In the fiscal year 2012-2013, Puerto Rico closed 32 groups for a total of 34,814 room-nights.
SAN JUAN – Colombia and Puerto Rico continue to work on joint trade relations, this time in the groups and conventions tourism segment, Milton Segarra, president and CEO of Meet Puerto Rico, also known as the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, announced recently. Segarra gave a presentation on Puerto Rico as a destination for meetings and conventions to more than 80 Colombian businesses related to the tourism industry as part of the activities of the ANATO Tourism Showcase held in Colombia.
“The participation of the organization in this event has exceeded our expectations. Puerto Rico has already forged a strong cultural connection here in Colombia, and now there is much interest in other areas – such asthe groups and conventions and tourism business segment,” Segarra said. He added that although the United States remains the major group travel market to Puerto Rico, they have seen an upward trend in international groups. In the fiscal year 2012-2013, Puerto Rico closed 32 groups for a total of 34,814 room-nights. That number increased 41.7 percent in fiscal 2013-2014 and achieved close to 77 groups for a total of 59,747 room-nights.
Segarra explained that starting Avianca’s new direct flights between Colombia and Puerto Rico is another key element that has allowed greater exposure for the Puerto Rico in Colombia. “The efforts of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to bring back Aviancato Puerto Rico is a fundamental part of our business; Colombia is a gateway to the rest of the market in Latin America,” said Segarra.
Some recent and future conventions that have chosen Puerto Rico as a destination thanks to the efforts of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau are the IX Latin American Congress of Cities and Local Governments 2015 (EXPERIENCIAMERICA), Virtual Educa – Las Americas 2014, the Conference of the Association of Electoral Bodies of Central America and the Caribbean-Protocol TIKAL, Conference and Exhibition on Renewable Energy Lationoamerica and the Caribbean, the 22nd Annual Conference of the International Federation of Cooperative Insurance and the Championship of the American Federation of Bonsai 2014.
Photo caption (left to right): Paula Cortes, President Tourism and Travel Association ANATO, Milton Segarra, Meet Puerto Rico President & CEO and Ingrid Rivera, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
