Puerto Rico´s New Convention Center Home to the Caribbean Marketplace 2006

16 January 2006 5:00am

The new Puerto Rico Convention Center is hosting this week the Caribbean Marketplace 2006, and event that´s slated to come to a close on January 17.

Hosted by the Caribbean Hotel Association, this is the first international meeting being held at the Center and has already drawn 1,500 delegates to the new state-of-the-art facility which opened November 17 last year.

Caribbean Marketplace (formerly CHA Marketplace) is recognized as the most important tourism marketing event of the year for the Caribbean region. Held every January, the two-day event brings together tourism suppliers from 36 Caribbean destinations to meet with wholesalers, incentive buyers, meeting planners, group buyers and dive shop owners from the US, Canada, Caribbean, Latin America, Asia/Pacific, Africa and Europe.

“We are honored that the first group of international delegates to the Puerto Rico Convention Center showcases the Caribbean region as a premier meetings and leisure destination,” stated Ana Maria Viscasillas, president & CEO, Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, the official marketing and sales agent for the Puerto Rico Convention Center.

Caribbean Marketplace represents 2,596 room night bookings for San Juan area hotels, including the Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino, the headquarter hotel for the event. In addition, Caribbean Marketplace is anticipated to infuse $973,500 into Puerto Rico´s local economy.

“Hosting this year´s Caribbean Marketplace in San Juan makes perfect sense as San Juan is centrally-located with excellent airlift for our buyers and sellers,” stated Berthia Parle, MBE, President of the Caribbean Hotel Association. “In addition, being the first international event to take place at the new Puerto Rico Convention Center adds a special, exciting feature to the entire event.”

Currently the new Puerto Rico Convention Center has more than 70 events scheduled through 2008. It is anticipated that the Center will generate over $300 million annually for Puerto Rico´s local economy.