38 replies to this topic

[Jaykar]

Regent Hotels & Resorts Announces Expansion in Puerto Rico with New Luxury Resort the Regent Palmas Del Mar Puerto Rico
The First Regent Property in Puerto Rico Celebrates Ground-Breaking Event

PALMAS DEL MAR, Puerto Rico, Ground was broken today in Puerto Rico as Regent Hotels & Resorts (www.regenthotels.com) announced its newest luxury development, The Regent Palmas del Mar Puerto Rico. Joining in the ceremonies were top government officials, property developers and executives of Regent Hotels & Resorts, including the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Anibal Acevedo Vila, Luis F. Muniz, Chairman and CEO of RPR Development, LLC, and Bjorn Gullaksen, President, the Regent Luxury Group. Officials gathered at the ocean-front site of the resort, approximately 30 minutes southeast of San Juan, to ceremoniously commence construction on this comprehensive new luxury development, which will be anchored by a showcase new Regent resort.

Scheduled to open December 2011, The Regent Puerto Rico will be the focal point for one of the premier integrated luxury resort communities in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The new Regent will join the existing portfolio of luxury resorts in the Americas, including The Regent Palms Turks and Caicos and The Regent Bal Harbour, Florida. Additional Regent Hotels & Resorts are located in Europe and Asia, with eight properties under construction globally.

"We are pleased to introduce Regent Hotels & Resorts for the first time in Puerto Rico," said Bjorn Gullaksen, President, Regent Luxury Group. "We look forward to offering the distinctive Regent Experience to visitors and guests at the Palmas del Mar resort, as a new Caribbean destination for luxury travelers," he added.

The 150-room Regent Puerto Rico will offer beachfront accommodations and interiors by award-winning designer Trisha Wilson, whose work includes Little Dix Bay Villa and Spa in Virgin Gorda and The Palace of the Lost City Hotel, Suncity, South Africa. The hotel's architectural firm, Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates, also created The Regent Bal Harbour and The Regent Palms Turks and Caicos, as well as hotels for St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton.

"We are delighted to bring the Regent Experience, with its iconic Asian heritage, to this exciting new development," said Luis F. Muniz, Chairman and CEO, RPR Development, LLC. "The uncompromising quality and service reflective of the Regent heritage aligns with our vision for this luxurious new destination," he added.

The Regent Puerto Rico will include 96 guestrooms and 52 suites as well as a spectacular 5,500-square-foot Presidential Suite and a Presidential Beach Cottage, featuring expansive views of the Caribbean Sea, neighboring island Vieques and Puerto Rico's lush rainforest. The Regent Puerto Rico will also offer 153 Regent-branded residences.

Resort amenities will include a signature restaurant from a renowned culinary operator, three private pools, preferred tee times at nearby championship golf courses and a 16,000-square-foot spa featuring five over-water spa suites. The Regent Puerto Rico will also offer an on-site ballroom and chapel for destination weddings and events.

Located thirty-five minutes southeast of San Juan, The Regent Puerto Rico will be part of a comprehensive and exclusive resort community. Among Puerto Rico and the Caribbean's top resort communities, Palmas del Mar offers the largest tennis center in the Caribbean, featuring 22 courts, as well as a country club, yacht club, equestrian center, 18 restaurants and two championship golf courses from Reese Jones and Gary Player. The community also offers a 160-slip marina within walking distance of The Regent Puerto Rico.

http://www.hospitali...ery=puerto rico


New high-end Regent hotel to go up in Puerto Rico
Wednesday October 8, 3:22 pm ET
Despite crisis, new luxury Regent hotel project in Puerto Rico moves forward

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- A new luxury hotel is going up in Puerto Rico despite the global economic crisis and signs of weakness in the Caribbean tourism market.

Regent Hotels & Resorts says it is moving forward with a 150-room, five-star project in Palmas del Mar along the island's southeast coast.

Puerto Rico's governor and other officials attended Wednesday's groundbreaking for the $432 million project.

Regent vice president for North America Norman Rafelson says the developer has already secured the financing for the Regent Palmas del Mar. The hotel is scheduled to open in December 2011.

It is one of eight Regent hotels in the works around the world. Regent Hotels & Resorts is part of the Minneapolis, Minn.-based Carlson Companies.


http://biz.yahoo.com...otels.html?.v=1

[Jaykar]

5àSec multimillion-dollar expansion continues
By : FRANCES RYAN
frances@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: October 23, 2008 | Volume: 36 | No: 42

Plans call for opening 23 locations around the island; total investment to exceed $5 million; helps create 120 direct jobs

Innovative France-based 5àSec, a leading dry-cleaning franchise, continues its aggressive expansion with plans to open at least 23 more locations, bringing the chain’s total to 40, Sebastián Averbuch, director of the 5àSec franchise in Puerto Rico told CARIBBEAN BUSINESS. Total investment to complete the ambitious expansion plan will exceed $5 million over the next couple of years and will help create another 120 direct jobs. The latest addition to 5àSec in Puerto Rico is its new San Patricio Plaza store in Guaynabo, bringing the current store tally to 17.

“We’re very pleased with Puerto Rico’s response to 5àSec’s innovative dry-cleaning concept, which not only is more environmentally friendly than the traditional dry-cleaning service but also more cost-effective for the client,” said Averbuch, adding new locations will be opened as the market permits in keeping with the current economic situation. All 5àSec locations operate closed-circuit equipment, which require no boiling systems found in traditional dry-cleaning operations and therefore are more environmentally friendly. All solvents produced from the dry-cleaning process are fully recycled at a designated facility.

The 5àSec executive attributes the chain’s rapid expansion since 2002 to its innovative process-transparent to customers, who can see it as it happens-quality and affordable prices. Also driving 5àSec’s expansion locally is its business partnership with Walmart, “which enables us to continue growing with them as the spaces become available.” Some 5àSec Wal-Mart locations include Plaza del Sol, Parque Escorial and Caguas. The company also operates in the Condado SuperMax.

From an investment standpoint, 5àSec presents a unique development opportunity for local entrepreneurs, Averbuch mentioned. “The investment in a 5àSec franchise is $220,000 for a proven concept and the hands-on support from the local franchise organization, which helps franchisees to build the site, identify and train personnel and marketing,” the executive explained. He added that 12 of the 17 existing locations are owned by independent franchisees. Company-owned and -operated locations provide opportunities to test new services and/or products in a real business environment.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...507&ct_id=0


Hotel Pierre to become Doubletree by Hilton
By : ELSA FERNÁNDEZ MIRALLES
elsa@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: October 23, 2008 | Volume: 36 | No: 42

After spending $20 million on renovations, hotel’s official rebranding ceremony is Dec. 17

The journey began in October 2007, when Hotel Pierre owners negotiated to change its franchise from Best Western to Doubletree by Hilton. Fourteen months later, with a $20 million investment, Pierre Hotel at Gallery Plaza announced its official rebranding ceremony will be held Dec. 17. It will be the first Doubletree by Hilton in the Caribbean region.

