Prevue July/August 2013 - (Page 49)

Left: xxx Below: Le Muse Opposite: El San Juan’s lobby. Above, clockwise: Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza (2); Caribe Hilton CONRAD SAN JUAN CONDADO PLAZA CARIBE HILTON SAN JUAN Our private bartender Argenys is making a “Summer Love” cocktail with pinot grigio, coconut rum and pineapple juice at the chic Eternal lobby lounge at the 570-room Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza. Then we all try “Passion Breezes” with Grey Goose pear and fresh strawberries. This is among our favorite gathering spots for receptions in Puerto Rico because it opens out to a beautiful lawn and terrace right on the ocean. You can easily host 300 outdoors (semi-covered) for a dressy cocktail party, while a constant breeze helps keep everyone cool. The Conrad consists of two wings with ocean or lagoon views. The 41,000 sf of meeting space is spread between the two, and the convention center is five minutes away. Lobby and guest room design is modern and fresh with dramatic lines softened with punches of colorful contemporary artwork, vivid linens and the brilliant blue sea and sky. The ballrooms and meeting space on the lagoon side have loads of natural light, especially the Royal Ballroom with a permanent stage and split level floor. Love the subtle retro vibe in there. The hotel’s most popular indoor space is the oceanfront Brisas del Mar room with a gorgeous original terazzo floor for 200 people, banquet-style. “With 18 breakouts we can customize the layout for any group,” says spokesperson Michelle Burn. “Planners always say how much they like all of the sunlight, how the spaces feel so connected to the outdoors.” We dined in one of the lagoon rooms one night with the lights of San Juan twinkling in the floor-to-ceiling windows. The decor was subtle and reserved while the food was among the most creative we’ve ever enjoyed in Puerto Rico. The 7-course dinner included a lively lobster/pineapple salad, followed by shrimp stuffed with an Andalucian-style salmorejo puree, wrapped with bacon in gorgonzola sauce. On the first night at the 917-room Caribe Hilton San Juan, our group gathered for dinner on the floating 50-pax sundeck parked near the beach. The crescent cove is rimmed with tall palm trees, and you can hear the waves lap against the platform. As we entered, the hotel chefs were grilling monstersize lobsters and scallops, and everyone toasted the evening with flutes of French champagne in anticipation of a fabulous dinner and convivial conversation. The iconic Hilton always puts on great events, having hosted the largest galas in the city since opening in 1949. “Our most popular feedback from planners is the view, proximity to water, the spa and concentration of amenities,” says Nelson Torres, hotel manager. “Most of the run-of-thehouse rooms are oceanview, and we have over 65,000 square feet of meeting space. No one, I mean no one, does a better job welcoming large groups to Puerto Rico than Caribe Hilton.” This was one of the best site inspections ever. As we moved through the hotel, we were welcomed by numerous staff at each point. We met housekeeping and reservations in one of the rooms. We spoke with Wanda Torres, CMP, associate director of catering/event services in another. Various chefs met us in the restaurants and ballrooms. Torres met us in the penthouse. You will never feel so well hosted as here. Torres says over $59 million has been invested in upgrades since 2009, with both of the main ballrooms completed this year. All new WiFi was installed in February. The location in unbeatable. You can almost walk to the Conrad and convention center. And an 8-minute shuttle ride dropped us off in the heart of Old San Juan, laced with ballast stone streets rimmed with shops and restaurants inside 200-year-old Spanish colonial homes. elsanjuanresort.com; condadoplaza.com; caribehilton.com prevueonline.net | 49 35-50_CARIBBEAN.indd 49 7/3/13 11:54 AM http://www.elsanjuanresort.com http://www.condadoplaza.com http://www.caribehilton.com http://www.prevueonline.net

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July/August 2013

Planner's Pick: New Zealand
Fresh Meets: Autograph Collection
Bureau Buzz: Monterey County
Good Business: South Africa
sea Shores: Small Ship cruising
The Local Kitchen
Special Section: Caribbean
Dominican Republic
On Location: Hilton/LXR, Puerto Rico
On Location: The Broadmoor
The South, Florida & Las Vegas
Singapore
On Location: Starwood Resorts, San Diego
On Location: Travaasa Austin
On Location: Moon Palace Cancun
On Location: IRF Cancun
Check Out: Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

Prevue July/August 2013