Amid a Healthy Rebound, Puerto Rico Unveils Fresh Branding Initiative and New Developments

July 28, 2022

Puerto Rico is no stranger to crises, having faced and overcome major challenges such as the Zika virus outbreak and Hurricane Irma over the past several years. COVID-19 has been no exception, with the destination showing its profound resiliency as it emerges from the pandemic.

Brad Dean, president and CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, recently highlighted some of the promising numbers along with a newly launched branding initiative for event attendees and venue developments.

“Rebuilding has been vitally important over the past four years and to position Puerto Rico to not just come back but to come back bigger and better and stronger,” Dean said. “And to not just recover but to put the transformative power of tourism to work for our people and realize the importance of meetings and events, perhaps more so today than ever before”

He added, “We're excited about what lies ahead, especially as it relates to meetings and events.”

Discover Puerto Rico released the following industry statistics that point toward continued optimism:

  • As of end of March, Puerto Rico saw the highest non-resident visitor spending, totaling $4.5 billion.
     
  • Total lodging revenue through May was 56% higher than the same period last year.
     
  • To date, hotels have generated $469.8 million in revenue, the highest number since 2015, when it totaled $406.2 million, resulting in a 15.6% increase.
     
  • Year-to-date, San Juan Airport arrivals reached a 23% increase over the same period in 2021, with just over 2.1 million passengers reported, the highest number since 2017. In May, the airport welcomed 465,000 arrivals, a 4% increase over May 2021.

Key meetings and events industry statistics and developments include the following:

  • Through September, hotels are booking 20% higher than the same period last year, highly driven by increases in group bookings, which have risen 35% over pre-pandemic levels.
     
  • Puerto Rico will be hosting and participating in a variety of upcoming conventions, sporting events, trade shows and conferences.
     
  • The Island most recently hosted Connect Marketplace and the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) in May and will also be hosting the U.S. Travel Association Summer Board of Directors Meeting in July and the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) in October.

Boricua Branding


Meanwhile, Discover Puerto Rico is inviting event professionals to take advantage of its newly launched “Live Boricua” campaign, which aims to tap into the lively spirit of the Puerto Rican people and the rich cultural heritage of the island.

“Boricua is used to refer to someone of Puerto Rican descent, but what we’re really referring to with the campaign is the lifestyle of the island’s people—their joyful, passionate exuberance,” Dean said. “We believe this is a critical component to travel and tourism, and in particular, meetings and events.”

He added, “It’s an invitation to come for business but more importantly, to come alive with the experiences and immersing yourself in the vibrant culture.”

Following are some of the many ways event professionals and attendees can enjoy Puerto Rican culture while attending events on the island: 

  • Art Experiences: The Island boasts everything from colorful and vibrant street murals to contemporary and chic art museums.
     
  • Food and Beverage: Attendees can experience local flavors, highly influenced by Puerto Rico’s unique blend of African, Spanish and Taino heritages, through food tours with local guides. Experiences such as touring coffee haciendas, rum distilleries and farms are also widely available to showcase the behind-the-scenes processes of some of the island’s most important products. 
     
  • Nature and Adventure: Puerto Rico boasts incredible natural wonders and ecosystems that allow visitors to enjoy the outdoors, including visiting a Bio Bay—Puerto Rico houses three of the world’s five bioluminescent bays—and hiking or bathing in natural pools at El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. 
     
  • Team-Building and CSR: Puerto Rico offers a wide variety of team-building activities as well as experiences that can help meet an organization’s corporate social responsibility goals. Examples include salsa and bomba workshops, rainforest hunts and visits to local art galleries.

Expanding Venue Lineup

Discover Puerto Rico also shed light on the island’s improving portfolio of meeting and event venues, starting with Distrito T-Mobile, which opened in 2021 next to the Puerto Rico Convention Center.

The five-acre experiential complex is an ideal option for off-site events, conventions and performances, offering a multisensory, audiovisual and technologically advanced experience. Distrito T-Mobile was designed to be the best in global retail, destination dining, art, entertainment, music, technology, and hospitality.

Highlights include more than 14,000 square feet of LED displays and sensory-engagement technology, including the largest 4K horizontal LED screen in the Americas. Distrito T-Mobile also features the Coca-Cola Music Hall, a state-of-the-art concert facility that can accommodate up to 2,000 all-seated to 4,000 mostly standing attendees.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico currently has more than 163 hotel options with nearly 14,500 rooms open and operating to host event attendees.

Recent developments include the following:

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    Partner Voices
    Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact