Many new and renovated hotel properties coming in 2007 and 2008
San Juan, Puerto Rico (January 16, 2007) – With several hotel properties undergoing extensive renovations and the announcement of new properties, Puerto Rico’s tourism industry is booming. Today, 2,308 new hotel rooms are being built, totaling an investment of $777 million. Puerto Rico is reaching toward its goal of 5000 new hotel rooms by 2008. During 2007, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) will work toward the development of 1000 additional hotel rooms.
Puerto Rico also expects continued growth as it becomes only one of two destinations in the Caribbean where no passport will be required for travel to and from the US beginning January 23, 2007.
Following is an overview of hotel property projects in the order they are scheduled to be completed:
The Water Club in San Juan has officially changed its name to San Juan Water & Beach Club Hotel and has added amenities, including renovated bathrooms featuring bath and spa products from H20 Plus, clock radios with MP3 player connections and Wi-Fi access.
San Juan’s 173-room historic Normandie Hotel completed an $8 million renovation with features including wireless access throughout the property, 7000 sq ft of meeting space, two 800-gallon fish tanks in the lobby, art deco furnishings, two restaurants and a spa. The hotel, originally opened in 1942 and known for its unique shape resembling a luxury liner, is being acquired by Caribbean Property Group and will be transformed into a W Hotel.
The 51-room Plaza de Armas Hotel recently underwent renovations to be converted into the Howard Johnson Plaza de Armas in Old San Juan.
LXR Luxury Resorts’ properties in Puerto Rico, El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa, El San Juan Hotel & Casino and Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino, have begun extensive $200 million property renovations that will take place over the next several years. Renovations include a new water park at El Conquistador in addition to room, parking area and commercial space expansions at the other properties.
The Paseo Caribe project made the Caribe Hilton in San Juan the largest hotel property in Puerto Rico with more than 900 rooms. This represented an increase of 240 rooms. Additionally, a 4000 sq ft wedding hall was built overlooking the ocean in the Las Olas Spa area. The San Geronimo ballroom is also being renovated and will double in size. And, the second phase of the Condado Lagoon Villas, the condo-hotel tower of the Caribe Hilton, is under construction and scheduled to open in December 2007.
Starwood Hotels will manage the renovated Martineau Bay Resort in Vieques, owned by the Reig Group. This hotel will close in April 2007 to finalize a $15 million renovation to transform the resort into the first W Resort in the world, scheduled for completion in the fall of 2007.
The San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino has begun a $36.7 million renovation to bring the property to the level of other luxury resorts on the island. The 402 rooms being renovated will gradually come back into service between December 2006 and March 2007. The 123-room cabana wing will be renovated from August to November 2007 and will remain open during the process. The finished project will include a grand lobby, updated casino, refreshed ballroom and guest rooms with a new Latin-Caribbean look.
A 160-room Courtyard by Marriott is currently under construction in Aguadilla and is scheduled to open in May 2007.
The Renaissance La Concha Hotel & Casino is scheduled to open by June 2007. The 474-room hotel-condo Renaissance property will offer 15,000 sq ft of meeting space, as well as a 15,000 sq ft casino, three restaurants, an oceanfront pool and a 5000 sq ft fitness centre located on the beach. Sales at the condo-hotel tower are already underway.
Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club, Puerto Rico’s first five-star development, is scheduled to open in 2008 and will include the St Regis Resort & Residences Bahia Beach, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr championship oceanfront golf course, as well as other accommodations on two miles of pristine beach. Bahia Beach is taking shape on 483 acres of unspoiled coconut-palm and native maritime forest. The development, which has secured $500 million from investors, will generate 3,200 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs once it opens for business.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts will open the 500-room Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel as the anchor hotel for the Puerto Rico Convention Center that opened in Isla Grande in late 2005. The Sheraton Puerto Rico, opening in 2009, represents an investment of $209 million and will be the first hospitality and mixed-use development in the Convention Center District, located adjacent to the world-class 580,000 sq ft facility.
The Condado Vanderbilt Hotel is scheduled to open by June 2009. The 300-room independently operated five-star hotel-condo property will feature 20,000 sq ft of meeting space, a gourmet restaurant, bistro, spa and two oceanfront pools.
Construction on Plaza Internacional, located near Luiz Muñoz Marin Airport in San Juan, began in November 2006. The hotel will include 264 guest rooms and 590,000 sq ft of retail space.
PRTC recently purchased the old Punta Lima minimum-security prison facility in Naguabo for $8.2 million, with the aim of developing the site as the first ecological hotel complex on the island. The hotel will be developed and operated by a private company, but the land itself will remain in PRTC’s hands.
Disclaimer: The information in this article/release was accurate at
press time; however, we suggest you confirm all details and prices
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