Puerto Rico's MICE Industry Booming

Meet Puerto Rico (MPR-Puerto Rico Convention Bureau) recently announced that it reached its annual goal by booking 409 groups and more than 100,000 delegates who, in the next few years, will visit the island either for a meeting, conference, convention or incentive travel producing approximately $110 million to the local economy.

The future looks strong, too: Puerto Rico has been selected to host 49 events--including, conferences, annual meetings and sports activities--for this fall season. This represents an estimated 25,509 room nights and a total direct spending of $14.3 million into the local economy, Milton Segarra, president & CEO of Meet Puerto Rico, said in a statement.

"One in four rooms occupied in hotels that can accommodate large-scale meetings belongs to the groups and conventions segment," said Segarra. Groups range from multinational companies, to medical, educational conferences and sporting events, among others.

Segarra said that, for August alone, there are 13 groups for a total of 2,718 room nights with an impact of $1.5 million in direct spending for the benefit of the tourism industry. As an example, he mentioned the Caribbean Golf Merchandise Show 2014, the Conference of the Association of Electoral Organizations of Central America and the Caribbean and the Latin America Federation Bonsai Championship.

Source: http://www.eturbonews.com/49154/puerto-ricos-mice-industry-booming