“It wasn’t an easy task, considering we had 184 rooms and public spaces to remodel while still operational. At this time, we have remodeled nearly 100 rooms and added 1,150 square feet to our lobby, plus four extra meeting rooms. We calculate the whole process will be finished by the peak of the high season, when we also will have a fine-dining restaurant operating,” explained Jodil Cabán, general manager of the venue that employs 75 people.

The eight-story hotel is owned by Swiss Chalet Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of San Juan-based International Hospitality Enterprises (IHE), which is run by hotelier Hugh Andrews. “The warm, caring and friendly culture of the Doubletree brand will greatly complement our hotel,” he said.

Also very happy with the results of this new project is Dave Horton, senior vice president of brand management for Doubletree Hotels, who predicted the new venture will be a success. “Doubletree is proud to enter the Puerto Rico hotel market, where we can celebrate, promote and welcome guests to experience the diversity that makes San Juan such an incredible place to visit for business or pleasure,” he explained.

The Doubletree brand is known for its warmth, comfort and friendliness. When a guest arrives, he/she receives a legendary chocolate-chip cookie as a welcoming gift from Doubletree. Aside from having free Wi-Fi for the entire property, the hotel has modern meeting and activities rooms, a gym, pool and entertainment areas for the whole family. Each renovated room has a luxurious Sweet Dreams bed, a desk with an ergonomic chair, a 37” LCD TV, two telephones featuring data ports, MP3 and CD players, high-speed Internet access and other comfort items.

“Our hotel has a solid reputation of more than five decades. The Pierre was the house of the emblematic Swiss Chalet restaurant, a benchmark in the fine-dining cuisine industry. Our goal is to continue to serve our customers-both local and nonresident-with the same excellence that our venue has been known for during a half century of operations,” the general manager concluded.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...509&ct_id=0



$115 million to be invested in new Río Bayamón Norte Community
By : CARLOS MARQUEZ
cmarquez@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: October 23, 2008 | Volume: 36 | No: 42

Phase I of joint public-private development to include infrastructure, public areas; 4,000 residences, commercial and office space to follow

The Government Development Bank (GDB) plans to invest $78 million to develop the required infrastructure for the Río Bayamón Norte Community (CRBN by its Spanish abbreviation). Other government agencies will invest $23 million and the private sector, through Los Valles Investment Corp., another $14 million for Phase I. Total investment for this phase of the project is $115 million.

Phase I is expected to take three years and create 315 direct jobs.

After completion of the infrastructure and public areas (Phase I), a mixed development of 4,000 residential units and 330,000 square feet of commercial and office space will be developed.

“The GDB, as land developer, will lead what constitutes the first government initiative of this type. With an investment of more than $100 million and the creation of more than 300 direct jobs, it becomes an initiative that will provide a strong economic stimulus to the area,” said Jorge Irizarry Herrans, GDB president.

“This is largest development in the [San Juan] metropolitan area based on a master plan that integrates collective transportation, the environment and nature with economic development,” he added.

The CRBN is an urban parcel of 240 cuerdas (one cuerda is 0.97 acres) north of Lomas Verdes Avenue (PR-177) and to the east of Río Bayamón in the Juan Sánchez Ward of Bayamón. It was formerly known as Finca Rosso.

According to the master plan, 91 cuerdas will be developed, 28 cuerdas will be dedicated to an urban park and 27 cuerdas will be assigned for recreational use. In addition to the urban park, the master plan includes a community school, walking trails, a clubhouse and tennis, beach volleyball and basketball courts.

Construction of the infrastructure and public areas will include roads, water, electricity and a public urban park incorporating the Quebrada Marqués (Marqués Brook). In addition, new access to the Jardines Station of the Urban Train will connect the CRBN to the train station via modern, environmentally friendly pedestrian infrastructure.

According to Irizarry, the area’s residents, principally those of Bayamón and Guaynabo, will be able to enjoy first-class recreational facilities with the construction of the urban park. At the same time, mitigation planned next to the Jardines train station will make CRBN an example of community development that promotes and integrates quality of life with economic development. The mitigation plan includes integrating the Quebrada Marqués and the planting of 4,000 trees within the CBRN and another 11,000 trees in the surroundings.

Thirty years in the planning

The land was acquired in 1977 by the GDB as partial debt payment of the former Corporación de Renovación Urbana y Vivienda (Housing & Urban Renewal Corp.)

An executive order issued in 1981, later amended in 1988, created the Commission for the Development of the Río Bayamón Community. The commission had as permanent members the Housing secretary, the president of the Planning Board, the director of the Land Administration and the mayor of Bayamón.

In March 1996, the commission accepted the proposed master plan, which later was approved by the Planning Board.

Eight years later, in 2002 and then in 2003, the Planning Board amended the master plan to include the urban park concept but maintained the project’s density.

Finally, it wasn’t until recently that another revision was made to the master plan to attend to the GDB’s agreements and commitments with the private sector.

According to the GDB, the project now has all the required endorsements and approvals.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...510&ct_id=0

[Jaykar]

UPR Humacao receives grant from Amgen
By : ELSA FERNÁNDEZ MIRALLES
elsa@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: October 23, 2008 | Volume: 36 | No: 42

University of Puerto Rico at Humacao (UPR Humacao) received a grant from Amgen Foundation for $251,859 to be delivered over the next three years to establish the Amgen-Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Lab Program throughout Puerto Rico’s central-eastern region.

The program raises science literacy through training and ongoing support and a cutting-edge hands-on laboratory experience for teachers.

“The Amgen Foundation is proud to support the introduction of the Amgen-Bruce Wallace Program in Puerto Rico,” said Emilio Rivera, vice president of Amgen’s Puerto Rico operations. “The program gives teachers the tools to explore science in a unique way and spark student excitement about scientific discovery and potential careers in science.”

First introduced in the U.S. in 1990, the Amgen-Bruce Wallace Program provides flexible hands-on, inquiry-based experience with the same materials, tools and techniques used by professional scientists. The program allows teachers to introduce biotechnology by integrating recombinant-DNA technology into their science curriculum and providing all the equipment, supplies and reagents necessary for the program at no cost to the schools.

