Prevue July-August 2018 - 26

on Seven Mile Beach, groups can kick
back at Coccoloba, the resort's beachfront
restaurant, for a round of frozen cocktails. Or
for a more formal setting, The Ritz-Carlton,
Grand Cayman, offers more than 13,000
sf of meeting space with panoramic views
of the Caribbean. For a taste of history, opt
for a cocktail reception in the oldest existing
stone building in the Cayman Islands, Pedro
St. James, also known as the birthplace of
democracy in this island country.
The Westin Grand Cayman Seven
Mile Beach Resort & Spa just completed
a two-phase, $50 million renovation of its
343 rooms and suites, which also touched
public spaces, its pool deck and retail
gallery. Especially beautiful is the redesign
of the lobby bar, with a curved ceiling
reflecting the feeling of ocean waves,
juxtaposed with views of the sea from
floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The hotel's
Beach House restaurant has a creative
take on cuisine, offering a five-course
tasting menu, small tasting plates or large
family-style platters. Margaritaville Beach
Resort Grand Cayman also completed
a multimillion-dollar renovation that
touched its guest rooms while expanding
its freshwater pool. A renovation of the
Compass Rose meeting rooms will be
completed in October. The culinary vibe

26 | prevuemeetings.com

here is standard "Margaritaville chill," with
a signature License to Chill Bar and 5
O'Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill.

2

ARUBA

Aruba is defined by its
many cultures, a blend of
English, Dutch, Spanish
and native Papiamento. All
are represented in its cuisine, which is often
served up family-style. A favorite team building
activity is a group cooking class, where
attendees can learn to make a local dish, such
as funchi, a cornmeal mash that is similar to
polenta. They can also take a culinary tour
from Kukoo Kanuka, the go-to operator for
pub crawls and barhopping tours. The new
"Wine on Down the Road" tour starts with a
sunset champagne toast on the beach, then
a visit to four restaurants led by a sommelier
who pairs wines and local dishes.
A popular group property is the 368room Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort &
Casino, the largest and most historic hotel
on the island. Built in 1959 and designed by
Morris Lapidus, the hotel's retro furniture and
vintage photos remind attendees of its past.
There's also 15,000 sf of stylish meeting
space, including an 8,100-sf ballroom. The
place to be in the evenings is the beach,
where groups can enjoy a private Carnival

show, with BBQ lobster, crab legs, chorizo,
lamb chops and coconut curry, topped off
with bottomless cranberry mojitos.
Renovations at the Aruba Marriott
Resort & Stellaris Casino have created
a modern, minimalist aesthetic in its 411
guest rooms, with new carpeting, furniture,
light fixtures and artwork. Aruba will also
get a new hotel by the end of this year, the
116-room Hyatt Place, located adjacent to
Reina Beatrix International Airport.

3

PUERTO RICO

As the rebuilding continues,
one of the most important
projects in Puerto Rico is
District Live!, a multifaceted
entertainment zone being built across from
the Puerto Rico Convention Center. The
project consists of a performance venue for
6,000 attendees and more than 80,000 sf
of entertainment spaces, including a rum
microdistillery, broadcast studio, restaurants
and bars, and an urban zip line for soaring
above it all. A 175-room Aloft hotel will
feature a rooftop swimming pool overlooking
the convention center building and district
grounds. Overlooking District Live! and the
convention center is the Sheraton Puerto
Rico Hotel & Casino, which in addition to
503 rooms and 40,000 sf of meeting space
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July-August 2018
