Editor’s Note: This is an update to an article that published in November 2023.
There is a palpable vibe in Puerto Rico know as boricua. Not only is it a name that honors the island’s heritage, but it’s a way of life, a state of mind, a rhythm and flavor that is distinctly Puerto Rico. From the island’s beaches to its forests, delectable dining options and rich and vibrant culture and history, boricua abounds, and it’s sure to take hold of you, too. With all the island has to offer, meeting planners and their attendees will agree that Puerto Rico is numero uno.
Why Puerto Rico
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Warm weather year-round with an average temperature of 85°F.
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Hundreds of direct flights from around the world arrive into Puerto Rico daily.
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An international experience close to the U.S.
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No passport required for U.S. residents.
What’s New in Puerto Rico
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2024 was a record-breaking year for tourism to the island.
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Puerto Rico’s MICE market saw a 22% growth in 2024.
There are plenty of options when it comes to things to see and do in Puerto Rico, as well as places to grab a bite to eat, or host a power lunch or dinner. Here are a few spots to pique your interest.
See
La Placita de Santurce
Get a taste of the local culture at La Placita de Santurce, a lively plaza dating back 100 years that is still a fresh produce and farmer’s market by day. The scene changes in the evening, when the plaza transforms into a dining and nightlife hot spot. Wander the plaza sampling different flavors, all the while with live salsa music playing in the background.
DISTRITO T-Mobile
Your guests will find plenty to keep them entertained at the new DISTRITO T-Mobile, an expansive entertainment complex that opened in 2021 with restaurants, a concert hall, art gallery, indoor and outdoor zipline park, and more. In addition to dine arounds and entertainment offerings, DISTRITO is available for private events.
El Yunque National Forest
The only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System is right here in Puerto Rico: El Yunque National Forest. Thought to be named from the Taíno word yuke, or “white earth,” because of the clouds that descend upon the forest’s highest peaks, the average rainfall within the forest averages 120 inches per year, accounting for its lush, verdant landscape. Hiking, ziplining, chasing waterfalls and learning about the 240 plant species endemic to Puerto Rico are all ways to enjoy the rainforest.
For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Puerto Rico Group Services, Inc., a Hosts Global Member.
DO
Old San Juan Walk & Taste Food Tour
Take your group on a walking and food tour in Puerto Rico and one thing is for certain: you won’t go hungry. From local dishes like mofongo (deep-fried green plantains), tostones (double deep-fried plantain wheels) and lechón (slowly spit-roasted pork with juicy meat and crispy skin), you’ll discover the flavors of the island. And then there are dishes highlighting Afro-Caribbean, Central American and European flavors and traditions. Eating in Puerto Rico is embracing the island’s boricua.
Ron de Barriltio Rum Distillery
Puerto Rico is known as the “Rum Capital of the World,” and no visit to the island is complete without a visit to a distillery or two. For a truly authentic experience, Ron de Barriltio Rum Distillery, Puerto Rico’s oldest operating rum distillery, has a completely new visitors facility and is welcoming guests for heritage, mixology and tasting tours. Be sure and taste a piña colada while on-island; it’s here that the frozen drink was first poured.
Get Out and Explore
Take a break from the work at hand and get out and explore the island’s rainforest. Whether your group opts for horseback riding, or adventuring on ATVs or UTVs, time spent at Carabalí Rainforest Adventure Park, between El Yunque National Rainforest and the Atlantic Ocean, will get their adrenaline pumping. The new venue and two-story outdoor restaurant space is available, too. Work with the Carabalí team to make sure your outing’s fun and memorable for everyone.
For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Puerto Rico Group Services, Inc., a Hosts Global Member.
EAT
La Casita Blanca
For a truly authentic Puerto Rican dining experience, make your way to La Casita Blanca for lunch (or dinner Friday and Saturday nights). A popular spot since its opening in 1980, the restaurant’s menu features popular items like bacalaítos, or fried codfish fritters, stewed beef with rice and beans, and coconut arepas. Las Casita Blanca holds the distinction of Puerto Rico’s first James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef America's Class Award – South Zone.
La Central by Mario Pagán
Inside DISTRITO T-Mobile is La Central by Mario Pagán, a dining destination that’s a feast for the senses. From the open charcoal kitchen to the copper rum still in the middle of the bar, your guests’ eyes will feed on their surroundings while their stomachs are filled with succulent dishes ranging from fresh seafood to aged steaks and more.
Marmalade
Make dinner a memorable experience at Marmalade, one of Puerto Rico’s top-rated restaurants. With a keen on the freshest ingredients, the culinary team strives to evolve and create new dishes full of flavors, textures and colors that will entice diners’ tastebuds as they make their way through the five-course tasting menu. Think paellas, tartars, ceviches, fresh seafood, the finest cuts of meats and delectable desserts you’ll want to leave room for.
For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Puerto Rico Group Services, Inc., a Hosts Global Member.
Stay/Meet
Just as Puerto Rico has something for every meeting planner and attendee, so does ALHI. Whether it’s the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel; La Concha, A Renaissance Resort; or The Royal Sonesta Resort San Juan, all oceanfront and all intent on exceeding expectations, there truly is a space for everyone in the Island of Enchantment.
Condado Vanderbilt Hotel
Just three miles from the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan is the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, an oceanfront urban luxury resort built in 1919. Though an historic space, modern conveniences are at the ready, as is the hotel's 11,000 square feet of outdoor, oceanfront event space and 317 guest rooms, including 100 spacious suites. Mix up your meetings with group classes designed to be fun and at the same time relax your attendees’ minds so that they can refocus and reduce stress. Choose from beginner yoga, Latin dance aerobics, or a morning walk with meditation.
La Concha Resort, A Renaissance Resort
Your guests will be wowed by the stunning architecture when they arrive at La Concha Resort, A Renaissance Resort, a beach and nightlife destination in the heart of the trendy Condado district. Choose from more than 35,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space to bring your event to life. When it comes to the resort’s 478 guestrooms, you and your guests will find sleek design blended with tropical modernism elements.
The Royal Sonesta San Juan
The Royal Sonesta San Juan is just two miles from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, yet seemingly worlds away. Fifteen flexible indoor and outdoor event spaces encompassing more than 24,000 square feet can be arranged to meet any meeting planner’s needs, from intimate board meetings to gatherings of up to 600 guests. After work is finished for the day, your guests will enjoy retreating to their bright and elegant accommodations, or soaking up the Puerto Rican sun on palm-fringed Isla Verde Beach.
For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Puerto Rico Group Services, Inc., a Hosts Global Member.