It`s all here! - Colony One On-Line

PROMOTION
It’s all here!
G
olf courses and glitzy casinos;
luminescent bays and lively
salsa bands; coffee farms,
caves and coral reefs...
All these and more await visitors in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, home to four million
friendly people.
Even with the economy hurting as it is
and vacationers watching their budgets, the
island of Puerto Rico, just 1,000 miles eastsoutheast of Miami, Fl., continues to be a
favorite destination for U.S. travelers.
Unlike nearly all other destinations these
days, no passport is required for U.S. citizens.
Nor is it necessary to change money; the
U.S. dollar is still king here. And Puerto Rico's
accessibility by air is the best in the Caribbean, offering nonstop flights from New York,
Miami, Los Angeles and more than a dozen
other U.S. and Canadian cities.
With occupancy rates down sharply
across the region, tourists coming to Puerto
Rico will find incredible bargains, from rustic
mountain paradores to the five-star luxury
palaces of Isla Verde.
Three times the size of Rhode Island,
Puerto Rico encompasses 78 municipalities,
from Cabo Rojo and Mayagüez in the west
to Fajardo and Vieques in the east. Those
native to the island are U.S. citizens and
speak both Spanish and English.
Puerto Rico embraces all visitors with its
endless white-sand beaches and vibrant
nightlife. There's no time to be bored in
metropolitan San Juan, which has over 1.5
million inhabitants and some of the best
restaurants under the U.S. flag.
Vieques, an island just off the southeastern
shore of Puerto Rico, was named "Best Island
in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas"
by Travel & Leisure magazine in 2008.
"Puerto Rico is truly a complete destination
with endless opportunities for tourists to
have a variety of world experiences all on
the same island, and this is where our real
competitive advantage lies," according to
Jáime López, executive director of the Puerto
Rico Tourism Co. (PRTC).
"The reality is that you can leave New York
at 7 a.m. and by noon be laying on a beach
in San Juan. This triad of having a geographic, social and political advantage is something
we can build on in order to further position
ourselves in the future tourism market,"
explains López.
Puerto Rico is a
mosaic of cultures
and images that always
holds a surprise around
every corner
Luis Fortuño,
Governor of Puerto Rico
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PROMOTION
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W
ithin Puerto Rico's varied
landscape and history,
four specific regions stand
out for their flavor, personality and unique set of
attractions.
Porta del Sol, stretching
along the island's west coast, is home to some
of the world's best white-sand beaches and surfing
areas. Those seeking the perfect wave flock to
Rincón; some of the most famous beaches are
Las Marías, Tres Palmas and Domes, which are
located along the Sunset Coast, where waves
can reach 25 feet or more.
Other activities for which Porta del Sol is known
include biking, bird watching, diving, fishing and
hiking. The town of Isabela, along Puerto Rico's
northern coast, is an ideal spot for horseback riding,
The region boasts its own international airport
at Aguadilla, at Puerto Rico's northwestern corner.
JetBlue offers two direct flights to Aguadilla from
New York JFK - only a three-hour flight - and one
from Orlando, while Continental flies to Aguadilla
daily from Newark. In addition, Spirit serves the
airport from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Puerto Rico's central mountains contain both
the island's highest peak - 4,398-foot-high Cerro
de Punta - and the Caribbean's most famous
rainforest, El Yunque. This 28,000-acre national
forest contains waterfalls, swimming holes, observation towers and at least 240 different types of
trees, all less than an hour's drive from San Juan.
El Yunque, in fact, has been shortlisted among
77 international nature locations to participate in
the New Seven Wonders of Nature worldwide
campaign. Home to Puerto Rico's indigenous
Taíno culture, the mountains conjure up images
of twisting panoramic highways and coffee plantations. Towns with colorful names like Aibonito,
Jayuya, Naranjito and Utuado are famous for their
natural beauty and welcoming paradores, or
country inns.
