Puerto rico hotels open: Discover Puerto Rico: We’re open for travel business: Travel Weekly

Discover Puerto Rico: We’re open for travel business: Travel Weekly

SAN JUAN — Hurricane Fiona, a Category 1 storm that whacked the southwest corner of Puerto Rico on Sept. 18, was «a setback for us, but not a reset,» according to Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico.

Affected areas in Fiona’s path ran from Ponce on the south coast up to Rincon on the west coast. The entire island lost power, which was restored within days in the metropolitan areas.

«There was a temporary disruption in San Juan from the storm, but less than 24 hours later the Luis Munoz Marin Airport reopened, followed by the airport in Ponce on Sept. 22 and the cruise ports the following day,» Dean said, speaking to a reporter during the Marketplace event of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

Most of the hotels in the affected areas have reopened, including the Holiday Inn, the Hilton and the Aloft in Ponce.

Even some of the smaller properties, if they have generators, are up and running, like the 50-room Combate Beach Resort on the far western tip of the island, according to Dean.

Puerto Rico: ‘Ready to welcome all’

«From the visitors’ standpoint, Puerto Rico’s beaches, restaurants, attractions and accommodations are ready to welcome all,» Dean said. «We are excited by the quick pace of this recovery, and we did not lose bookings after Fiona. Most guests simply postponed their visits but did not cancel.»

Enid Montes, director of sales and marketing at the 255-room Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort, reported no major damage following Fiona. «We were closed for a week because we had no power and also to do cleanup of debris on the property,» she said.

«All now is normal: Our golf course and casino are open, our power is back and we’re running at 100% occupancy,» Montes said. «There is still repair work being done in some of the nearby towns, but anyone driving from San Juan to Ponce will find the roads in fine condition.»

Both the Holiday Inns in Ponce and Mayaguez had minimal damage and are open, according to Liz Mari, director of sales. Damage was related to debris and, initially, to lack of power.

The annual Marketplace kicked off here on Oct. 3. Dean pointed out
that Marketplace was the first event to take place in Puerto Rico after
Fiona — just as it was the first event to take place after Maria, the
hurricane that crippled the island in 2017.

CHTA had asked conference delegates who had extra room in luggage to bring supplies to donate to the schools in the area, such as coloring books, pens and paper and art supplies. In addition, local businesses in the San Juan area were donating canned goods, flashlights, tarps, blankets and hygiene supplies for distribution to homes affected by Fiona.

Puerto Rico’s strong tourism year

Dean said he was optimistic for a «strong peak season.»

From January through July, Puerto Rico’s visitor numbers were outpacing the first halves of 2019 and 2021. Visitors were staying longer and spending more, according to Dean. The island was tracking toward a record year until Fiona.  

«We launched our ‘Live Boricua’ campaign in May, which highlights the island’s authenticity and culture,» he said. «As we emerged from the pandemic, we saw that consumers were yearning to engage with the local community, with faces not places.» 

The campaign aims to connect the visitor with everyday Puerto Ricans and join in their celebrations and leisure activities so that «the visitor arrives as a guest but leaves as a friend,» according to Dean.

Along with the «Live Boricua» campaign, Discover Puerto Rico has an eye on opportunities for niche travel growth, targeting craft beer, culinary tourism, off-the-beaten-track activities and «ed-venture tourism,» experiences that Dean said «enlighten and entertain.» 

Puerto Rico hotels, tourism industry spared by Fiona, officials say

Three weeks after Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Puerto Rico, tourism officials there are pledging solidarity with those affected by the storm’s heavy winds and rain, while also striving to make it clear that the island’s biggest hotels, resorts, airports, cruise ports and tourist attractions are open, functioning and safe.

It’s a delicate duo of messages to share, no doubt. After all, the storm caused massive damage in parts of the U.S. territory, damaging homes and infrastructure, and knocking out power and water to many.

“I don’t want to candy coat it or understate it,” Brad Dean, CEO of the island’s official tourism organization, Discover Puerto Rico, said of the storm’s lasting effects.

At the same time, he’s quick to draw a distinction between Fiona and Hurricane Maria, the category five storm that made landfall nearly five years earlier to the day, prompting a recovery that continues today.

“We’re blessed,” Dean said of the tourism industry’s state following Fiona. “Much of the tourism industry in Puerto Rico was spared.”

He’s leaning on that distinction as he voices empathy for those facing a long road ahead because of Fiona, while simultaneously hoping to ensure those considering trips to Puerto Rico — or with trips already planned — stay the course and visit.

