior of the house - carefully restored - and you will have the opportunity to appreciate the wide collection of machetes that were used to work in the sugar plantations during the 19th and 20th centuries. The tour lasts an hour and a half.

satisfactory and important, such as the “Help Us Protect Sea Turtles” program, where you can start the day with a walk along the coast, while you learn to protect and mark the nests of the stingray, the green turtle, and the hawksbill - an endangered species of sea turtles - that nest on the beaches of the nature reserve.

You can also contribute to the 33 percent reforestation goal that the entity maintains projected for 2023 through the initiative of planting native trees in order to create stronger and more resilient forests in Puerto Rico. The endemic and native trees are better adapted to the tropical climate of our island. For this reason, they are more resistant to the impact of hurricanes and droughts.

Likewise, Medio Mundo y Daguao has areas designated for the planting of native trees and activities for the maintenance of orchards.

Medio Mundo y Daguao in Ceiba

It is an area located on the grounds of the old Roosevelt Roads Naval Base, where 40 percent of the land has been dedicated to conservation and where a variety of experiences is also offered, such as:

The Medio Mundo y Daguao protected natural area is home to a variety of ecosystems and countless species, including seabirds.

La Esperanza en Bici

As part of th4e ‘La Esperanza en bici’ (La Esperanza on a Bike) tour, you will be able to pedal along paths through grasslands and forests while you delight in the imposing landscape made up of “mogotes” of the Carso Norteño, the mountains of the Cordillera Central, and the waters of the Río Grande de Manatí, “which divides a valley green that disappears on the horizon,” as Echevarría described. This journey lasts approximately four hours and is classified as level 2 due to the type of physical activity it requires. However, children from the age of 12 can participate.

Volunteer Programs

The experience of volunteer work is very

In Medio Mundo y Daguao you can participate in the combined tour that allows you to explore the protected area and the channels of the Los Machos wetland by bicycle and kayak.

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