Ever since the devastation of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Ricans have been waiting for the spirit of the island to come back, and that goes hand in hand with the hospitality and tourism industry.
The popular El San Juan Hotel reopened today, and the Caribe Hilton will soon follow. The 17-acre, Hilton property was originally scheduled to reopen this month as well, but instead is accepting bookings for spring 2019.
The iconic Hilton property was often visited by Hollywood elite such as David Rockefeller and Gloria Swanson, and it was known as the place where musicians would perform. Plus, it’s the very spot where the pina colada cocktail was first made.
Celebrating 70 years in 2019, the property produced a promotional video that highlights its rebuilding, offering insight into what its reopening will mean for the community. Pablo Torres, the property’s general manager, is seen in a hard hat several times throughout the video, describing his team as “family” and making a personal commitment to bring back the hotel stronger than ever. “We will have a much better hotel for our local community, for our team members and society as a whole,” Torres says.
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello seconds Torres’ sentiment, stating that the opening of the Caribe Hilton is a symbol that Puerto Rico is back in business—music to every meeting planner’s ears.
