In a destination as naturally beautiful and culturally rich as Puerto Rico, it's no surprise that there are myriad ways to engage, entertain and excite groups. After all, there's a reason why they call it the "Isla del Encanto"—the "Island of Enchantment."
Here are a few quintessential Puerto Rico ideas designed to enchant planners and the groups.
Enjoy the View
There are lots of ways to incorporate Puerto Rico's postcard-perfect scenery into private events. At San Juan Water Beach Club Hotel, a group-friendly, boutique-style property in the beachfront Isla Verde neighborhood, up to 180 people can enjoy the vibe at MIST , the recently renovated rooftop bar and lounge, where gentle Atlantic breezes mix perfectly with signature tropical cocktails, an international menu and the hip vibe created by international DJs.
"A big part of selecting a venue for a corporate event is finding a place that inspires minds by offering them the experience of the destination," says Betsy Mujica, the hotel's director of sales and marketing.
"At the San Juan Water Beach Club Hotel you can experience our culture in many ways."
And stay tuned—by press time, the brand-new rooftop lounge was set to open at Olive Boutique Hotel, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World that debuted earlier in 2012. Groups here will be able to enjoy delicious gourmet cuisine and creative cocktails from the hotel's Oliva restaurant while enjoying views of Condado Lagoon.
Make it Meaningful
Staging a meeting, convention or incentive trip in Puerto Rico is more than just a time to do business and soak in the sun. It's also an opportunity to make a positive difference. So-called volunteer tourism is a growing trend in Puerto Rico, with a variety of options for business-minded visitors to do charitable work as part of their meeting program.
"Volunteer tourism really is increasing in popularity," says Irene Kravitz, regional sales executive for the U.S. at RST /Rico Sun Tours, a tour operator and DMC based in San Juan. Her company offers several philanthropic activities for groups and individuals, and recently organized a group of 200 people so that they could participate in some 20 different volunteer projects. "In our line of business, it's all about creating really meaningful experiences for people."
Melissa Pueyo, sales manager at Destination Puerto Rico/Travel Services Inc., agrees that there is more interest than ever in giving back to the community.
"Ninety-five percent of our business is group business; specifically incentives," she says. "Nowadays, more and more they're looking to do team-building and charity events, so that their work is meaningful."
Past activities organized by Destination Puerto Rico/Travel Services Inc. have included painting children's shelters and creating artwork for children's hospitals. RST/ Rico Sun Tours has arranged for groups to volunteer with the Sierra Club and the Save a Sato Foundation, which helps stray dogs and other animals.
Groups at The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan can participate in the Give Back Getaway program, which aims to help maintain the historic treasures of Old San Juan. They can spend the morning learning about Old San Juan's 500-year-old history, while helping maintain historic sites such as Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristobal and Fortin San Juan de la Cruz. PageBreak
Make It Adventurous
It's easy to get groups into the active mode in Puerto Rico. Whether it's working with Castillo Tours, a local DMC, to plan beach Olympics and boat-building competitions or the Ritz-Carlton, San Juan, to set up a tour of the El Yunque rainforest or Camuy Caves, part of the third-largest underground river cavern system in the world, the possibilities are endless.
As in many sunny locales, paddle boarding is a hot sport in Puerto Rico right now, and RST/Rico Sun Tours knows how to make it perfect for groups. The company recently collaborated on "Paddle Royal," a paddle board race from Condado Lagoon to El Morro fort, and also organizes paddleboard yoga classes for groups on the peaceful lagoon waters, as well as guided stand-up paddleboard tours of Lake Carraizo, one of Puerto Rico's largest lakes, and Espiritu Santo, Puerto Rico's largest navigable river.
One of Puerto Rico's most spectacular experiences is kayaking on the bioluminescent bay located just off the coast of Vieques, the small island near Puerto Rico's eastern coast. The W Retreat & Spa, a plush getaway with 3,548 square feet of event space, organizes after-dark visits to witness the unforgettable phenomenon of the glowing water.
"The Bioluminescent Bay excursion is often themed with our Light Up the Night Beach event or Fire Pit Lawn setting," says Greg White, the hotel's general manager.