Storm damage in Guanica, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES

Puerto Rico again faces recovery

Any conversation about vacations, beaches and tourism is secondary to a discussion about the human impact of Hurricane Fiona.

Particularly in the western and southern parts of Puerto Rico, people face a significant storm recovery; a mode with which so many are all too familiar after the last half-decade following the devastation caused by Maria in September 2017.

As of last week, workers had restored power to 93% of the island, and water service to 98%, according to numbers shared by Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi.

In a territory of 3.2 million people, though, that meant hundreds of thousands of people still did not have electricity and tens of thousands were without running water.

“Right now, Puerto Rico is in a full recovery mode,” Pierluisi said last Monday, on the day President Joe Biden visited the island to tour the damage.

Wind and flood damage fueled by Fiona also temporarily paused, complicated or expanded the scope of projects already in the works due to Maria, leading the federal government to widen a disaster declaration and pledge additional funds to assist in the rebuilding efforts.

What makes a storm’s aftermath all the more costly, though, is when the ramifications extend far beyond that of the wind and the rain. And it’s on that front, tourism officials hope to avoid longer-term consequences from this storm.

Tourism industry relatively untouched

The widespread devastation from Hurricane Maria did a lot more than destroy businesses, homes and the power grid. The immediate devastation and suffering brought on by the storm were compounded when another reality set in: Given all the damage to hotels, attractions and the destruction of San Juan Airport (SJU), tourists — with all the money they bring in and jobs they support — could not easily visit.

That meant Puerto Rico was without one its major economic drivers.

Three weeks after Fiona’s landfall, though, Dean is cautiously optimistic that the aftermath of this storm will be different.

“This has turned out to be a setback, but not a reset,” he told TPG.

Villa Marina in Puerto Rico. DISCOVER PUERTO RICO

Flights were able to begin taking off and landing again at San Juan Airport and others across the territory shortly after the storm.

Furthermore, Puerto Rico’s cruise ports are back open and, according to the storm updates page on Discover Puerto Rico’s website, “Most hotels, restaurants, golf courses and venues are operating normally.”

Specifically, Dean said major hotels and resorts are back on the power grid, even in outlying parts of Puerto Rico.

The organization’s site also mentions the island’s beaches and national parks, along with destinations like Old San Juan, La Placita de Santurce, Carabali Rainforest Park, Castillo San Cristobal and others are back open for business.

“When you step back and look at the impact [of Fiona]” Dean said, comparing the storm’s broader effects to those seen five years ago with Maria, “The only comparison is that they both happened in the month of September.”

Discover Puerto Rico has been sharing photos of properties, date-stamped to show the current state of operations, like this image of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dorado Del Mar Beach Resort taken on Sept. 26, 2022. The hope is that images will help make clear that resorts are, in fact, able to take guests now.

DISCOVER PUERTO RICO

But he also acknowledged that in the wake of a major storm, would-be visitors might need a bit more convincing to come; and he’s ready to make his pitch.

Tourism officials: Puerto Rico is safe to visit

Dean’s confidence that Puerto Rico is “truly ready to welcome tourists back,” as he said to TPG, stems from the fact that a majority of tourists arrive and branch out from the San Juan metropolitan area on their trips.

Sure, hotels are open; but what might visitors notice as far as damage off-property?

“If you’re arriving into the San Juan metro area, you won’t even realize that we had a natural disaster weather event in the last few weeks,” he said. “If you were to drive out into the outlying areas, you’ll see where there has been some flood damage.”

He noted, though, that even some of those locations are beginning to see businesses reopen.

The message seems to be spreading, with cruise lines affirming their schedules for this fall, Dean said, and no major meetings or conferences for the upcoming months canceled.

Certainly, if you’re considering or planning a visit, you’ll want to double-check with your specific resort on its operating status to be safe.

However, that continued momentum comes as a relief after the long-lasting economic ramifications stemming from Maria. The island saw record tourism numbers in 2021 and has been on pace to break that record this year.

Dean sees it as a sign that the island has come a long way over the last five years.

“As I look back now,” he said, “I’m realizing how much progress the island has made not just in our ability to prepare, but to respond.”

Bottom line

Puerto Rico again faces a significant road to recovery following Hurricane Fiona, particularly in the southern and western parts of the island.

As that recovery ramps up though, officials want tourists to understand that they should be able to take their trips as planned. In fact, tourism officials hope they will.

