Caribbean

Big Venues

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Convention Center

152,700 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 28 meeting rooms; www.prconvention.com

The two-year-old center has the largest ballroom in the Caribbean at 39,500 sq. ft. By 2012, the Convention Center District will have 1,770 hotel rooms.

Hotel News

Aruba

Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

The Aruba Marriott is renovating all 411 rooms with Marriott's Revive bedding, LCD TVs, and “jackpacks,” which connect laptops, iPods, and other devices. The resort has 11,600 sq. ft. of meeting space, a spa, and a casino.

Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino

The 353-room Radisson Aruba has added poolside beach cabanas to its two pools. There is 24,000 sq. ft. of outdoor function space and 15,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space.

Jamaica

Half Moon

Last October, the 398-room Half Moon resort debuted the 68,000-sq.-ft. Fern Tree Spa. Other recent enhancements: a golf course renovation, rebuilding the beachfront Hibiscus Suites, and refurbishing the Oleander deluxe suites. Meeting facilities include a 12,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, a 4,600-sq.-ft. conference center with stage, and another 27,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space.

Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall

This Ritz-Carlton recently renovated all 427 guest rooms. Meeting space includes a 10,800-sq.-ft. ballroom, 5,000 sq. ft. of outdoor function space, and the Rose Hall Great House.

Puerto Rico

The Sheraton Puerto Rico

The 503-room Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel will open in late 2009 with a casino and entertainment complex. Plans call for 35,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa

Reflagged as a Wyndham Grand Resort, the 600-room Rio Mar Beach Resort expanded its casino and is upgrading its 48,000-sq.-ft. conference center.

Turks & Caicos

Molasses Reef, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The West Caicos Reserve will be unveiled late this year, featuring the 125-room Molasses Reef, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. The resort is the first of the new Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand, distinguished by their “hideaway” destinations, and an even greater staff-to-guest ratio for more personalized service.