“UPR Humacao’s commitment to science education isn’t limited to undergraduate academic programs. As part of our efforts to help prepare the best science teachers on the island, we are implementing this program to provide comprehensive and systemic support to schools through innovation in the traditional learning approach,” said Dr. Hilda Colón, UPR Humacao chancellor. “For years, UPR Humacao faculty has organized seminars, workshops and summer internships to faculty from K-12 as part of its community-outreach efforts.”


http://caribbeanbusi...?...20&ct_id=45


Miss Cabo Rojo wins Miss P.R. Universe crown
By CB Online Staff

Miss Cabo Rojo Mayra Matos Pérez was crowned Miss Puerto Rico Universe late Wednesday night at the Puerto Rico Coliseum, marking the first time the event was held at the Puerto Rico venue.

For the opening ceremony all 71 contestants came out dressed as jibaritas to the tune of Marc Anthony’s version of Preciosa and all were waving the Puerto Rican flag.

Zoribel Fonalledas, Beba Franco, Topi Mamery, Kike Cruz, Olivia Vela, Wencey Baerga, Ramón Morales, David Bernier, Diana Mendoza and Luis Riefkohl did the judging.

This year marked the first time that such a large group –71 candidates – participated.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...1&ct_name=1




More than $10 million for “Mercedita” airport
By CB Online Staff

Massive remodeling project includes runway expansion and boarding bridges; expansion has been in limbo since 1988 due to litigation

(AP) At eleven days before the general elections, Ports Authority Director, Fernando Bonilla and Popular Democratic Party (PDP) mayor for Ponce Francisco Zayas Seijo announced on Thursday the start of remodeling projects at the Mercedita airport in Ponce with an investment of up to $10 million.

Bonilla said that after 20 years of litigation, they could announce that, at a cost of $8.9 million, the runway at Mercedita will be expanded by 1,100 feet, which would allow the landing of bigger aircraft with more capacity for passengers and cargo.

Part of the remodeling also includes the construction and installation of two boarding bridges at a cost of $1 million. “We already have the design complete and it will go on auction by mid-November; it will be installed before next summer,” Bonilla stated.

The runway expansion has been postponed since 1988, Bonilla explained, adding that the expansion will finally begin following the end of litigation with Sucesión Serallés.

According to Bonilla, the announcement was made on Thursday because it wasn’t until last week that litigation was resolved on the project. “We would have liked to make this announcement earlier,” he said.

The auction for the runway expansion was awarded to construction firm Constructora Santiago, Bonilla added.

The expansion would bring the runway to a total length of 8,00 feet. Work on the runway expansion is slated to start in November and is expected for completion by 2010.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...1&ct_name=1

[Jaykar]

English-language daily to debut in Puerto Rico
By DANICA COTO 10.22.08, 7:54 AM ET

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A group of journalists in Puerto Rico said Tuesday they are ready to launch the island's first cooperative-style newspaper this week with a $1 million boost from the government.

The new English-language tabloid would replace the Pulitzer Prize-winning San Juan Star, a nearly 50-year-old daily that closed two months ago amid declining revenues and disputes between the publisher and union over layoffs and benefit cuts.

Roughly 15,000 copies of the Puerto Rico Daily Sun will be printed on Wednesday and about 2,000 subscribers have already signed up, editor Rafael Matos told a news conference in the U.S. island's capital, San Juan.

The Puerto Rican Department of Labor and Human Resources will contribute $1 million to help cover salaries and benefits. Half that amount will be available under a local law that provides incentives to companies that create new jobs, Secretary Roman Velasco said.

Matos said the paper's objectivity would not be compromised by the government help.

"We are subject to the strictest of journalistic canons," Matos said. "This is not an investment from the government - it is a contribution."

Matos said 90 former Star employees agreed to buy a minimum of $200 in shares of the United Press Cooperative to help start the paper.

The launch comes as the newspaper industry is suffering from steep declines in advertising - part of a downturn that began years ago with the migration of readers and advertisers to the Internet. The financial crisis that began last month continues to depress consumer and ad spending.

But the Daily Sun's executive editor, Marisol Lora, said staffers are determined to make it work.

The paper will have six reporters to cover topics including politics, health and the economy. It will sell for 50 cents, while the Sunday edition will cost $1.50.

Puerto Rico currently has three major Spanish-language newspapers and several smaller ones. It also has a weekly business newspaper in English.

http://www.miamihera...ory/735779.html

[Jaykar]

Santa Isabel’s McCafé begins operations
By : FRANCES RYAN
frances@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: October 30, 2008 | Volume: 36 | No: 43

Second store to open by year-end on Río Piedras’ Las Cumbres Avenue; to serve competitively priced Puerto Rican coffee by trained baristas

Puerto Rico’s first McCafé location begins operations today in Santa Isabel, McDonald’s officials confirmed. As first reported by CARIBBEAN BUSINESS (CB May 29), a second McCafé location, already under construction, will begin operations before year-end on Las Cumbres Avenue in Río Piedras. The McCafé concept will be integrated with existing McDonald’s locations. The Santa Isabel and Río Piedras stores will be the first of several slated to open next year, Division President Nino Rotondi said during an exclusive interview.

Very soon, Puerto Ricans will be able to “wake-up and smell the coffee”—Puerto Rican coffee that is-as all McCafé locations will serve locally grown Encantos coffee at their stores. For the Santa Isabel inauguration, McDonald’s executives are flying VIP guests by helicopter to Hacienda Ana in Jayuya, home of Encantos coffee, for a tour of the coffee plantation. After the visit to Hacienda Ana, guests will enjoy a fresh coffee tasting at the Santa Isabel McCafé.

With the arrival of McCafé, McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast-food hamburger chain, is stepping up a caffeine-fueled onslaught of the local Starbucks operation by introducing specially trained baristas and prominent coffee bars into the local market. Contrary to industry leader Starbucks, McCafé’s espresso cups will be prepared with premium Puerto Rican coffee, giving local coffee lovers a more familiar taste within an already familiar environment.

After more than five years of local operations, despite the proven premium quality of Puerto Rican coffee, Starbucks hasn’t seized the opportunity to include locally grown coffee in its international line of coffees sold throughout the chain. After much criticism from local consumers, Starbucks decided to bag Puerto Rican coffee beans available for sale at Starbucks coffee shops. However, since they buy the coffee from local roasters, send it back home for their signature toasting process, by the time it hits local shelves it is too expensive and unattractive to local customers.

In anticipation of McCafé’s arrival, with its espresso coffee and a light-snack menu, Starbucks introduced a new menu for its local restaurants that includes some savory items featuring local flavors.

Industry newcomer, the Michigan-based Coffee Beanery, began operations in Montehiedra, near the future McCafé on Las Cumbres, but they aren’t yet serving Puerto Rican coffee. Local franchise owners said that’s in the works.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...52&ct_id=20

[Jaykar]

IHG Announces Plans for Second Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Caribbean

Puerto Rico capital to host $77 million new-build property near the Hato Rey Business District

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announced plans to construct a 264-room Crowne Plaza hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Slated to open mid-2009, the new Crowne Plaza will be situated near the Hato Rey Business District and just minutes from the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. The new hotel, which is owned by Plaza Internacional and will be managed by Plaza Internacional Hospitality Group, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group, will be the Caribbean's second Crowne Plaza hotel.