Along the south coast is Porta Caribe,
including historic Guánica - where
U.S. troops landed in 1898,
sparking the Spanish-American War
- and Juana Díaz, home to one of
the largest commercial mango plantations in
the Caribbean.
Thirteen other towns and cities in this picturesque region are waiting to be visited and explored.
The most important among them is Ponce, Puerto
Rico's second-largest city and home to the
Caribbean's best art museum.
Known as “La Perla del Sur” (Pearl of the
South), Ponce was founded in 1692 and owed
its early prosperity to coffee and sugar. In one of
the island's most ambitious preservation projects,
the historic downtown of Ponce has been completely renovated, with phone lines and electric
cables hidden underground and elegant mansions
restored to their 19th-century grandeur.
Getting to Porta Caribe has never been easier,
thanks to Ponce's newly renovated La Mercedita
Airport. Ponce also hopes to become a major
economic center. To that end, the city's Puerto
de las Américas is being transformed into a
container and cruise-ship megaport.
Puerto Rico's eastern region boasts some of
the island's fanciest resorts, including the Wyndham Rio Mar, Four Points by Sheraton at Palmas
del Mar, and the El Conquistador Resort & Golden
Spa in Fajardo. The area has six golf courses,
five marinas, four regional airports, three five-star
hotels and - most importantly - two spectacularly
beautiful offshore islands.
Marketed as the “Spanish Virgin Islands,”
Vieques and Culebra are reachable by both
air and ferry.
Vieques is famous for its shimmering
Bioluminescent Bay, which contains
up to 160,000 dinoflagellates per
liter of water. And tiny Culebra,
home to only 3,000 people, is a
snorkeler's paradise; its
Flamenco Beach is
considered one of
the most beautiful
in the world.
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PROMOTION
P
uerto Rico's sparkling new
convention center is the largest
in the Caribbean and the most
technologically advanced in
Latin America.
Inaugurated in 2005, the
Puerto Rico Convention Center
(PRCC) - located in Isla Grande, a short drive
from the tourist districts of Miramar, Condado
and Old San Juan - offers 580,000 square feet
of total space and can accommodate groups of
up to 10,000 people.
Since its opening, the convention center has
hosted over a million visitors attending more than
1,100 events. The PRCC is booked well in
advance, with many important groups such as
the Certified Public Accountants Association and
the International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry. Both plan conventions here in 2011.
"Attracting events to Puerto Rico is a critical
aspect to our agenda and strategy for the island,"
says PRTC's Executive Director, Jaime López.
"We want to become a destination known for
hosting big events. We've seen some great
examples during the first three months of this
year with the PGA Tour, the World Baseball
Classic and Saborea. We can also offer visitors
a great tourism product outside of the actual
events themselves."
By year's end, a $209 million Sheraton hotel
facility will open on the grounds of the PRCC,
complete with 503 rooms and 35,000 square
feet of flexible meeting space. It's part of plans
to create a new hotel zone within the 113acre development that will eventually include
a 250-room Marriott Courtyard and another
Starwood property, the 252-room Aloft Puerto
Rico Convention Center Hotel.
Late last year, the Puerto Rico Convention
Bureau (PRCB) became the new strategic
partner of two groups, the American Society
of Association Executives and The Center for
Association Leadership. ASAE comprises more
than 24,000 executives representing 11,000
organizations in the United States and 50 other
countries. The Center for Association Leadership provides learning, knowledge and futureoriented research for the association profession.
As a strategic partner, PRCB will be
awarded extensive overall promotional rights
and benefits, unique exposure at signature
events and exclusive access to ASAE & The
Center members.
In order to secure even more citywide
groups for the new convention center, the
PRCB - in conjunction with the Puerto
Rico Hotel & Tourism Association
and 30 member hotels recently introduced a new offer
to help meeting planners
concerned with attrition penalties in the current financial
slowdown.
The booking window for the
Smooth Attrition program runs between now and Nov. 30, 2009 for groups
arriving between now and Dec. 31, 2010.
Planners who sign a contract before Nov. 30
get discounts of 20% to 50% on room, golf,
food and beverages should group attrition
become a concern.
