Puerto Rico has big news for the meetings industry: Its iconic El San Juan Hotel is reopening on Dec. 14.
The property closed last September alongside several others that were impacted by Hurricane Maria. But now the 388-room hotel is back after an extensive $65 million renovation of its classic spaces mixed with modern touches. That means meeting planners will still be greeted by its iconic chandelier and beautiful hand-carved Mahogany that have given the hotel lobby a majestic feel since originally opening in 1958.
Other highlights include the property’s tropical landscaping amid its four pools and a brand-new Well & Being Fitness Center. The property’s almost 40,000 sf of space includes a completely redesigned 11,000 sf grand ballroom. And the guest rooms also have new everything, with sensor-activated air-conditioning, large HDTVs and complimentary Wi-Fi.
In between meetings, attendees can experience the hotel’s several F&B outlets, including Chandelier Bar, decked out with a crystal Czechoslovakian centerpiece, or 1958 bar, which offers an extensive rum collection. Caña by Juliana Gonzáles offers innovative dishes from the native Puerto Rican who uses ingredients from local farmers, fishermen and small businesses. Or the Meat Market is a contemporary steakhouse option.
The hotel’s opening is just another example of how the island is back on track for tourism business. “El San Juan Hotel has been an important partner over the past year,” says Carla Campos, Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s executive director. “As a result of a strong collaboration between the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and the hotel’s ownership and management, [this] announcement is just another sign of how fast our tourism industry has resurged and contributed to the stabilization of Puerto Rico’s economy.”
