Puerto Rico: the meeting place of the Americas

Latin Trade, Jan-Feb, 2003

The Meeting Place of the Americas

Puerto Rico's new state-of-the-art convention center will provide an exceptional setting for successful trade shows, exhibitions, and business meetings, attracting visitors from around the world.

Underlining its commitment to serve the global business meeting and convention market, the Government of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Convention Center District Authority are rapidly moving forward with construction of a new convention center that will put the fabled island at the forefront of corporate and international meeting destinations.

With its grand opening planned for mid-2005, the new Puerto Rico Convention Center will enable visitors to experience the distinctiveness of Puerto Rico amid one of the most ambitious waterfront projects in the history of the United States and its territories. The new center is expected to be the largest convention center in the Caribbean and the most sophisticated exhibition facility in Latin America.

"In addition to developing a state-of-the-art facility that is consistent with the quality and standards of a world-class convention center, we've also designed a convention center with an architectural expression which recalls the island's natural resources and unique beauty to offer a truly distinctive convention and travel experience," said Jose M. Suarez, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

The Puerto Rico Convention Center will have a huge exhibition hall, the largest ballroom in the Caribbean, and a wide array of meeting spaces. The center will be outfitted with state-of-the-art telecommunications technology, audiovisual systems, and lighting.

Luring International Conventions

The convention center's inauguration will create a singular destination for conventions, trade shows, consumer shows and congresses. It will enable Puerto Rico to be an even bigger competitor in the convention markets of North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, capitalizing on the island's high-tech infrastructure and tropical atmosphere.

Puerto Rico has long been a favorite place for meetings and conventions. Its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and genuine hospitality draw thousands of visitors each year. Surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Puerto Rico is both exotic and familiar--combining U.S.-style sophistications with the warmth of its Latin culture.

With easy air connections to the rest of the world, Puerto Rico lies only a 2.5-hour flight from Miami and connections to Latin America. Major carriers flying to San Juan are ACES, American Airlines, Continental, Copa, Delta, Iberia, Jet Blue Airlines, Northwestern, Spirit Airlines, and US Airways.

Forty Years of Expertise

Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau and its affiliated member-suppliers have honed their planning services to a fine art. A professional network of more than 550 members delivers everything that the most demanding meeting planner might require--from initial proposals and site inspections to first-rate support services.

In order to attract more national and international events to Puerto Rico, the Government of Puerto Rico has embarked on the project now called the Puerto Rico Convention Center District. This unique development was conceived as a dynamic urban center with shopping, cinemas, and entertainment facilities to include restaurants and other amenities. The centerpiece--and its crowning jewel--will be the new convention center rising just alongside the massive walls of Old San Juan and the fortress of El Morro.

The 113-acre area is located on the site of the former U.S. Naval and Coast Guard base in San Juan's Isla Grande, convenient to Old San Juan, the Luis Munoz Mann International Airport, and the Condado hotels and tourist district.

In its architectural expression, the design is meant to echo the sights and ambiance of Puerto Rico. For example, large sweeping roof forms bring to mind ocean waves--their complex geometry, color and translucency. The materials for the exterior and interior (stone, polished stone, stuccoed concrete, glass-stayed curtain wall and traditional curtain wall) provide a Puerto Rican feel within a contemporary design scheme. Inside, many of the tiles, doors and wallpaper hangings will have island motifs.

Perfect Climate for Big Business

The perfect compliment to Puerto Rico's successful meeting and convention business and the stunning, new convention center that is on its way is the island's vibrant business climate, giving the island national and international acclaim. With more than 2,000 diverse industrial plants producing and shipping everything from pharmaceuticals to computer components and medical devices, Puerto Rico's economy is vibrant and growing.

The island is the world's largest manufacturer of pharmaceutical products and is home to more than 165 regional offices of Fortune 500 companies. Puerto Rico is also has a first-rate banking system comparable to G-7 economies and the most modern telecommunications system in Latin America. One out of four Hispanic engineers in the U.S. is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and 60 percent of the college-age population on the island is enrolled in the island's colleges and universities.