"We want meeting planners to
know that we're committed to
working with them in these
economic times," said Ramón
Sánchez, executive vicepresident of the PRCB.
"The Smooth Attrition
program allows planners to concentrate on
hosting a great meeting in
Puerto Rico without sleepless
nights worrying about attendance."
An island that speaks
the language of
meetings
PROMOTION
F
Beyond the
striking beauty of the
Puerto Rican shores,
immerse yourself in a
dazzling journey
rom the balconies and rooftops
of Calle Tetuán in Old San Juan,
one can easily spot half a dozen
cruise ships docked simultaneously. No wonder - San Juan
is the busiest ocean terminal in
the Caribbean.
Last year, Puerto Rico welcomed 1.52 million
cruise-ship visitors arriving on more than 700
vessels. That's an 8.9% jump in passenger
traffic over 2007 figures, and the biggest increase
in 20 years.
Cruise ships entering San Juan Bay afford
their passengers stunning views of El Morro,
the San Juan skyline and mountains on the
horizon. The Old City itself - a crowded sevensquare-block area rich in history and Spanish
architecture - offers one of the Caribbean's
highest concentrations of art galleries, fine
restaurants, quality souvenir shops and namebrand outlets.
Among the Old City's charms: Parque las
Palomas, home to thousands of pigeons and
a favorite spot for photos of the bay; La Fortaleza, the oldest governor's mansion on U.S.
soil, and the imposing El Morro fortress, which
dates back to 1539 and is probably the singlemost photographed structure in the Caribbean.
All these varied attractions have helped
convince more and more cruise lines to "homeport" their vessels in San Juan. And since cruises
generally stay in port until late at night, their
passengers get a chance to hit the Old City's
nightspots - which range from salsa pubs to the
Hard Rock Café.
Among vessels docking at the Port of San
Juan this year: Carnival's Splendor, Celebrity
Cruises' Solstice, Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas, Holland America's Statendam,
Carnival's Pride and P&O Cruises' Artemis and
the Norwegian Spirit.
Nevertheless, Puerto Rico is a lot more than
a simple transit point for cruisers to start their
vacations. San Juan can accommodate travelers
for a two-day to a one-week stay, either prior to
their ships' departure or upon arrival at the docks.
Puerto Rico's relatively small size and its numerous hotels and attractions make it an ideal
second holiday experience, in addition to the
cruise itself.
Thanks to its extensive air network from the
U.S. mainland, tourists can easily fly in, shop
and explore San Juan before departing for other
Caribbean destinations, eliminating the two-day
sail from Miami or other Florida cruise ports.
Starting Nov. 7, Virgin Atlantic will offer direct
flights between London Gatwick and San Juan,
providing a further boost by letting British tourists
use Puerto Rico as a base to start their
cruise holiday.
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5
PROMOTION
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“I
t's not how you play the
game," Donald Trump once
said, "but where."
With that in mind, if you
like golf, you'll love Puerto
Rico - the golfing paradise of
the Caribbean.
With 23 golf-courses to choose from,
and six more on the way, Puerto Rico is now
putting the emphasis on luxury. From the
Atlantic to the Caribbean, Puerto Rico offers
golfers truly breathtaking scenery, including
a course overlooking the El Yunque rainforest.
The 700-villa Trump International Golf
Club and Residences in Rio Grande sits on
1,000 acres along the island's north coast.
Designed by PGA professional Tom Kite, the
mammoth $600 million project features two
18-hole championship courses that wind
through lush tree groves and over waterways
and lakes. There's also a 46,000-square-foot
clubhouse, two putting greens and on-course
food and beverage services.
Right next door sits the Gran Meliá Puerto
Rico Golf Resort and Villas, a 486-suite hotel
that was recently upgraded. Nearby is the
Bahia Beach golf course, designed by Robert
Trent Jones and opened in 2007 by St. Regis
Hotels & Resorts.
As if that's not enough, a 369-room JW
Marriott is supposed to open in early 2011
next to the Trump property.
