BENEFITS OF BECOMING A PRHTA MEMBER

Membership in the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association enables you to enhance your business in ways that could prove too difficult or too expensive to accomplish on your own. More than a business tool, membership is a sound investment with many valuable benefits:
 

Voice in the Legislature and Government

The collective interests of our members are vigorously protected and promoted before Puerto Rico's Legislative Assembly, governmental agencies and public corporations. Members receive regular communications about relevant legislative matters and regulations affecting the tourism industry.

Marketing Support

In conjunction with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, special packages and promotions are developed in order to stimulate the growth of our destination and the profitability of our members.

Networking

Make new friendships and rekindle old ones during our Monthly Membership Luncheons and other frequently offered industry-wide events. Establish regular, direct communication with industry leaders, with whom you can share ideas and concerns.

Professional Development

Professional development seminars and certifications for the hotel and casino industry as well as for restaurants and allied members are offered regularly to both managers and employees. Many are provided at no charge to members through the Educational Fund. Members also receive a variety of practical materials from the American Hotel & Lodging Association and local sources.

Educational Fund

The Educational Fund helps industry employees in need of skills that will enable them to advance in their careers. Best known of the fund’s programs is PRHTA’s own Six Keys for Top-notch Service certification, which allows members to become Six Keys service providers.

Scholarship Foundation

Employees in the tourism industry who wish to pursue additional professional studies in hotel management or the culinary arts can receive financial aid through the Scholarship Foundation.

Publications

Keep abreast of current industry issues with our publications. These include our bi-weekly emailed update, PRHTA’s News Flash; the monthly Legislative Update; our annual InnForming magazine; and Bienvenidos, the Association's official visitor's guide. List your company, at no charge, in our Buyer's Guide and Membership Directory. Member restaurants are included free in our annual restaurant promotional brochure.

Annual Convention and Trade Show

Each year, PRHTA holds an annual convention and hospitality expo, featuring top-quality educational seminars and workshops, superb networking opportunities, and an impressive array of activities designed to enhance and promote the many aspects of our multifaceted tourism industry. In recent years, the Puerto Rico Casino industry has joined us in celebrating its annual convention at the same time and place. Association members are entitled to discounts on registration and rental of booth space.

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) Membership

Only through PRHTA membership can Puerto Rican hotels also join CHTA. With CHTA membership, you can participate in our region's premier tourism events such as CHTA’s Caribbean Marketplace, the annual Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference (CHIC), the Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition, and the Small Hotels Retreat. Other valuable benefits include access to the Caribbean Hotel Association’s Reservation Management Service (CHARMS).

Great Discounts

As a card-carrying PRHTA member, you will be entitled to receive up to 50% discounts at hotels, restaurants, car rentals, excursions and other services, including up to 20% off advertising in Bienvenidos magazine.

Web Site

As a member, you will be featured in our Web site and linked to related Puerto Rico tourism sites. You will also have access to the PRHTA Community section, in which you can electronically access our complete Membership Directory and Buyer's Guide, information about new hotels under construction, and the complete texts of all our publications and special reports.

Awards

As a member, you and your staff will be eligible to gain professional recognition by competing annually for our Hotelier, Employee, Supervisor and Manager of the Year awards in all membership categories; Casino Member of the Year, Restaurateur of the Year, Green Hotel and Small Inn of the Year, among other awards and recognitions.

Media Relations

PRHTA's communications staff works to stimulate media interest in - and coverage of - the latest developments and events taking place throughout our industry.

Committees

By participating actively in one of our sector-specific committees, you can be a part of joint projects, find solutions to common problems, and keep yourself better informed.

Promote Your Products or Services

New members are encouraged to bring their literature for distribution to their first Monthly Membership Luncheon meeting and are invited to speak briefly about their business. Subsequently, table-top display space is available free of charge at each Monthly Membership Luncheon meeting. Members may also order one mailing labels run per year of the Association's membership listing, completely free of charge. All our new members are also announced in News Flash.

Multiple Benefits for Restaurants

Restaurant members enjoy multiple benefits, including training related to customer service, food safety, security, and labor laws, and more. PRHTA coordinates promotional events for our restaurant members, such as an annual promotional brochure, which features all our restaurants free of charge; culinary demonstrations at shopping centers; the Puerto Rico National Culinary Team, Buen Provecho Culinary Competition, Bartenders Competition, Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner, and other projects.

Benefits Targeted to Allied Members

These benefits are for all members, but they are of special interest to those in the Allied category:

• Promotional E-mail Blast

  Once a month (or more often, depending on demand) we send an e-mail blast with your promotions to all of our members so that they may be informed about and take advantage of your offers.

• Member to Member Promotion

  Send us your promotional flyers and PRHTA will mail them for you at no cost during our periodic mailings to members. All you have to do is send us 575 copies.

• BizLink

  BizLink allows all our members the opportunity to make appointments with other members. Its purpose is to help you approach potential business clients or partners and thus help your business grow.

• Six Keys Service Provider

  The Six Keys for Top-Notch Service certification consists of a 20-hour workshop designed to fine-tune our workforce’s customer service skills, a much-needed component of our tourism and business offerings. Once your company certifies a specific number of its employees, you receive a special seal, distinguishing your business as a Six Keys Service Provider, that can be used in all communications and marketing materials.

• Table-top Displays

  Table-top display space is available free of charge at each Monthly Membership Luncheon Meeting on a first-come first-served basis.

• Visit the Hotels Program

  Take advantage of the Visit the Hotels Program, which allows you to visit the 20 largest member hotels accompanied by a PRHTA staff executive. These visits help our members promote their products and services. We allow suppliers to participate so they can meet their contacts face-to-face and establish personal rapport.

Links with Affiliated Organizations

Through our affiliations with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&MA), Puerto Rico Convention Bureau (PRCB), Puerto Rico Convention Center (PRCC) and Bartenders Association (IBA), you will be linked to all the principal organizations related to our industry.

Prestige

Count yourself among the ranks of the approximately 570 leading Puerto Rico hospitality businesses and allied organizations that together are forging a bright future for Puerto Rico's tourism industry.

Recognition

Active participation in the Association enhances your company or organization’s presence and visibility in the tourism industry. Additionally, serving on one of our sector-specific committees enhances your professional image and is a great résumé builder! Are you ready to share in these benefits by becoming a member of PRHTA? If so, please fill out and submit the electronic version of our membership application form.