The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) recently took part in the Caribbean Marketplace 2007, where it told media and travel professionals highlights of tourism developments.
With several hotels undergoing extensive renovations, and
the announcement of new properties (such as St. Regis, W Hotel and Sheraton
Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel),
"I really expect this to help our travel agent
colleagues in the
Soto says the Puerto Rico Government is currently spending
"millions and millions of dollars" in advertising to
"With the passport restrictions coming around the same time as the news of the renovations, all you can say is, 'Timing is everything,'" Soto says.
Some of the latest Puerto Rico hotel news: The Water Club
in
The 51-room Plaza de Armas Hotel recently underwent renovations to be converted into the Howard Johnson Plaza de Armas in Old San Juan.
LXR Luxury Resorts' properties in Puerto Rico—El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa, El San Juan Hotel & Casino and Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino—have begun extensive $200 million property renovations that will take place over the next several years. Renovations include a new water park at El Conquistador and room, parking area and commercial space expansions at the other properties.
The Paseo Caribe project made the Caribe Hilton in San
Juan the largest hotel property in
Starwood Hotels will manage Vieques' renovated Martineau Bay Resort, which is owned by the Reig Group. This hotel will close in April to finalize a $15 million renovation to transform the resort into the first W Resort in the world, scheduled for completion in the fall.
The San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino has begun a $36.7 million renovation to bring the property to the level of other luxury resorts on the island. The 402 rooms being renovated will gradually come back into service and will be fully completed by March. The 123-room Cabana Wing will be renovated from August to November and will remain open during the process. The finished project will include a grand lobby, updated casino, refreshed ballroom and guest rooms with a new Latin Caribbean look.
A 160-room Courtyard by Marriott is currently under construction in Agua-dilla and is scheduled to open in May.
The Renaissance La Concha Hotel & Casino is scheduled to open by June. The 474-room hotel-condo hotel Renaissance property will offer 15,000 square feet of meeting space, a 15,000-square-foot casino, three restaurants, an oceanfront pool and a 5,000-square-foot fitness center on the beach.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts will open the 500-room Sheraton
Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel as the anchor hotel for the
The Condado Vanderbilt Hotel is scheduled to open by June 2009. The 300-room, independently operated, five-star hotel-condo property will feature 20,000 square feet of meeting space, a gourmet restaurant, bistro, spa and two oceanfront pools.
The PRTC recently purchased the old "Punta Lima" minimum-security prison facility in Naguabo for $8.2 million, with the aim of developing the site as the first ecological hotel complex on the island.
For more information, call 800-866-7827 or visit www.gotopuertorico.com.