'We are thrilled to expand our hotel portfolio in the Caribbean with the addition of a Crowne Plaza in San Juan,' said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Brand Management, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, the Americas. 'Puerto Rico has long been considered a mainstay for international leisure and business travel in the Caribbean and we look forward to providing guests with the brand's industry-leading amenities, including the meetings services and Sleep Advantage program.'

The new Crowne Plaza will be located in San Juan, the largest city in Puerto Rico and minutes away from the island's commerce, entertainment, shopping districts and tourist attractions. It will be part of a mixed-use development spanning 26 acres, which will include 558,600 sq. ft. of shopping mall space and two 11-story office buildings with 429,400 sq. ft. The hotel will be constructed in two connecting towers with direct access to the new Plaza International shopping mall that will neighbor the hotel.

Overlooking the San Jose Lagoon, the new Crowne Plaza property will have expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean and will afford guests access to popular destinations, including the Puerto Rico Convention Center, historic Old San Juan, and the new José, Miguel Agrelot Coliseum. The Crowne Plaza in San Juan will be the fourth IHG hotel property in San Juan. Other IHG properties include the InterContinental San Juan Resort & Casino, Holiday Inn San Juan, and Holiday Inn Express San Juan.

The new Crowne Plaza hotel will offer its guests the luxury and convenience of a day spa for both adults and children, a casino, fitness center, outdoor pool with Jacuzzi, upscale in-room amenities, valet and self parking, a full-service business center, and the popular Crowne Plaza Club Level.

The new Crowne Plaza in San Juan will feature the brand's Sleep Advantage® which is available at all Crowne Plaza hotels in the Americas. The Sleep Advantage encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Program components include new bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones, night lights, drape clips, sleep CDs, sleep tips and amenities such as eye masks, ear plugs and lavender spray.

Also consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand, the hotel will offer a comprehensive meetings package to ensure a seamless planning process and exceptional meeting experience consisting of three key components: a Two-Hour Response Guarantee, Crowne Meetings Director and a Meetings Daily Debrief. The new Crowne Plaza in San Juan will offer 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting space with complimentary wireless and wired high speed Internet access.

http://www.hotelscho....html?sid=30359

[urbanguy]

Wow there's a lot going on! BTW How is PR's economy doing? It does not seem to be slowing down any of the construction or proposals?

[Jaykar]

urbanguy, on Nov 1 2008, 10:30 AM, said:

Wow there's a lot going on! BTW How is PR's economy doing? It does not seem to be slowing down any of the construction or proposals?

PR's economy is just experiencing its 3rd year of recession but apparently is not affecting that much the construction industry. There's a lot of new proposals and a lot of stores are looking to open new franchises on the island. For example, recently Circuit City went into a bankruptcy but in the last two or three months opened three stores in Puerto Rico. All of this taking in count that at the same time other similar stores like Best Buy and Office Depot also are opening new stores around the island. Other similar retailers like Office Max and CompUSA already have stores in PR and like Office Max are expanding their business here. Although PR is experiencing a recession, the majority of retail companies in the island still among the top in terms of performance in comparison with stores back in the states.


Circuit City files for Chapter 11 protection;opens in Hatillo
By CB Online Staff

Circuit City Stores -- which opened its third operation in Puerto Rico this weekend in Hatillo --has filed for bankruptcy about a week after it said it would close 20 percent of its stores.

The Richmond, Virginia-based electronics retailer has been struggling as nervous consumers spend less and credit has become tighter. It filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday.

Chapter 11 protection typically allows a company to hold off creditors and operate as normal while it develops a financial reorganization plan.

Circuit City says it has more than $1 billion in assets and more than $1 billion in liabilities. Courts do not require companies to provide more specific figures in filings.

The company says it anticipates it would have money to distribute to unsecured creditors, who get paid last.

http://www.caribbean.......1&ct_name=1

[Jaykar]

UPS Expands Healthcare Options with New Puerto Rico Facility

MIAMI — UPS (NYSE: UPS), the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain solutions, is expanding its options for healthcare customers with the addition of a new state-of-the-art facility in Puerto Rico.

Set to open in the first quarter of 2009, the 150,000-square-foot facility will be capable of storing medical devices in addition to sensitive and perishable pharmaceutical and biotech products while augmenting a supply chain network for customers that provides timely delivery throughout the world.

The new facility, located in San Juan, also will offer healthcare customers the flexibility needed to facilitate new product introductions, meet time-critical commitments, reduce inventory management costs and streamline ordering and billing processes, all while providing maximum supply chain visibility. UPS will utilize the same validated technology platform employed in its U.S. and Canadian healthcare distribution centers, allowing for smooth implementations.

"Puerto Rico is among the leading markets for pharmaceutical and biotech product research and production worldwide," said Jorge Castillo, UPS Puerto Rico country manager. "Our new facility will strengthen our distribution network and enrich customers' opportunities for growth by providing greater global market access and lower cost-sourcing through the UPS network."

UPS's investment in the facility will allow it to better serve companies in the healthcare industry in the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean in addition to the United States.

The new facility in Puerto Rico is opening at the same time as a previously announced 215,000-square-foot healthcare distribution facility in Roermond, The Netherlands. Together, these two facilities will expand UPS's existing global healthcare network to 25 facilities.
Advertisement

A recent UPS survey of decision makers in the pharmaceutical, medical device and biotech industries conducted by Harris Interactive identified various areas in which companies are planning to make changes to their supply chain models in the near future. Among the immediate changes companies plan to make is working with third-party logistics companies, such as UPS.

"Our healthcare services are among the most advanced systems in the industry and as a result, UPS provides peace of mind by effectively managing customer supply chains," said Bill Hook, vice president, global strategy, UPS Healthcare. "Our investments allow us to provide first-class service to the global pharmaceutical industry."

With an increase in temperature-sensitive healthcare products entering the market, pharmaceutical and biotech companies are turning to UPS for the storage, distribution and transportation of their products. UPS provides special service offerings including UPS Proactive Response(SM), a 24-hour proactive monitoring service for healthcare products that notifies customers of potential delays in the supply chain, therefore reducing risk of product loss. For air freight shipments, UPS Temperature True(SM) is an around-the-clock monitoring service that tracks up to 21 shipment milestones and helps ensure the integrity of temperature-sensitive products.

http://www.centredai...ory/956079.html

[Jaykar]

Best Buy’s expansion continues, adding two more stores
By : FRANCES RYAN
frances@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: November 13, 2008 | Volume: 36 | No: 45

Leading electronics retailer Best Buy continues its local expansion full-speed ahead with the opening of two more stores, just in time for this year’s Black Friday holiday-sales weekend, CARIBBEAN BUSINESS learned.

