Association Meetings: Atlantic/Caribbean

Byline: Paris Permenter & John Bigley

WHAT'S NEW

The hurricane season of 2004 wreaked havoc on several islands. Hurricanes Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne tore through the Caribbean, directly affecting Grenada, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Hispaniola, and Grand Bahama. As AM went to press, Hurricane Emily, was passing through and leaving its effects in the extremely active, and early, 2005 season.

Hardest-hit in the '04 season was Grenada, where 70 percent of the hotel stock was damaged. Much of the hotel inventory is back in business, and the island expects to return to pre-hurricane levels by the end of the year. Grand Cayman is also recovering, with some properties still undergoing renovation.

In spite of a turbulent 2004, the Caribbean continues to see growth, with increased airlift, new meeting facilities, and new and expanded hotels. One of the fastest developing islands is Puerto Rico. By the end of the year, the island will offer 16,000 hotel rooms and the new Puerto Rico Convention Center. More than $228 million is being spent in hotel expansion and renovation. At Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, a 125-room airport hotel with six meeting rooms, a new air terminal, and new landing facilities are all part of a $219 million initiative that is on track for completion by 2007.

Both the Dominican Republic and the Mexican Caribbean, especially the Riviera Maya, are home to many new hotels and construction projects. In Jamaica, more than 12,000 new hotel rooms are planned or under construction, and a new convention center has been announced for Montego Bay.

In Aruba, the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association has underdone reorganization and established a destination marketing organization with a dedicated group sales force. Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO, has expanded Scott Wiggins' duties and named him senior director of sales and marketing for North America and director of operations for the Aruba Meetings and Convention Bureau.

FACILITY UPDATE

BAHAMAS

Atlantis, Paradise Island, is undergoing a $1 billion expansion to be completed by the end of 2006. The hotel will add a 600-room all-suite hotel and a 400-unit condo hotel. Approximately 100,000 square feet will be added to Atlantis Convention Center, nearly doubling capacity. The project includes a new exhibit hall and a grand ballroom.

The 350-room, all-inclusive Riu Paradise Island opened in December on Paradise Beach. It offers three conference rooms that can hold 650 attendees.

On Grand Bahama, The Westin and Sheraton at Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort will open 70 to 80 new suites late this year.

BERMUDA

The Sonesta Beach Resort Bermuda, which had 400 guest rooms, is now the 247-room Wyndham Bermuda Resort and Spa, offering 12,000 square feet of renovated meeting space. Over the next two years, it will add 38 new suites.

CAYMAN ISLANDS

The $400 million Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is scheduled to open in October with 365 rooms and suites, 69 private condominiums, and 13,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.

The Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman remains partly open after hurricane damage. It will reopen in its entirety in February 2006 after a complete renovation.

Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort is finishing up a $15 million renovation of all 307 guest rooms and suites, and the meeting facilities.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Opened in July, the 228-room Hilton Santo Domingo anchors a mixed-use facility with shopping, restaurants, and the city's largest casino.

JAMAICA

In February, the 360-room Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa opened on the south coast. The all-inclusive property includes 54 suites and 12,000 square feet of meeting space.

Sandals Ocho Rios and Grande Sport Villa Golf Resort and Spa by Beaches have been combined to form the 529-room Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach and Villa Resort. The resort has undergone a $14 million refurbishment.

The 250-room Sandals Dunn's River Golf Resort & Spa is undergoing a $10 million renovation.

The 850-room, all-inclusive Riu Palace Ocho Rios is under construction and scheduled to open in November.

In Ocho Rios, the Renaissance Grande was acquired by the Sunset Resort group and reopened in March as the 730-room Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort. The hotel has more than 32,000 square feet of meeting space.

Iberostar has broken ground on the first of three new resorts near Montego Bay that will offer 950 guest rooms.

Half Moon Montego Bay has finished an $8 million refurbishment, creating 68 beachfront rooms and suites. The ballroom and conference center, which includes 12,000 square feet of meeting space and 26,000 square feet of exhibit space, as well as the golf course, have also been refurbished.

MEXICO

On the Riviera Maya, Iberostar Paraiso Maya opened a P.B. Dye - designed golf course in June.

The 176-suite Cozumel Palace has opened on the island of Cozumel. Formerly the Hotel Plaza Las Glorias Cozumel, the all-inclusive resort has undergone extensive renovation, including the addition of double Jacuzzi tubs in every room.

Cancun's Le Blanc Spa Resort is scheduled to open in August 2005 in the Hotel Zone. The 260-room hotel, part of Palace Resort's new luxury brand, will feature a 6,000-square-foot ballroom, a 2000-square-foot meeting room, and a 2,760-square-foot cocktail patio. Hotel facilities include three outdoor pools, a water-sports marina, tennis, 24-hour room service, and spa with both indoor and outdoor suites.

Near Playa del Carmen, the 210-room, all-inclusive Playacar Palace is scheduled to open in September. The all-inclusive resort will feature a meeting space that is approximately 3,417 square feet in area.

Opened in late 2004, the Fiesta Americana Grand Aqua Cancun resort serves as Grupo Posadas' flagship property. Each of the 371 guest rooms has a balcony facing the ocean. The resort offers eight pools, 17 meeting rooms, a spa, gourmet dining, and evening beachside lounge.

