Ana Maria Viscasillas. President and CEO of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau (PRCB)

Q- What’s going to happen with the Convention Center? When is it going to open and how are works doing?

A- We’re very pleased with both the evolution and works we’ve seen at the Puerto Rico Convention Center. One of the biggest hits we’ve scored is that, for the past five years, we’ve been dealing with sales and marketing of the new convention center that will open, with God’s blessing, on November 2005.

Construction works are going ahead of schedule, with 70 percent of the facility now completed. We believe if builders keep up the good work, it’ll be ready to go on September 2005.

Q- As to the hotels and services on the premises, will they also be ready on that same date?

A- The surrounding areas –known as the Convention Center District- are being built right now. Construction works of the hotel are scheduled to commence in 2005. The residential areas, the restaurants and stores are also being built right now. They won’t necessarily be ready for the grand opening of the Convention Center, yet some nearby facilities are being set up to accommodate groups, even though I must insist the building process is in full swing now. There’s a very pretty section outfitted with public areas, gardens and eye-catching fountains that will be ready to go with the opening of the Center.

Q- How is Puerto Rico working on the marketing of congresses and incentives in the European market, apart from the traditional U.S. market? What are the most interesting countries for Puerto Rico?

A- The fact of the matter is that due to our Hispanic roots, we’re trying to lure more businesses from Spain. We’re indeed targeting the international congress market in order to draw a good deal of international associations willing to hold meetings in Puerto Rico. As to one specific market, well, we should mention Spain and Brussels, where most international associations are based. What we want to do is bring group markets from countries other than the United States.

Q- How do you like the EITBM in Barcelona? What has it meant to you?

A- We’re very pleased. I guess it’s been a pretty interesting change to hold it here in Barcelona; it has gathered a larger amount of buyers, and in the case of Puerto Rico as an emerging destination that now has a brand-new Convention Center, it’s been a great help to meet customers that we would have had no chance of meeting somewhere else. So, the fair’s been pretty good for us.

Q- What do you make of these two fairs, IMEX and EITBM?

A- I think you need to see your hand and try to play all the cards on the table to see how you can continue getting more customers. I believe this particular fair has seen a more specific clientele moving to those markets we have in Puerto Rico.

Q- What have you noticed, as an organization, in terms of numbers of buyers? Any differences between IMEX and EITBM?

A- In this particular fair in Barcelona, we’ve had specific buyers interested in medical congresses. This has, of course, a lot to do with the fact that our pharmaceutical industry has been making considerable headway in recent years. We’ve noticed growing interest and far more customers seeking a venue for this kind of medical event in Puerto Rico.

Q- Which countries have sent more representatives to see you?

A- England, with fairly acceptable visit volumes from the Spanish and German markets. I think that, generally speaking, we’ve had a little bit of everything.

Q- What kind of support will the Convention Center get from the new Puerto Rican administration?

A- We’ve been very lucky because both candidates that ran for the governorship of Puerto Rico in the November general elections threw their support behind the building of the Convention Center from the word go. That means we don’t expect this project to be mothballed or something like that. This year’s elections have been very tight and there’s a vote recount going on right now. There’s no clear winner so far, but either candidate supports the completion of the Convention Center. That also means that we, at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, are hopeful to start welcoming customers as early as September 2005 because we’re confident the construction process won’t be stopped.