The new stores, expected to create 240 jobs, will be in Bayamón’s Plaza Río Hondo and Los Colobos shopping center in Carolina. The new store additions, slated to begin operations Nov. 14, bring the chain’s total number of Puerto Rico locations to four in just nine months. The first 100 clients to visit the new store will receive a $25 Best Buy gift card.

Miguel Méndez, director of operations for Best Buy in Puerto Rico, said he is very pleased with the new stores, which not only will help support much-needed new jobs in the local economy, but also make a contribution to the communities in which they operate. The new Best Buy stores will donate a combined $20,000 to four leading community organizations, including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Posada la Victoria, Mis Amigos con Síndrome de Down and the senior home Égida la Providencia de Loíza.

It took the Minneapolis-based retailer three years to open its first store after it decided Puerto Rico was a good market for the fast-growing chain. Overall, the company’s expansion plans contemplate opening 100-plus stores a year. Puerto Rico is certainly included in those plans, Mary Stoddart, regional general manager for Best Buy, told CARIBBEAN BUSINESS.

Although Stoddart wouldn’t speculate about how many locations the chain would have on the island, industry sources estimate it could reach to as many as 10 to 12 locations. Eventually, the chain could support close to 2,000 direct and indirect jobs once the Best Buy expansion is complete.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...06&ct_id=20

[urbanguy]

Hola. You know I was wondering if you have any pics of different neighborhoods of PR cities? Like Art's and Entertainment districts, ethnic neighborhoods or any other places of interest that outsiders might not know about.

[Jaykar]

urbanguy, on Nov 28 2008, 03:10 PM, said:

Hola. You know I was wondering if you have any pics of different neighborhoods of PR cities? Like Art's and Entertainment districts, ethnic neighborhoods or any other places of interest that outsiders might not know about.

Aloha. Well pictures of Art's and Entertainment areas as a district, no. There are no such districts in the actually, although the government is moving into the creation of a cultural district (arts/museum)  in the Santurce area of San Juan as well wants to create an entertainment district in Hato Rey, San Juan's CBD to bring nightlife to the area. Entertainment and arts places can be located all over metropolitan San Juan, there's a lot of them. Apart from the touristic areas like Isla Verde, Condado, Old San Juan  and now the new Concention Center District in Isla Grande there's not another BIG concentration of such places. Maybe except downtown Mayaguez in terms of entertainment and that's due the proximity of the UPRM campus to downtown as well campuses from other university sistems and Ponce in terms of arts and culture and that's due to the designation of downtown Ponce as an historic area. After Old San Juan, downtown Ponce has the largest concentration of museums, etc. In San Juan's case, Santurce has the second largest concentration of museums, foreing movies theaters,  performing arts centers, cafes, etc after Old San Juan. Other cities like Bayamon, Arecibo, Carolina, Guaynabo, Caguas, etc has museums, and entertainment places like performing arts and theaters, and the common ones such bowling, pubs, clubs, hotels, casinos, etc but as I said there are not located together in one specific area and common places like the ones I mentioned before can be found all over the island.

[Jaykar]

St. Regis Breaks Ground on $172M Puerto Rico Resort
Dec 11, 2008
By: Gail Kalinoski, Contributing Editor

More than two years after it was initially proposed, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and a Puerto Rico-based developer are moving forward with the construction of a $172 million luxury resort at Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico.

As reported June 1, 2006, by CPN, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. entered into an agreement with BBP Partners L.L.C. of Puerto Rico to develop the 483-acre site into a community of high-end hotel rooms and suites, estate homes and golf villas. BBP Partners is comprised of Interlink Group and Munoz Holdings Inc. Originally expected to open this year, the St. Regis Resort and Residences Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico, is now slated for a fall 2010 opening.

The resort will feature 139 upscale guest rooms and suites; 25 residences; a Remedesm Spa; 120-seat restaurant by renowned chef Jean-George Vongerichten and the recently opened 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Amenities include the St. Regis Butler service. Restaurants and shops are being built as part of the Bahia Village seaside town center.

The island’s first five-star resort, the community is being built with attention to preservation and enhancement of the environment and sustainable and conservation-oriented development standards. The complex was recently cited as a Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary, the first Caribbean resort to receive the designation. Built along a two-mile oceanfront stretch, St. Regis Resort and Residences, Bahia Beach, is also near the El Yunque National Rainforest and Espiritu Santo River.

Several of the 25 estate homes, known as Las Estancias, have already been built. One of the first luxury residences, ranging in size from 6,000 to 10,000 square feet, has been bought by New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran. The first phase of Las Verandas golf villas, condominiums of approximately 1,500 to 3,500 square feet, has also been completed and occupied.

Starwood is expanding the St. Regis brand across the globe. In two years, it is expected to open The St. Regis Residences at the Venetian Palazzo, Las Vegas, according to a Sept. 5, report by CPN. The agreement between Starwood and Las Vegas Sands Corp. calls for Starwood to manage 398 private luxury residences in a $600 million residential tower under construction on The Strip between The Venetian and The Palazzo. Starwood also plans to open The St. Regis Hotel Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in 2012 and The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia in 2014. The brand will also be expanded to Bahrain and Africa.

http://www.commercia...de75d2f87?imw=Y

[Jaykar]

Daiichi Sankyo sets up subsidiary in Puerto Rico

Friday, January 09, 2009 11:00 IST
Parsippany, New Jersey

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc, has established a subsidiary -- Daiichi Sankyo de Puerto Rico, Inc. The subsidiary is based in San Juan, and led by Jose Vazquez, regional director - Puerto Rico, who has more than 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical sales and marketing. Vazquez, who earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico, has assembled an experienced team of sales representatives and marketing professionals with many years of experience and deep knowledge of the local market in Puerto Rico.

"We are excited about the opening of this new office in Puerto Rico. Our presence here enables us to establish close ties with healthcare partners throughout Puerto Rico and to directly support our customers with educational materials and managed care programs," said Vazquez. "The opening of this office is another indication of the growth of Daiichi Sankyo, which is fuelled by our expanding portfolio of marketed products, as well as by our robust pipeline of promising new compounds. The new office in San Juan will ensure that our Puerto Rico customers have direct access to information about these innovative products."

Daiichi Sankyo de Puerto Rico, Inc, as a sales agent for Daiichi Sankyo, Inc in Puerto Rico, will provide the local medical community and their patients direct access to materials and information about Daiichi Sankyo, Inc's products that address medical needs in cardiovascular and diabetes care.

