Two decades is a long time. Children born at the start are now in college. The island's population has grown from 3.2 million to almost 4 million. Two decades ago, the most expensive double rooms in Condado scarcely topped $150, visitors sailed to Icacos Cay off Fajardo for $30-buffet lunch included-and the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association (PRHTA) celebrated its first convention and trade show. It was deemed a great success, and conventions have been held every year since then. The PRHTA Convention & Trade Show has become the premier professional development forum for all members of Puerto Rico's tourism and hospitality industry.
To mark its 20 years of existence, this year's Convention is spreading its wings. For the first time, the Convention will be held outside the San Juan Metropolitan Area. This year's site is The Westin Río Mar Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Río Grande, now a shorter drive from San Juan on the new Expressway 66. All levels of Puerto Rico's hospitality industry will converge on the lovely, spacious grounds of The Westin Río Mar and will enjoy the world-class meetings facilities. At the Convention, you will find something for everyone - hotel owners, managers, restaurateurs, food and beverage staff, front desk, human resources, purchasing agents, sales and marketing, concierges and housekeeping personnel.
Being held September 18 (evening) through 21, this year's Convention will offer all the events that make it so successful - quality educational seminars, practical certification workshops, extraordinary networking opportunities, and an array of activities designed to enhance and promote the many aspects of our multi-faceted tourism industry. The seminars and workshops cover diverse subjects related to strategies for success within the hospitality industry. At the Trade Show you will find more than 100 booths offering an outstanding selection of products and services.
Here you can meet other hospitality professionals, compare brands and features, try out new products, and negotiate your best deal. As usual, all three days of the Convention & Trade Show present countless opportunities to exchange ideas and knowledge and to develop invaluable professional ties.
The theme of this year's Convention is Evolution: Moving into the Future. 2006 has been a year of concerns as Puerto Rico deals with a variety of economical and legislative issues. As we move into the future, we need to work together to put Puerto Rico on sound economical footing, to expand our hospitality opportunities, and to develop tourism niches such as eco-tourism and culinary tourism. This is a time of evolution, from present-day uncertainties to future strengths, and we can begin our planning at this year's convention.
There are two ways to attend, either through full registration or single event registration. Full registration includes three days of seminars, social events and meals. All functions are included. The price is $1,850 for members and $2,750 for non-members. The full registration fee for exhibitors, which includes admission for two representatives per company to the General Managers & VIP Cocktail Reception, is $1,200 for members and $1,850 for non-members. Single event registration enables you to pick and choose those activities that appeal to your area of interest. Please see the registration form for pricing.
Be sure to schedule several visits to the Trade Show, where over a hundred booths will showcase an impressive array of products and services geared to the hospitality industry. Get to know the exhibitors and mingle with industry doers and shakers. This is a lively experience, made even more enjoyable with the prizes that are raffled off during the Trade Show hours.
| Tuesday, September 19, 2006 | 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, September 20, 2006 | 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. |