For a small island, Puerto Rico sees a lot of activity from just about every travel group: tourists, honeymooners, business travelers and even those looking for a tropical retirement home. One of the island's strengths is its ability to host large groups, a variety of events, and virtually any type of corporate function.
1. A State-of-the-Art Convention Center
Photo © Puerto Rico Convention Center
An architectural marvel, the Puerto Rico Convention Center is the most technologically advanced meeting spaces in the Caribbean. Relatively new, the center offers unparalleled services and facilities and can accommodate groups of up to 10,000. The center has ballrooms, exhibit spaces, and a variety of meeting rooms. Plus, this handy Event Planning Guide provides all the details needed to make an event here a success.
2. Choice of Venue
Photo © Zain Deane
Thanks to Puerto Rico's incredibly diverse landscape, the island offers numerous options for where to host your event. Whether it's a wedding in a massive limestone chamber carved out by time, or a corporate retreat in a rainforest, or a swank dinner at the stunning Museum of Art, the island can provide a lot more than a beachfront, conference center and business hotel. This gives event planners the freedom to get creative, both with themed events and unique settings for something more traditional.
3. Just the Right Hotel(s)
Critical to a good off-site event is securing the right lodging (and enough lodging) for your invitees. Fortunately, Puerto Rico has about 12,000 hotel rooms available for you and your guests. More than that, many hotels especially in the San Juan area have business facilities and meeting rooms to cater to your needs (in all, Puerto Rico has over 600,000 square feet of meeting space). Here are some of the best hotels on the island offering ample meeting facilities:
In San Juan- The Sheraton Old San Juan
- The Intercontinental San Juan Resort & Casino
- The Caribe Hilton
- Condado Plaza
- San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
- El San Juan Hotel & Casino
Away from San Juan
4. A Service Industry Up to the Task
Simply put, Puerto Rico has been doing this for decades. Long known as a great option for a destination wedding, its plethora of businesses and services that cater to meetings and events make it an easy choice for event-planners. Here are a few useful contacts:
Event PlannersCaterers
Florists
- Pickup Flowers
- Hoccé Flower Designer, 787-795-9933, hocceflowerdesigner@yahoo.com
- Tangerina Design, 787-784-5327, tangerinadesign_pr@hotmail.com
- Tropical Treasures, 787-210-9760
5. Transportation to the Island
Photo © Zain Deane
One of the reasons Puerto Rico is a popular destination for all kinds of travelers is its accessibility. One of the largest transportation hubs in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is easy to get to by air or by sea. It also helps that San Juan is only a few hours away from many major U.S. cities. Finally, perhaps the most convenient advantage Puerto Rico offers is the fact that U.S. citizens don't need a passport to get here. When it comes to large groups traveling to an exotic destination, this is a huge bonus.
6. An Excellent Convention Bureau
The Puerto Rico Convention Bureau has been around since the 1960s, and is an excellent resource for anyone planning a large-scale meeting or function on the island. They can help you select the best venue, decor, theme (if needed) and business contacts for your paarticular event. Check out their terrific Destination Planner's Guide, a handy mini encyclopedia to the island. Even if you're just visiting Puerto Rico, these guides are extremely useful.7. After The Meeting...
Photo © Zain Deane
When event planners look for places to hold their functions, the fun-factor and attractiveness of the destination is critical. After all, after a full day's worth of meetings, a busy trade show, or a hectic wedding, everybody wants to be able to unwind. And boy, will Puerto Rico help you unwind! Whether your idea of relaxing is to gamble your cash away, laze on a beach, or party until dawn, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining place to be.