Daiichi Sankyo's current portfolio of marketed products is focused on hypertension, cholesterol and type-2 diabetes. The current focus of Daiichi Sankyo's research and development is cardiovascular and metabolic disease, including therapies for dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes and acute coronary syndrome. Daiichi Sankyo is also pursuing the discovery of new medicines in the areas of thrombosis, cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disease/rheumatoid arthritis.

http://www.pharmabiz...articleid=47781

Golf resorts now being upscaled in Puerto Rico
01/08/2009 | 08:58 AM

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico — This seaside stretch, a half-hour's drive east of the airport in San Juan, is not placid in midday. Construction equipment rumbles through the beachfront while workers sweat out installing the marble floors and granite countertops in developer Donald Trump's latest Caribbean venture.

The 700-villa Trump International Golf Club and Residences is among several golf resorts on this Caribbean island that are either under construction or being upscaled. Some have famous course designers like Robert Trent Jones, and many are attached to luxury resorts with well-known hotel brand names like St. Regis and Mandarin Oriental.

Golf is one of three tourism niches being targeted for promotion here, along with water sports and food, said Mari Jo Laborde, deputy executive director of marketing and promotions of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Golf is a big part of the island's "Explore Beyond the Shore" campaign highlighting activities outside beaches, she said. And although Puerto Rico has long been a golf destination, the combination of a growing local golf market and a drive to attract more affluent tourists is putting an emphasis on luxury.

This might seem like a risky approach given the current economic downturn. Puerto Rico, like many tourism destinations, is experiencing a drop in visitors, with a 3 to 5 percent decline projected for the near future.

But hoteliers and course owners are hoping that a more affluent crowd will be less vulnerable to the economy's swings than the package-tour-and-cruise market concentrated around the port of San Juan.

High-end projects can also take years to come to fruition after they are planned and financed. "They are definitely an investment in the future," said Peter Finch, senior editor at Golf Digest magazine. "It takes years and in some cases decades to get everything lined up for these courses to open. These golf courses are major undertakings across hundreds and hundreds of acres (hectares), if not thousands of acres (hectares). You can't just snap your fingers and they appear."

Not far from the Trump villas, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts in 2007 opened the Bahia Beach golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones; a luxury hotel and spa are scheduled to open in 2010. Diaz noted a 369-room J.W. Marriott hotel is expected to open in early 2011 next to the Trump property. In October, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Regent Hotels & Resorts both announced they will open new luxury hotels in 2011 in Palmas del Mar, a resort southeast of San Juan with championship golf courses designed by Reese Jones and Gary Player. Existing hotels are also raising their game with renovations and additions.

The number of residential units at the Trump resort in Puerto Rico, a $600-million project, was halved from an initial plan of 1,400 villas, while other aspects of the project were upgraded, said Jorge L. Diaz, partner of Empresas Diaz, the developer of the project. The first 56 units are up for sale with prices starting at just under $1 million.

Next door to the Trump course, the Gran Melia Puerto Rico Golf Resort and Villas recently upgraded from Melia's Paradisus all-inclusive brand to a more upscale Gran Melia hotel. All rooms in the 486-suite hotel were redecorated, restaurants upgraded to focus on fine dining and staff retrained. The upgrades were coincidental, but the Trump project, "goes on a par with the Gran Melia brand," said Evy Garcia, director of sales and marketing. "We get many golfers, especially now, with the PGA (tournament)."

The Trump course last March hosted the inaugural Puerto Rico Open, a PGA tournament it will host again in 2009. The clubhouse and course underwent a $4.5 million renovation and the course, designed by Tom Kite, was updated to meet PGA standards.

"Some of the hotels just needed an upgrade," said Lydia Feliciano, internal communications manager at the El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa in Las Croabas, in the northeast coast. The 750-room resort just completed a $120 million renovation that added 237 rooms, new restaurants and a new convention center. LXR Luxury Resorts, the hotel's new corporate parent, also renovated the existing facilities, including the guestrooms and casino. The latest addition is a seaside water park with slides, an infinity pool and activities.

The hotel also has plans to expand its golf facilities by adding a second course to the hilly 18 holes designed by Arthur Hills. Construction on the new nine-hole course is not scheduled yet, but the plans have been drawn, said golf director Trent Bluemel.

"They're trying to make the hotels a bit more upscale to attract another kind of tourist," said Veronica Taveira, a spokeswoman of the 600-room Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort resort, in Rio Grande.

The Wyndham, formerly a Westin hotel, is now in the midst of a $40 million renovation. Westin had already spent $16 million renovating the pool and beach areas before the brand switch a year ago, and Wyndham plans to spend another $15 million this year, including nearly $4 million in improvements to the clubhouse and two 18-hole golf courses, designed by pros Tom and George Fazio and Greg Norman.

While most golf resorts have traditionally been located in the greener northern coast, the last couple of years have seen new courses appear in the more arid south. In Guayama, on the southeast coast, veteran golf pro Chi Chi Rodriguez designed the course in El Legado, his 200-villa resort, and the Hilton Ponce Resort in the southern coast recently opened a country club with 27 holes of PGA championship play. - AP

http://www.gmanews.t...-in-Puerto-Rico

[Jaykar]

First Post-Panamax vessel to arrive at megaport
By CB Online Staff

Petroleum tanker to stay Ponce during two weeks for repairs

A tanker carrying crude petroleum and dubbed Front Tina Thursday afternoon will become the first post-Panamax vessel to arrive at Ponce.

Mayor Francisco Zayas Seijo said the vessel, which boasts a displacement of 310,000 tons and was constructed in Japan in 2000, has a “footprint” equivalent to 21 Olympic-sized pools.

Post-Panamax means the ship’s dimensions are so big it doesn’t fit through the Panama Canal. Only a few select ships fall under this category.

“It’s the first time in history that the Port of Ponce receives a ship of such dimensions and even though it’s a vessel without cargo because it will come in for repairs, it demonstrates the port’s capacity for big ships,” he stated.

The ship is expected to arrive at 5  p.m. Thursday at ports four, five and six, constructed for the Port of the Americas project, and will remain in Ponce for two weeks contributing some $9,000 a day to port coffers.

“This ship is bigger than the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Adventure of the Seas, which is probably the biggest ship visiting the San Juan Port on a regular basis,” Zayas Seijo said.

The Ponce Port, with a depth of 50 feet, is the deepest in Puerto Rico. It was able to receive the Front Tina after reconstruction of the three harbors and the dredging of the harbor by the Port of the Americas Authority, he said.

http://caribbeanbusi.....mp;q=san juan


Anguilla announces new executive air service from San Juan
By CB Online Staff

NEW YORK, NY - Anguilla’s Ministry of Tourism has announced the launch of a new executive air service, which will operate between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Anguilla. The new service, scheduled to start on February 14, 2009, will be provided on the Anguilla Air Express and operated by Rainbow International Airlines, Inc.

