Destination Guides
Caribbean-Bahamas
by Lisa A. GrimaldiMarch 1, 2012
Why Here?
The region has dozens of gorgeous properties perfect for hosting meetings and events. Among the established Caribbean resorts sporting fresh looks is the 479-room Frenchman's Reef Marriott Resort (above) in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. The property debuted its $48 million makeover last November.
Historic Site
San Juan's Castillo San Felipe del Morro is one of the city's oldest landmarks. The building and grounds are managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Group, and individual tours can be organized.
Puerto Rico
The 371-room JW
Marriott Hotel & Resort at Coco Beach is set to debut in 2013. The
property will have approximately 21,000 square feet of meeting space,
including a 12,000-square-foot ballroom, seven meeting rooms, two
boardrooms and five hospitality suites. The hotel also will offer a
36-hole, Tom Kite-designed championship golf course; a
17,775-square-foot spa and fitness center, and a 6,370-square-foot
casino.
The 115-room Ritz-Carlton Reserve Dorado Beach Resort
& Spa will open late this year on the site of Laurance S.
Rockefeller's former estate. Last fall, the site's East Course golf
facility, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., reopened following an
18-month revamp, while the West Course is set for renovation this year.
According
to the Puerto Rico Tourism Co., Fairmont Hotels & Resorts also will
open a Dorado Beach property. The 500-room hotel will open on the site
of the former Hyatt Regency Cerromar.
The 450-room Condado
Vanderbilt has reopened following a complete renovation. The property,
in the heart of the Condado tourist district, features 15,000 square
feet of meeting space, a spa and four restaurants.
The 107-room
Wyndham Garden at Palmas del Mar debuted this year. The property has
6,000 square feet of meeting space, a business center, a fitness center
and a casino.
The 112-room Rincón Beach Resort has completed a
$4.2 million expansion, adding a 3,440-square-foot ballroom and a
1,200-square-foot reception hall.
JetBlue has increased its
service to Puerto Rico, offering an average of 35 flights per day from
the U.S. mainland. Recently the carrier launched service to San Juan
from Hartford, Conn.; Tampa, Fla.; and Jacksonville, Fla.
On the
international front, new airlines serving Puerto Rico include British
Airways, with service from London; Condor Airlines, offering flights
from Frankfurt, Germany; and WestJet, serving the Canadian market from
Toronto. Each of these international carriers offers twice-weekly
flights to the island.
The 503-room Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel
& Casino has a new eatery, Texas de Brazil, part of the steak house
chain. The restaurant can accommodate groups of up to 250.
The 525-room San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino has completed a $2.2 million redesign of its lobby.
The
139-room St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort opened just over a year ago in
Rio Grande. The property has an 18-hole golf course, a Remede Spa and 16
meeting rooms. The resort is home to chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's
Fern restaurant.
The 107-room Four Points by Sheraton Palmas del Mar Resort has been reflagged as the Wyndham Garden at Palmas del Mar.
The
Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort is undergoing a complete
makeover, during which the hotel's 255 guest rooms will be upgraded and
its 15 meeting areas updated.