Prevue September/October 2012 - (Page 74)

Puerto Rico [ON LOCATION] ANETTA NOWOSIELSKA La Isla del Encanto Our groups pulls up in a motorcade of tricked out SUVs into Hacienda Campo Rico, a historic Caribbean estate on the outskirts of San Juan. Instantly, an inexplicable calm washes over us. Beyond the hidden gates of this lush 2,200-acre ranch, green vistas of the peaceful El Yunque nature reserve is a jarring contrast to the bustling capital of Puerto Rico, only ﬁve minutes away. After introductions, groundskeeper Victor Diaz is adjusting my saddle on a rested looking Paso Fino, a naturally gaited horse well suited for trail riding in Campo Rico’s subtropical forest ﬁlled with mangrove waterways and lakeside paths. “I’m told you ride,” he says. “That’s good. There’s lots to see here.” “There’s lots to see here” couldn’t ring truer in this Caribbean island so easily accessible yet utterly exotic. Puerto Rico is the airline hub of the Caribbean with more than 700 domestic and international flights per week. And yet, only 2½ hours from Miami, La Isla del Encanto (Island of Enchantment) packs a wallop of mesmerizing colonial intrigue and outdoor adventure. “Puerto Rico is an ideal option for any planner,” offers Teresa Martinez, director of marketing for the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau. “We are a Caribbean island with a bilingual population and American currency. We offer unique tropical nature, yet there are no passports required, so it’s an easy sell.” The nexus of large group events on the island is the 580,000-sf Puerto Rico Convention Center, located just outside the upscale oceanfront Condado District and glorious Old San Juan. The largest and most technologically advanced in the Caribbean, the convention center can accommodate groups up to 10,000. The 39,000-sf convention floor, also the largest in the Caribbean, features a production control balcony, integrated fiberoptic and internet connectivity, and integrated audio system with capability for remote recording of programs. The center is currently pursuing LEED certification following green upgrades within the swooshy wave-shaped structure. 72 | prevue magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue September/October 2012

Planner's Pick: Bermuda
Planner's Pick: Disney California
Fresh Meets: Sonesta Hotels
Bureau Buzz: Raleigh
Good Business: South Africa
Congrats: Visionary Awards
Sea Shores: Norwegian Cruise Line
Fifty Shades of Green
Checkn' In: westin Resorts, West USA
The West: Green by Nature
On Location: Santa Fe
On Location: La Costa Resort, CA
On Location: City of Napa
Mexico + The Caribbean
On Location: Hard Rock Hotel Cancun
On Location: St. Regis Punta Mita
Puerto Rico
Germany
Korea
On Location: Montreal
Check Out: The Orbit Tower, London

Prevue September/October 2012