Rainbow International Airlines, Inc. is one of the premiere charter companies in the region and currently operates executive charter service out of major hubs in the Caribbean including San Juan, St. Maarten, Antigua, Barbados, and St. Kitts. They also serve a number of five-star properties, including Malliouhana Hotel, Four Seasons, and Raffles, to name a few. They are the airline of choice for guests seeking the comfort, luxury, and convenience of a private jet service, and this same quality of service will be offered to visitors traveling on the Anguilla Air Express.

The Anguilla Air Express will operate a Beechcraft 1900D Turbo Prop Airplane with seating capacity for 19 in leather reclining cabin chairs on this route. A captain and first officer will pilot the flight.

Departures out of San Juan are at 1:30 pm and at 5:30 pm and departures from Anguilla are at 9:00 am and 3:00 pm with flying time approximately 46 minutes. Bookings will be made direct using an 800 number or online, and negotiations are currently underway for guests to be able to book flights through their hotel.
TOP

http://caribbeanbusi.....mp;q=san juan


New direct flights between San Juan and London could be a reality
By CB Online Staff

Tourism Company signs agreement with Virgin Atlantic for weekly flight route to start in November, 2009

The Puerto Rico Tourism Co.(PRTC) signed an agreement with airline Virgin Atlantic to establish a direct flight between San Juan and London starting Nov. 8, as confirmed by outgoing PRTC Executive Director Terestella González Denton.

The agreement for the upcoming flight route will impact the local economy by some $30 million a year, González Denton added.

“We are very happy with this, especially since 80% of passengers are virtually guaranteed. Most of them go on cruise ships such as Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas. They can arrive to Puerto Rico on the plane, stay at a local hotel, use our transportation, visit businesses, restaurants and then go on the cruise ship,which returns to the island before they fly back. It multiplies the economic impact each flight will have,” she explained.

The weekly flight , scheduled for every Sunday, has a 240-passenger capacity, she added.

According to González Denton, PRTC is currently in talks with local hoteliers so that they can offer attractive packages to passengers slated to come in from London thanks to the new route.

http://caribbeanbusi.....mp;q=san juan


Hotel Pierre now a Double Tree; Ritz Carlton and El Convento among the 500 best
By CB Online Staff

The Hotel Pierre in Santurce is no longer a Best Western but, as of this week, a Double Tree by Hilton, the first hotel to bear this brand in the Caribbean.

General Manager Yodíl Cabán said the conversion process is now complete with all systems integrated into the Hilton operation.

He said the remodeling work to become a Double Tree began more than two years ago at a cost of some $20 million to be able to offer the services and standards demanded by Double Tree.

The hotel, at Gallery Plaza on De Diego Street, consists of 184 completely renovated rooms, which include free Internet service, modern meeting and conference rooms, a gym, swimming pool and recreational areas.

In other tourism news, Travel & Leisure magazine this week named historic El Convento Hotel in Old San Juan and the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Isla Verde as two of the 500 best hotels in the world.

General Manager Efraín Rosa said the news appears in the forthcoming January 2009 edition. The Ritz Carlton and El Convento placed number 17 and number 20 on the Top 500 countdown, respectively.

Travel & Leisure, with a circulation of close to one million readers, is known for its photography and recommendations for family travel.

Rosa said that in addition to this honor, El Convento was chosen for the cover of the winter edition of Destinations Weddings and Honeymoons magazine.

“The article explains how to celebrate a wedding in a romantic, old world atmosphere and recommends El Convento as the perfect place to achieve this,” he said. The magazine has a circulation of slightly more than 100,000.

http://caribbeanbusi.....mp;q=san juan


Highway Authority dreams of a bridge to Vieques
By CB Online Staff

Agency chief says project is far from being a pipe dream; $450-to-$500-million structure “is completely viable”

In light of results from a study commissioned by the Puerto Rico Highway Authority, the agency’s executive director said he considers the construction of a bridge between Puerto Rico and the island municipality of Vieques as a viable project “any way you look at it.”

According to Luis Trinidad, the bridge -which would have a tower with a restaurant at the halfway point of the 7.8-miles-long structure— could be constructed without taking money from public coffers.

“The project is viable no matter how you look at it. The project’s cost would be some $450 to $500 million, but what is most important is that Puerto Rico would not have to spend a single cent in its construction,” said Trinidad on Sunday.

“The first option would be to do it in the same way the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge in San Juan was built, in which the Puerto Rican people didn’t pay a thing,” said Trinidad, who made frequent references to a viability study made by research firm CSA.

According to the Highway Authority’s plan, the “saucer-shaped” restaurant would be complemented with the necessary infrastructure for the usage of boats and kayaks. The bridge, which would take 12 minutes to drive across, would be a fixed structure, meaning it would be unable to rise and allow the passage of large sea vessels.

According to Trinidad, the bridge was planned that way because most large vessels travel through Vieques’ eastern area. However, the bridge’s plans contemplate the structure to rise at a height of more than 200 feet in the deepest part of the seafloor between the big island and Vieques, which would allow the passage of large sea vessels such as cruise ships, added the Highway Authority director.

Trinidad, who did not go into detail regarding the study’s cost, said there is also the possibility to install windmills at each of the bridge’s lighting posts.

“There have been those who have protested the project because they think it is a pipe dream, but in reality it is a totally viable project,” he added.


http://caribbeanbusi.....mp;q=san juan

[Jaykar]

Barack Obama becomes the 44th president of the U.S.
By : CARLOS MARQUEZ & JOSE L. CARMONA
cbnews@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: January 22, 2009 | Volume: 37 | No: 3

Sets ‘ambitious agenda for P.R.,’ making island an integral part of national economic recovery plan and equal treatment under healthcare programs

Barack Obama, the first African-American president, was sworn into office Jan. 20, a day after the nation celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Former President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law in the Rose Garden, 15 years after Dr. King’s death, making the third Monday of January a national holiday to celebrate the birth and life of Dr. King. The other American presidents to have a holiday are George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, celebrated as President’s Day.

Sen. Robert Dole, in reference to opposition to celebrate a holiday for Dr. King, once said: “I suggest they hurry back to their pocket calculators and estimate the cost of 300 years of slavery, followed by a century or more of economic, political and social exclusion and discrimination.”

A 110-year journey for Puerto Rico

It was a rough journey for African-Americans, a journey “American” citizens residing in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico are still traveling after 110 years of political and economic discrimination. Puerto Rico residents don’t vote for the president and only elect a resident commissioner to the U.S. House of Representatives, who has no vote and the island doesn’t have representation in the Senate. It’s a 110-year-old dilemma that Congress has never committed to solve.

