Puerto Rico: exotic, tropical, but still in your comfort zone.

For U.S. meeting planners looking for destinations closer to home that still give attendees the feeling of getting away, there is no better time to consider Puerto Rico, the hub of the Caribbean. With 272 miles of coastline and hundreds of beaches, Puerto Rico is a tropical paradise with exotic food, culture, arts, and music. Because it is a U.S. commonwealth, Puerto Rico feeds the comfort level with U.S. currency, phone service, and mail, but it makes U.S. travelers feel they are a world away.

A banner era of hotel development is being fueled by the construction of the new Puerto Rico Convention Center scheduled to open in 2005. The addition of more than 3,350 new rooms will soon push the total rooms on the island to more than 16,000.

"Puerto Rico is undergoing a virtual renaissance," says Jorge Pesquera, executive director, Puerto Rico Convention Bureau. "One of our most pressing challenges in serving the group market was meeting demand, especially for larger groups. Now with a broad range of housing options, from budget to luxury and everything in between, we can accommodate the needs of any group in terms of size and budget."

When you see what Puerto Rico has to offer, you'll be challenged to find a single reason not to put Puerto Rico on your short list for your next event.

TOP 10 REASONS TO BOOK PUERTO RICO FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT

10. You can get here from there, or almost anywhere. Luis Munoz Marin International Airport is the Caribbean's airline hub, with virtually every major airline offering service to Puerto Rico. More than 600 nonstop flights per week fly from the United States, and we have excellent connecting service from Europe and Latin America.

9. We weren't born yesterday. With more than 500 years of Spanish, Indian, and African influence, we are proud of a cultural legacy unparalleled in the Caribbean. Our rich diversity lends itself to unmatched themed events, from horseback safaris to conquistador celebrations. Historic structures such as forts and 16th-century convents provide backdrops for spectacular events.

8. We're techno-tropical. Boasting the most sophisticated technology and meeting support services available in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is equipped to handle even the most complex and cutting-edge requirements. Satellite feeds, multimedia presentations, and more are readily available and within easy reach. (And so are our endless beaches and tropical rain forest!)

7. We get a great report card. Few destinations generate the level of excitement and attendee satisfaction that Puerto Rico does. Attendance is high and attendees leave happy; 94 percent of planners express a high likelihood of returning to Puerto Rico. Our list of awards is too long to mention.

6. Sometimes, you can have it all. Pristine beaches and cobblestone streets, tropical rain forests and sophisticated urban centers, historic cities and high-tech services, glittering nightlife and sun-drenched days, Old World charm and New World 61an. Something for everyone? In a word, yes!

5. Choose from world-class accommodations. From expansive resorts to boutique hotels, from city center properties to small, quaint inns, Puerto Rico boasts some the world's finest accommodations in every price range, for every group and every meeting situation.

4. Eat, drink, and be merry. The foods of the world can be found in Puerto Rico. Offering everything from native fare (a mix of Spanish, Creole, and Indian influence) to the cuisines of Europe and Asia, sophisticated restaurants are in abundance. Entertainment options include a wide range of cultural activities, casinos, nightclubs, and performing arts.

3. Avoid red tape. As a U.S. Commonwealth, Puerto Rico requires no passports or visas for U.S. visitors; foreign nationals should have valid passports and visas as required. We use U.S. currency and U.S. phone and mail service. Both English and Spanish are official languages. You'll feel exotic but comfortably at home.

2. Enjoy the sporting life. Puerto Rico is a true sports paradise. Pass the leisure hours with mountain hiking, cave exploration, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, windsurfing, golf, tennis--and there's a year-round tropical climate to enjoy them in.

1. Meet the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau. We boast a team of enthusiastic and knowledgeable professionals ready to assist you every step of the way in planning a memorable, successful, and hassle-free event. Our newly enhanced Web site, www.meetpuertorico.com, speeds navigation and links to island suppliers. It's the right combination of high tech and high touch.

CONTACT

Dan Melesurgo, Vice President, Global Sales Puerto Rico Convention Bureau

Phone: [phone]

E-mail:[e-mail]

Web site: www.meetpuertorico.com