"Upon returning from the bio bay, groups are welcomed with fluorescent drinks and a tantalizing menu while lounging on glow furniture. A moon globe shimmers over the scene while music or a band plays in the background. This is a surefire hit for attendees, offers a never before experienced event and combines our intuitive personal service with the destination's most unique attribute."
Go for a Grand Scale
With countless historic landmarks and world-class cultural institutions, Puerto Rico is an ideal destination for truly impressive events. The Puerto Rico Convention Center, which with 580,000 square feet of space is billed as the largest and most technologically advanced convention space in the Caribbean, offers plenty of opportunities to stage unique themes.
"One of the most memorable experiences regarding audiovisual was when a client recreated the rainforest inside our ballroom and exhibit hall," says Margaret Colon, director of sales and marketing at the center. "This was It was magical."
For the 10th anniversary of a major insurance company, Audio Visual Productions and Show Services (AVPSS) organized a concert gala for employees, held at the Sala Sinfonica Pablo Casales, a beautiful symphony hall set within the Centro de Bellas Artes, a performing and fine arts complex in San Juan.
"In the main entrance of the building we projected the 10th anniversary logo of the company, which greeted the guests as they arrived," says Yajaira Vazquez Aviles, sales coordinator at AVPSS. "Inside the concert hall, the same logo was projected on top of the orchestra."
Hotels like the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino can help planners stage private events at some of the most important sites in Old San Juan, including Paseo La Princesa, built in 1837 as a prison and today home to the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Asilo de Benificencia, which dates to the 1840s and now serves as headquarters for the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, and the Casa Blanca, built for Juan Ponce de Leon, the Spanish colony's first governor. PageBreak
Just Add Water
At El Conquistador Resort, a Waldorf Astoria Resort on Puerto Rico's east coast that has more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space, planners can make use of a private island for a variety of events.
"Having our own private island for evening events allows us to be as imaginative as a client's financial abilities allow us to be," says Jenny Ramos, director of meeting and conference services at El Conquistador. "One unique request was doing a [themed event based on] the movie Pirates of the Caribbean and creating a pirate theme for them on the island, which included meeting attendees wearing pirate costumes as they voyaged to our private oasis. Also, having several movies filmed on our island not only allows us to brag but it also gives the planners ideas for themes. We even had an event that featured the Puerto Rico Philharmonic Orchestra perform an after-dinner concert on the island and end with fireworks."
Groups looking to be close to the water but also closer to San Juan can opt for a tropical cocktail party at La Concha, a Renaissance Resort, which can include a glass stage placed over the pool for dancing, or Sereno Sand, an "adult sandbox" that serves as a venue for cocktail parties and teambuilding activities.
Go for the Greens
Puerto Rico is heaven for golf lovers, with spectacular scenery and challenging greens. Top hotels near San Juan for teeing off include the Gran Melia Golf Resort Puerto Rico, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, which offers easy access to Trump International Golf Club, the St. Regis Bahia Beach, which sits near a Robert Trent Jones Jr. course, and the Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort, which is adjacent to two golf courses: one designed by Greg Norman and one by Tom and George Fazio. On Puerto Rico's south coast, the Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort has a 27-hole golf course and clubhouse.
"Puerto Rico is an excellent destination for [meeting] programs, especially when golf is included, due to the reliability of the weather, magnificent scenic views and typically gentle breezes," says Carole Perfetti, a partner at the Win Group, a corporate meetings and incentive management firm in Scottsdale, Ariz., who organized an event at the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort. "Not all of the resorts have their own courses, however, so selecting the right hotel with access to a course is key."
New York City-based freelance writer and editor Mark Chesnut has been focusing on travel, tourism and the meetings segment in Latin America for more than a decade, with work regularly appearing in media outlets including Latin Business Chronicle, Latin Trade, Latin Business Traveler and the inflight magazines of LAN Airlines and TACA. He and his partner own an apartment in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which he uses as an excuse to visit the island as often as possible— and he documents his favorite finds on his travel blog, www.LatinFlyer.com.
