Puerto Rico Convention Bureau
The Puerto Rico Convention Bureau (PRCB) is a non-profit organization that markets Puerto Rico as a meetings and conventions destination. The PRCB’s team of dedicated and attentive bureau professionals is available with all the resources necessary to ensure the success of your group visit to the Island of Enchantment.
History
1962-1970 - A pioneering group of local businessmen and civic leaders who shared the vision that group travel to Puerto Rico could be developed as a major economic resource launched the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau. Founders faced a daunting task, getting government and private sector officials to understand the benefits of promoting group travel to Puerto Rico.
PRCB leaders improved relations with local hotels and fostered closer contact with international peers through membership in professional associations such as the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI).
1970-1980 - By the early 1970s, changes in government policy improved conditions for the Puerto Rican hospitality industry that benefited the convention business. However, a major limitation remained – the absence of a convention center that could house large groups and consolidate facilities in one site. The PRCB campaigned vigorously for constructing such a center.
The inauguration the San Juan Convention Center (El Centro) in 1972 was a welcome addition to Puerto Rico’s infrastructure in support of the island’s emerging group business market. As the decade unfolded Puerto Rico’s popularity as a group destination grew in record numbers. It soon became evident that a larger facility would be needed to serve the apparent influx.
1980-1990 - In 1980, the government passed legislation that established funding for PRCB operations by adding one percentage point to the room tax charged on all hotels and motels in Puerto Rico. This provided the PRCB with a dedicated revenue source and ended financial dependence on other government agencies or member donations.
The PRCB opened its first U.S. mainland sales and marketing office in Washington D.C. This measure proved to be instrumental in our marketing efforts.
1990-2000 - Recognizing the enormous potential of generating group business from local contracts, the Bureau launched the Ambassadors Program in 1994. The program is a marketing initiative to generate group business by developing contacts and building strong relationships with diverse professionals in Puerto Rico which, in turn, refer group business to support the PRCB. Due to the success of the Ambassadors Program and in recognition of the enormous potential of group business from the Hispanic market in the U.S. mainland -- common culture, heritage, and shared language -- the Bureau launched its Hispanic Ambassadors Program in 1997.
In 1999, the Bureau launched its Extraordinary Service Program, providing Bureau team members the opportunity to participate in [...]-edge sales training seminars modeled after some of the world's most respected organizations both within and outside the travel industry. As part of this initiative, the PRCB established ‘Our Pledge to Service’ -- a promise to serve the best interests of meeting planners and to conduct business with integrity, responsiveness, and efficiency. This effort has now expanded the Bureau’s member-supplier community.
During the same year, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico contracted the services of the Bureau to become the official sales agent for the new Puerto Rico Convention Center, which opened in November 2005. Later in 2002, marketing responsibilities were assigned to the Bureau, thus making it the official sales and marketing agent for the Puerto Rico Convention Center.
In 2007, the Bureau celebrated it's 45th year anniversary. "Celebrating 45 Years Providing Service" recognizes the Bureau’s longevity in contributing to the economic development of the Island’s tourism market, and the organization’s genuine commitment to meet the Bureau’s mission in developing the group and convention segment of the industry.
Mission Statement
The Puerto Rico Convention Bureau is a team of professionals that promotes and develops group/convention business through an integrated marketing strategy to strengthen the Island’s economic growth and enhance the visibility of our members and business partners.
Vision
Our vision is to make Puerto Rico the Preferred Meeting Destination of the Americas and to make the Bureau the best destination marketing organization in the world.
Our Promise to You
- To be responsive by having experienced sales professionals respond to inquiries on the same business day and follow up with hotels and suppliers to insure that you receive proposals on schedule.
- To be efficient by quickly assessing your needs and presenting your business to hotels, resorts, and other Bureau members that match your specifications.
- To stay current by providing you with the most up-to-date information and materials on hotels and resorts, meeting facilities, local attractions, events, and other services. We want to be your most reliable source available to plan every facet of your meeting or convention in Puerto Rico.
- To educate you and/or your clients in person by scheduling, accompanying and transporting you to meeting sites and areas, and helping you inspect properties that match your specifications. We will also provide you with an in-depth overview of Puerto Rico.
- To maintain high standards by providing services from over 500 local Bureau members to satisfy your program's requirements. Hoteliers and other vendors that are Bureau members must adhere to and maintain the highest levels of quality and reliability.
- To support you by providing help in the form of creative ideas, marketing expertise, and professionally produced promotional materials for the marketing of your meeting.
- To serve your best interests by working to maintain the integrity of our relationship -- we partner with independent meeting planners and travel agents and never solicit business from your clients.
- To be easily accessible to you via a broad regional sales network, by participation in industry tradeshows, conferences, and other events; and through our easy-to-use, informative web site.