PUERTO RICO

The Puerto Rico Convention Center will open late this year as the region's largest convention center. The facility will include a 152,700-square-foot exhibition hall, 12 meeting rooms, and the Caribbean's largest ballroom. Under the Sheraton flag, Starwood will operate a new $175 million convention center hotel. Construction is scheduled to be done by mid-2007. The hotel will have a minimum of 500 rooms.

The first phase of the Caribe Hilton's Paseo Caribe, a development including Condado Lagoon Villas, was completed in January and consists of 168 villas. Phase two will add 96 more villas, making the Caribe Hilton the island's largest hotel property, with a total of 910 guest rooms by the end of this year.

The Westin Rio Mar has just finished an $8 million room renovation and opened the new Mandarin Spa.

The Ponce Hilton's $152 million Costa Caribe Resort project just opened. It adds the 100-room Executive Tower, a 27-hole championship golf course, and the 32,000-square-foot Club House.

The 474-room Renaissance La Concha Hotel & Casino will open by the end of this year with 15,000 square feet of meeting space and a casino.

A $37 million expansion has been completed at Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa. The project added 67 luxury villas to the existing 90.

The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan Hotel, Spa & Casino completed phase one of a three-year, $13 million renovation.

ASK THE CVB

ARUBA

Aruba Convention Bureau (800) TO-ARUBA; (954) 767-3395 www.aruba.com Departure Tax: $37 (included in ticket) Hotel Tax: 18%

BAHAMAS

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (800) 823-3136; (212) 758-2777 www.bahamas.com Departure Tax: $15 in Nassau, $18 in Freeport (both included in ticket) Hotel Tax: 6% room tax

BERMUDA

Bermuda Department of Tourism (800) 223-6106, ext. 213 www.bermudatourism.com Departure Tax: $20 (included in ticket) Hotel Tax: 7.25% room tax, 10%-15% service charge

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (800) 835-8530; (213) 736-893 www.bvitourism.com Departure Tax: $20 ($5 by sea); Hotel Tax: 7% (10% service charge may apply)

CANCUN

Cancun Tourist Board Walter Holtsmaster, Managing Director International Destinations Inc. (800) 833-5254; (202) 797-1222 www.meetingsworldwide.com Departure Tax: $20 (included in ticket) Hotel Tax: 12%, 15% service charge

CAYMAN ISLANDS

Cayman Islands Dept. of Tourism (345) 949-0623; (305) 599-9033 www.caymanislands.ky Departure Tax: $25; Hotel Tax: 10% room tax, 5%-10% service charge

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Dominican Republic Tourist Board (888) 374-6361; (212) 588-1012 www.dominicana.com.do Departure Tax: $20 plus $10 tourist card Hotel Tax: 12% plus 10% service charge

JAMAICA

Jamaica Tourist Board (800) 233-4JTB; (305) 665-0557 www.visitjamaica.com Departure Tax: about $25 General Consumption Tax: 15%

PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico Tourism Co. (800) 223-6530

Puerto Rico Convention Bureau (800) 875-4765; (202) 457-9262 www.meetpuertorico.com Departure Tax: none Hotel Tax: 7% (country inns), 9% (hotels without casinos), 11% (hotels with casinos) plus 15% service charge

US VIRGIN ISLANDS

USVI Department of Tourism (800) 372-USVI; (340) 774-8784 www.usvitourism.vi Departure Tax: none Hotel Tax: 8%

Phantom Planner

Bermuda shorts are perfectly acceptable business wear on Bermuda. Shorts fall two inches above the knee, are worn with "Bermuda hose" (black or navy knee socks), loafers, a white or blue short-sleeved shirt, a tie, and a navy blazer.

Many of the Caribbean's smaller resorts, including private island getaways, are available for group takeovers, especially during low season. Besides the opportunity for more team-building and security, takeovers permit groups to avoid general rules involving clientele (no guests under 18, couples only, etc.) and to meet in public areas.

A few islands, such as Trinidad and Tobago, now require passports of U.S. travelers; most islands grant entry with an original or certified birth certificate and official ID. However, by 2008 all U.S. travelers will need to show passports when they return from the Caribbean.

Bermuda does not permit visitors to rent cars. You can opt for taxi transfers and minibuses for groups - and scooters are popular with individual explorers.

Special Venues

The home of James Bond creator Ian Fleming is available for group functions east of Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Goldeneye's Ian Fleming villa can be rented for functions for groups of up to 150 persons. The villa, which includes many of the author's furnishings, also has a private beach. (800) OUTPOST; www.islandoutpost.com/Goldeneye/index.htm

Curacao's Brakkeput Mei Mei dates to the early 18th century, and was originally a Dutch landhaus on a sprawling plantation. The plantation house can be used by groups of up to 1,000. 599-9-767-1500; www.curacao.com/brakkeput

The Danish heritage of St. Croix is seen at Whim Plantation, an 18th-century sugar plantation and mill. Twelve acres of grounds house a restored windmill and former great house with separate kitchen; the facility has been used for dinners and receptions as well as lawn parties and concerts. (340) 772-0598; www.stcroixlandmarks.com/whim.html

On San Juan Bay, Puerto Rico's La Princesa was first used in 1837 as a penitentiary. Surrounded by city walls, it can host banquets for up to 500 attendees, who can also enjoy the venue's art gallery. (787) 721-2400; www.meetpuertorico.com