Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s destination marketing organization (DMO), has announced at IMEX America that the Island has reached all-time highs for meetings, incentives, conventions, and events (MICE), fueled by unprecedented growth, global accolades, and a surge of luxury hospitality developments.
Puerto Rico’s hospitality sector is undergoing a renaissance. This year, the island welcomes the first-ever Four Seasons Resort & Private Residences in Río Grande, as well as the Hilton Duo and Hilton Garden Inn in Dorado, and the return of The Ritz-Carlton San Juan set for 2026. One Distrito, launching mid-2027, will add 109 apartment-style units under the Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy brand in the heart of the Convention District, an $80 million investment. Beloved properties like La Concha (now an Autograph Collection hotel), Wyndham Rio Mar, Condado Vanderbilt, and El Conquistador have also undergone transformative renovations, offering state-of-the-art amenities, world-class dining, and immersive cultural experiences.
Puerto Rico’s momentum is also reflected in its surging air arrivals. The island’s international airport in San Juan welcomed close to 6.6 million passengers in 2024 (Source: Aerostar), a testament to the Island’s growing appeal as both a tourism and business destination.
These developments underscore Puerto Rico’s unprecedented momentum as a premier MICE destination. In the past fiscal year and the active pipeline, the island achieved:
- Meeting performance up 65 percent vs. pre-pandemic levels
- $164.7 million projected economic impact from meetings and events—a 16 percent year-over-year increase
- Secured a record of 257,496 room night bookings between July 2024 and June 2025
- 43 citywides in the active pipeline representing an estimated $166,298,199.26 in economic impact
Recent industry accolades include the Cvent Excellence Award (Hometown Hero), Stella Awards (Best Convention Center – International & US Territories), among others, as well as nominations for the World MICE Awards and Prevue Visionary Awards (under three categories). Puerto Rico is also the host destination for major industry gatherings—including AMEX InterAction, ASAE Conclave, SITE Classic and PCMA EduCon—and global events like the upcoming World Baseball Classic and Miss Universe 2026.
This summer, Puerto Rico became the epicenter of global entertainment with Bad Bunny’s historic 31-show residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, generating the following economic impact in the tourism industry:
- Around 48,255 room nights booked across 34 hotels (Source: Discover Puerto Rico’s Sales Team)
- The total revenue generated by the Coliseo de Puerto Rico from ticket and concession sales surpassed $70.79 million (Source: Coliseo de Puerto Rico)
- Coliseo revenue up to $12 million per month, a 700 percent increase (Source: Coliseo de Puerto Rico)
- 439,918 tickets sold, with $46.29 million in sales (Source: Coliseo de Puerto Rico)
- 10,000 temporary jobs created to support venue operations (Source: Coliseo de Puerto Rico)
- A 4.5 percent year-over-year increase in airport arrivals during August and a 22 percent lodging revenue boost (Source: Aerostar (SJU Airport) & STR/AirDNA)
- SJU Airport reported a 4.5 percent YOY increase in passenger arrivals in August. That was a 25,500 increase in passengers. (Source: SJU Airport)
- For Q3, hotel demand increased 8.6 percent year-over-year, driven by strong growth in August and September. Combined rental demand for July and August increased 17 percent year-over-year. (Source: STR/AirDNA)
- In August, hotel lodging demand improved by 9 percent, and short-term rental demand increased by 25 percent. (Source: STR/AirDNA)
- The average daily rate improved by 6 percent in August for hotels and by 5 percent for rentals. (Source: STR/AirDNA)
- Lodging revenue increased 22 percent because of more demand and higher prices. (Source: STR/AirDNA)
- Room taxes for July and August increased by 11 percent (This is a preliminary estimate from PRTC. $24.0 Million in Room Tax.) (Source: STR/AirDNA)
- As of September 14, hotel booking pace for the same month showed a committed occupancy 21 percent higher than the same month in 2024. Demand for rentals was 26 percent higher, as well. (Source: STR/AirDNA)
- Destination searches – According to ForwardKeys’ latest “Caribbean Travel Trends” report, Puerto Rico led in Overseas Flight Searches for the period between July and September. Searches were up 44 percent versus 2024. Top source markets for Caribbean travel intent were Mexico (+107 percent), Colombia (+37 percent), and Brazil (+30 percent). Canada and Spain rounded out the top 5 with 22 percent and 21 percent growth over 2024, respectively. (Source: Forward Keys)
Discover Puerto Rico’s vision extends beyond growth to sustainability and community impact. Initiatives like “The Green Path,” an innovative microsite empowering planners and visitors to become certified Responsible Travelers through engaging educational content. The Puerto Rico Convention Center now has a 20,000-panel solar array, and the Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino is the world’s first LEED-certified Sheraton property. Enhanced airport and destination sustainability practices further solidify Puerto Rico’s leadership in responsible tourism.
“Puerto Rico is not just a destination—it’s a catalyst for unforgettable experiences and meaningful connections for travelers from around the world,” said Jorge L. Pérez, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. “This year’s extraordinary success, including the global spotlight from the Bad Bunny residency, has propelled Puerto Rico as a rising star on the world stage. We’re redefining what’s possible in travel, meetings, and events by blending world-class infrastructure, our signature hospitality, our Island’s creative spirit, vibrant culture, and an unwavering commitment to responsible tourism. Now is the time to discover Puerto Rico, where every visit leaves a lasting impact on both guests and our communities. We invite travelers, planners, and organizations to be part of our continued growth.”
Puerto Rico offers planners and attendees a seamless experience: no passport required for U.S. citizens, no currency exchange or roaming charges, and English is widely spoken. With expanding air connectivity—including new direct flights from Mexico City—the Island delivers the vibrancy of an international destination with the convenience of a U.S. jurisdiction. Discover Puerto Rico offers robust incentives for group and meeting planners, including $20 per room night for qualifying bookings and additional benefits for multi-year and citywide events. The professional services team supports planners from concept to flawless on-site execution.
For more information, visit www.discoverpuertorico.com/meetings.
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