Latest News
Please contact info@destinationpuertorico.com for more information on any of the following items.
<< Back ||
More >>
New Hotel Construction
Financing for the Puerto Rico Convention Center hotel - a 500-room Sheraton, should be completed shortly. Construction is slated to begin this fall. The site of the new convention center, opened almost one year ago, is Isla Grande, formerly the U.S. Navy Base adjacent to Isla Grande Airport and just a short drive from the Caribe Hilton and Condado Area Hotels.
St. Regis Hotels and Resorts has been selected to operate a five star resort at Bahia Beach. This prime loca-tion comprised of 525 acres located approximately 25 minutes from San Juan's international airport has boasted a golf course for the past two decades and been quite popular with local golfers. The addition of a St. Regis resort at that location bears witness to the rising popularity of Puerto Rico as a major Caribbean Resort destination. A completion date for the project has not yet been set.
Major Hotel Renovations are in the Work
Major hotel renovations are in the works - the San Juan Marriott has shut down 402 of its 525 rooms for a $35 Million renovation with the new room products scheduled for staggered completion between this Decem-ber and March of 2007.
The LXR Luxury Resorts' El San Juan Hotel and Casino has approximately 40% of its rooms out of inventory for refurbishment with the remaining rooms to follow and all work scheduled for completion by November 15 - this a $41 Million project.
LXR's sister property in San Juan, the Condado Plaza Hotel and Casino will undergo a $55 Million renovation with approximately 39% of the rooms currently under renovation and completion scheduled for early De-cember.
The Caribe Hilton is scheduled to commence a staggered remodeling this September and completion will not occur until some time in 2008, at a cost of $20 million. The remodeling has been scheduled in a fashion that will not affect the busiest months of each year, occurring instead during the traditional slower months in the late fall of each year.
The La Concha Hotel, originally built in the 1960’s and a popular urban resort at that time, is scheduled to re-open following a decade and a half of being boarded up; this in the spring of 2007 following a total renovation and the construction of a 235 room hotel tower adjacent to the original property.
Its sister property, the Condado Vanderbilt, will re-open at approximately the same time with its original 93 rooms totally renovated and with 248 additional rooms in two adjacent towers. Known as "The Condado Beach Duo", the La Concha and Condado Vanderbilt properties are yet another prime example of the foresight of Master Hotelier Hugh Andrews, President of International Hospitality Enterprises. It was Hugh who resurrected the El San Juan Hotel and Casino in the early 1980s and duplicated the feat with the remodel-ing and reopening of El Conquistador a few years later. His firm also operates the Courtyard by Marriott in Isla Verde, the Pierre Hotel in Santurce, and El Convento Hotel in old San Juan.
El Conquistador's renovation plans call for an $80 million investment which will include expansion of its ball-room to 50,000 square feet, an additional nine holes to its golf course, and renovation of 750 rooms to be completed by late 2007.
Ken Dittrich Named Managing Director of Paradisus Puerto Rico
Formerly the Managing Director of the very successful Paradisus Riviera Cancun in Mexico, Ken Dittrich has assumed the Managing Directorship of the Paradisus Puerto Rico, the island’s only totally all inclusive prop-erty. With 27 years of experience in the hotel industry Ken brings a history of successes with him, including earning certification from Leading Hotels of the world and the 4-Diamond AAA award at his last property.
Having personally attended two pre-cons at the Paradisus with Ken present at each I can assure you that Ken is totally results oriented and very hands-on! It’s great to have him at the helm!
The Paradisus Puerto Rico is a 44 acre beachfront resort comprised of 583 suites (combination
San Juan Marriot Hotel and Stellaris Casino Renovations
Hans Georg Roehrbein, General Manager of the San Juan Marriot, announced that the hotel is investing more than $16 million in renovations. Guest rooms are being completely re-done with the newest Marriott look including Flat panel TV, new bedding, and new bathrooms. In addition the Ballroom and Meeting rooms are being completely redone as well as the Executive Lounge and the Casino is being expanded. The start date is June 2006. And the property already has WIFI in all public areas.
National Park Service Offers Candlelight Tours at Fort San Cristobal
Walter Chavez is Superintendent of the U.S. National Park Service in Puerto Rico, with oversight responsibility for El Morro, Fort San Cristobal and Fort El Cañuelo situated on the opposite side of San Juan Harbor from El Morro. In addition, Superintendent Chavez has responsibility for the maintenance of the massive city wall system.
Since taking charge of Puerto Rico operations Chavez has made the two major forts far more user friendly for groups. By special arrangement his staff will keep one of the forts open late just for a private group tour by candlelight, for instance. And day or night, for private groups for an additional fee, Park personnel will provide special tours that visit sectors of the fort (either El Morro or San Cristobal) that are normally not open to the public.
<< Back ||
More >>
|