In the meantime, there are many ways to help storm victims affected by both Fiona and Ian, in both Puerto Rico and Florida. With so many looking for ways they can assist in the aftermath of the storm — and there are many ways you can help — one such way, Dean points out, is to visit the island and spend money.

“There’s no better way to help the people in Puerto Rico than to schedule or continue a vacation,” he said. “There’s no need to worry about whether Puerto Rico’s ready.”

Read more:

• A beginners guide to visiting Puerto Rico
• A trip to Puerto Rico for a family of four
• Your points and miles guide to Puerto Rico

Featured image by ATLANTIDE PHOTOTRAVEL/CORBIS DOCUMENTARY/GETTY IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Punta Del Rey Puerto Rico

Hotel Punta Del Rey

• Wi-Fi
• 24-hour reception
• Open golf field
• Restaurant 9000
• View all 9000

Location

Punta Del Rey The hotel has 127 rooms.

A 10-minute walk from the center of Puerto Rico and a few steps from The Harp Bar, guests will find this hotel. Palmitos Park can be reached by car in 30 minutes. Harbor and parks within walking distance.

All rooms have air conditioning, TV and a seating area. Rooms offer sea views. Extras include a bathtub, a shower and a hairdryer.

Nearby, 100 meters away, are the restaurants Oscar’s Restaurant and CABALLITO DE MAR. Guests can round off their dinner with refreshing drinks at the terrace bar. Gran Canaria airport is 45 minutes away. Guests can make use of an elevator, a cloakroom and a newsstand on site. Guests can relax in the outdoor swimming pool. Guests can take their leisure time with tennis, golf and table tennis.

Important information

Reception of the race: from 15:00 to 23:59

Exit registration: to 11:00

Reviews

Frequently asked questions

The minimum cost of living in the hotel Punta Del Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey Rey is 113€.

• Yes, Punta Del Rey offers a continental breakfast among other services.

• Punta Del Rey Puerto Rico is approximately 1 km from the city center.

• Gran Canaria Airport is about 50 km from Punta Del Rey.

• The Escuela de Vela bus stop is about 150 meters from Punta Del Rey Puerto Rico.

• Playa de Amadores Beach is located near the Punta Del Rey Hotel.

• Oscar’s Restaurant and Taj Palace III are located 150 meters from Punta Del Rey Puerto Rico.

• Guests of Punta Del Rey can relax with sun loungers and a garden.

• Yes, Punta Del Rey is suitable for ping pong and billiards.

• Punta Del Rey Puerto Rico offers an outdoor pool, a sun terrace and a golf course.

Location

Map:

Attractions

Great Restaurants

Transportation

• Local Attractions

0019

700 m

Numbers and Availability

All rooms have air conditioning, TV and a seating area. Rooms offer sea views. Extras include a bathtub, a shower and a hairdryer.

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The State of Puerto Rico is located on the islands of the Caribbean Sea. This is a country of eternal sun, clean and comfortable beaches, blue seas and colorful reefs. Puerto Rico offers excellent diving, surfing and snorkelling for outdoor enthusiasts. Festivals and holidays are constantly held here, which will enchant you with the rich color and folklore of the locals. Performances, songs, dances, colorful religious processions and all this in the middle of the narrow streets of San Juan, which conquered hundreds of tourists with its unique architecture. Here you will be met by luxury hotels in Puerto Rico from well-known world chains.

With over 12,000 hotels, you can easily find a modern hotel with a high level of amenities. Most of the complexes use the all-inclusive food system, which is very popular with vacationers. The best hotels in Puerto Rico are represented by world brands: Marriott, Sheraton, Hilton, Best Western, InterContinental and Radisson. In them you can enjoy a truly luxurious holiday. Puerto Rico hotels offer their guests restaurants with a variety of cuisines, bars, discos, swimming pools, playgrounds and sandy beaches near your location. You can relax both in premium class hotels and in budget rooms of guesthouses.

Popular Hotels of Puerto Rico 5 stars

The Deluxe Rooms offer luxurious accommodations, 24-hour service and attentive staff to cater to your every need. Five-star hotels in Puerto Rico are located in the best resorts in the country: Flamenco, Humacao, Punta Guillarte, La Parguera, Palomenitos Island and Playas Liguillo, which is ideal for families. You can use the services of a babysitter, a business center, rent a car and see the sights of colonial times. Hotels in San Juan — the center and capital of Puerto Rico offer their guests superior rooms with air conditioning, TV, Internet access, safe, minibar, private bathroom and personal toiletries. All 5 star hotels in Puerto Rico value their reputation and try to satisfy the needs of even the most fastidious guest.