It's all part of our efforts to attract increasingly affluent visitors to Puerto Rico, said
PRTC's Executive Director, Jaime López.
"We believe we have a true competitive advantage in offering the traveler the best proposition in terms of value for money and the
experience itself."
Along Puerto Rico's southeastern coast
at Palmas del Mar, two hotel chains - Mandarin
Oriental Hotel Group and Regent Hotels &
Resorts - will open five-star hotels in 2011.
Not far away in Guayama, golf pro Chi Chi
Rodríguez has a course at El Legado, his
own private 200-villa resort.
Luxurious new golf resorts are sprouting
up elsewhere around the island. The Fairmont
at Cerromar, the Ritz-Carlton in Dorado and
the Hilton in Ponce are all investing in golf,
while Puerto Rico's largest hotel, the 750room El Conquistador near Fajardo, plans to
expand its offerings by adding a nine-hole
course to the existing 18-hole course designed
by Arthur Hills.
Such luxurious golfing experiences would
not be complete without total-care spa services. Puerto Rico's spa treatments are available at a number of freestanding boutiques
and resorts; these includes massage and
treatment rooms, oversized jacuzzis, beauty
salons, juice bars, manicures, pedicures and
aromatherapy.
High-end spas go hand-in-hand with highend shopping, and many chic
brands - from Cartier to Louis
Vuitton - are sold in prestigious
shops along Ashford Avenue
in San Juan's Condado tourist
district.
At the other end of the
island is the 22-room
Horned Dorset Primavera in
Rincón, on the island's west
coast. While this $350-anight boutique hotel doesn't
have its own golf course, staff
will be happy to arrange a trip
to Dorado - 90 minutes away by
car, or if you just can't wait, 20 minutes
by helicopter.
PROMOTION
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D
espite its beautiful beaches,
there's more to do in Puerto
Rico than lay in the sun. Fine
dining and romance are also a
key part of the island's unique
appeal.
Within its 3,514 square miles, Puerto Rico
has an unusually high density of restaurants,
thanks to cooking methods that lend their own
exotic flavors to local cuisine. This gastronomic
feast includes everything from lechón asao
(roast suckling pig) to mofongo (a hearty, typical
Puerto Rican plantain dish). There's also
asopao (a gumbo-type soup made with rice
and chicken) as well as arroz con gandules
(rice and pigeon peas made with ham, pork,
chorizo, red peppers and olives).
No visit to Old San Juan is complete without
a meal at La Bombonera, a traditional restaurant and pastry shop with a 1950s feel to it.
But for real history, try La Mallorquina - founded
in 1848 and the oldest restaurant in Puerto
Rico and quite possibly the entire Caribbean.
This Old San Juan eatery is legendary for its
bow-tied waiters and authentic asopao and
arroz con pollo.
Good eating goes hand-in-hand with good
drinking, and Puerto Rico is famous for the
quality of its rums. A producer of sugar - and
consequently, rum - almost from the moment
Christopher Columbus set foot on the island
in 1493, Puerto Rico is today the home of Don
Q, Bacardi, Barrilito and many other fine rum
brands, noted for their light body and smooth
flavor. And one of the most famous cocktails
of all time is the delicious piña colada - invented
by a San Juan bartender in 1954, and since
1978 the official beverage of Puerto Rico.
Thanks partially to its gastronomic delights,
but also its perennial sunshine, Puerto Rico is
the destination of choice for a growing number
of weddings and honeymoons. In 2007, Americans spent $50 billion on weddings alone,
with 180 guests invited to the average wedding.
And virtually everyone who gets married
goes on a honeymoon, which translates
into a $12 billion-a-year industry in the United
States. Since 34% of American honeymoons
take place in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico currently with a 3.8% slice of the U.S. wedding
market - seeks to position itself as the
Caribbean's top wedding destination. It's doing
this by capitalizing on the island's weather,
natural beauty and - for U.S. citizens at
least - easy accessibility without the need
for passports.
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