Puerto Rico is known for turquoise waters, sandy beaches, a rich history and lush rainforests, but one claim to fame that might be less well known is the Island’s appeal for meetings and conventions. Meeting professionals and groups selecting Puerto Rico can expect one-of-a-kind venues, easy accessibility complemented by exotic amenities, along with the ease of doing business with a U.S. destination.
There’s also plenty for planners and attendees to enjoy once meetings are complete. Choose from a wide range of delicious culinary offerings, unique experiences and nature offerings, such as a visit to one of Puerto Rico’s three bioluminescent bays (there are only five in the world).
The Caribbean’s Best Convention District
The Island is home to the Puerto Rico Convention Center, the Caribbean’s most technologically advanced venue of its kind. Boasting 600,000 square feet, it offers high-end video conferencing capabilities, a new on-site lobby lounge, 15 meeting rooms and 29 break-out rooms, among other amenities for any type of event. Attendees can stay plugged in during events with high-speed fiber optic networks up to 10,000 Mbps (10Gbps)—accessible via WiFi or LAN.
February 2020 will see the debut of centrally located El Distrito San Juan, a five-acre hospitality and entertainment district adjacent to the Convention Center. This complex is destined to be the most vibrant and popular setting for events and conventions as well as a lively hub for restaurants, bars, art, music and technology—ideal for off-site excursions and after-hours networking.
A Speedy Recovery Feeds Economic Growth
Not only is Puerto Rico recovered from 2017’s Hurricane Maria, it’s offering visitors more options than ever before. Tourism revenue is at an all-time high, thanks in part to the abundance of lodging options available. Room inventory in hotels and independent rentals increased 17 percent in Q1 2019 over 2018, generating the highest Q1 demand for lodging ever recorded on the Island.
Accessible for Easy Business Travel
Though an “overseas” destination for U.S.-based business travelers, Puerto Rico is easily accessible. U.S. citizens don’t need a passport, an international phone plan to stay connected or foreign currency—and English is widely spoken. Altogether, there are approximately 200 daily flights to the Island via 24 airlines, which explains how Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport saw more than 7 million travelers in the first 9 months of 2019, an impressive 11.2% jump in passenger traffic.
Enjoy the ease of doing business in a U.S. destination with the allure of a Caribbean island.