For example, Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, who co-chaired Barack Obama’s U.S. Democratic Party primary in Puerto Rico, couldn’t vote for his president and, although he was selected as a member of three House Committees (with jurisdiction over Puerto Rico) namely Natural Resources, Education & Labor and Judiciary, he doesn’t have a vote on the House floor.

Nevertheless, the new president has pledged to address the situation. In a letter to Gov. Luis Fortuño, on the occasion of his swearing-in ceremony as Puerto Rico’s ninth-elected governor on Jan. 2, then President-elect Obama pledged to: restore the economy; make the island an integral part of the national economic recovery plan; put Puerto Rico on the path to greater economic prosperity; seek equal coverage in federal healthcare assistance programs; seek equitable treatment of the island in programs providing financial assistance to working families; and develop measures to encourage job-creating investments in Puerto Rico.

“We have set an ambitious agenda for Puerto Rico over the next four years. It won’t be easy to accomplish. We can’t sit back and wait for someone else, at some other time, to do something about it. This time it must be different,” Obama wrote.

Addressing Puerto Rico’s status

Obama pledged to “enable the question of resolving Puerto Rico’s status” during his first term.

“We also pledged during my campaign to work with Congress and all groups in Puerto Rico to enable the question of resolving Puerto Rico’s status during the next four years.

I am fully aware of the difficulties Puerto Rico has faced in the past when dealing with this issue, but self-determination is a basic right to be addressed no matter how difficult. Your right to self-determination is deepened even further by the brave service that Puerto Ricans have provided to the nation’s armed forces, protecting all our people from foreign dangers throughout the past century. We will work to give a voice to the people of Puerto Rico to enable them to determine their political future,” Obama said.

Integral part of economic recovery

“Job No. 1 is to restore our economy...I will work with you, Resident Commissioner-elect Pedro Pierluisi and the other leaders of Puerto Rico to make sure Puerto Rico is an integral part of our [national] economic recovery plan,” Obama said. The key words here are “integral part.”

Nonetheless, what does “integral part” mean? On a per capita basis, Puerto Rico should get approximately 1.4% of any allocation in the recovery plan (Puerto Rico’s population is about 1.4% of the U.S. population). If President Obama’s economic-recovery plan amounts to $800 billion, then Puerto Rico’s allocation should be approximately $11.2 billion. Although many people in Puerto Rico don’t pay federal income taxes, in the U.S. mainland many people don’t pay federal income taxes either but will benefit from the allocation.

Path to greater economic prosperity

“I understand the economic strains that have taken hold in Puerto Rico and will work with you to put Puerto Rico on the path to greater economic prosperity,” the president stated.

It sounds good, but does President Obama realize we have been going though these “economic strains” for the past four decades, during the administrations of 11 different U.S. presidents, both Republican and Democratic, with more than 20 U.S Congresses and annual economic growth averaging less than 2%.

Most U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico have just had it and have moved to the states. There are more Puerto Ricans and U.S. Citizens of Puerto Rican descent in the mainland U.S. than on the island of Puerto Rico.

Equal coverage and equal treatment

“During my campaign, we pledged to seek equal coverage of Puerto Rico in federal healthcare-assistance programs...to seek the equitable treatment of Puerto Ricans in programs providing financial assistance to working families, and to develop measures to encourage job-creating investments in Puerto Rico,” President-elect Obama wrote.

Since the 1990s, the government of Puerto Rico has tried to provide healthcare assistance to those who need it through La Reforma. However, the government has literally run out of money to pay for it.

Federal funds allocated to Medicaid come from U.S. taxpayers and is capped in Puerto Rico at approximately $300 million a year of the $1.5 billion cost. On the U.S. mainland, the federal government pays a reportedly average of 60% of the states’ Medicaid costs.

Equal treatment will mean all U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico will be guaranteed adequate healthcare. Although many may argue Medicaid payments come from federal income-tax payers, how many Medicaid recipients in the States pay taxes?

“Although it may take some time to implement all these proposals, Puerto Rico deserves no less,” Obama said.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...39&ct_id=31



IHOP is finally coming to Puerto Rico!
By : FRANCES RYAN
frances@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: January 22, 2009 | Volume: 37 | No: 3

Local investor group secures exclusive franchise for IHOP in P.R.; seven locations planned with $12 million investment and 350 jobs

It’s official! California-based International House of Pancakes (IHOP), one of the country’s favorite restaurant chains, is coming to Puerto Rico, CARIBBEAN BUSINESS learned. A local investor group is finalizing negotiations, expected to conclude next week, to secure the opening of at least seven locations on the island with a $12 million investment, or about $1.7 million per store. The first location could open as early as this year, a source close to the negotiations confirmed.

Each new IHOP location will be about 5,000 square feet in size and help generate 50 to 60 direct jobs, or 350 jobs overall, when all stores are operational.

IHOP restaurants feature moderately priced food and beverage items and table service in a comfortable atmosphere. Although IHOP restaurants are best-known for their award-winning pancakes, omelettes and other breakfast specialties, IHOP restaurants are open throughout the day and evening and offer a broad selection of lunch, dinner and snack items.

More than 99% of IHOP restaurants are operated by franchisees, as will be the case with the local investor group, who are independent businesspeople. Company figures show that as of last year, there were 1,375 IHOP restaurants in 49 states, Canada and Mexico.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...831&ct_id=0

[Jaykar]

P.R. lands top hotel brands Conrad and Waldorf Astoria Collection
By : FRANCES RYAN
frances@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: February 19, 2009 | Volume: 37 | No: 7

LXR’s Condado Plaza, El Conquistador, El San Juan Hotel join Hilton family; Michael Platt new San Juan Hotel general mgr., Hilton now corners 60% branded rooms in P.R.

It has been a rumor of sorts for months, but the wait is finally over, and three of Puerto Rico’s top hotel properties, Condado Plaza in Condado, El San Juan Hotel in Isla Verde and El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo will join the Hilton family of brands effective February 24, CARIBBEAN BUSINESS learned. The Condado Plaza will become a Conrad property, while El San Juan Hotel and El Conquistador Resort will fly the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Collection flag, according to various sources close to the conversion process.

In addition to a new Waldorf Astoria Collection flag, CARIBBEAN BUSINESS learned that El San Juan Hotel will also welcome a new general manager, Michael Platt, a seasoned hotel executive.

“This is a very positive development for Puerto Rico. The two Hilton brands are exceptional and round up the catalog of brands already available on the island,” said the conversion source. “For Puerto Rico’s tourism efforts, it will translate into more brand recognition to the destination and help attract more Hilton frequent travelers who can now enjoy their Hilton Honors benefits at that many more properties around the island.”

With this conversion, the Hilton family of brands now corners 60% of the branded hotel rooms on the island, or more than 5,200 rooms carrying at least one of Hilton’s nine brands. The conversion also makes Puerto Rico one of the markets with the highest concentration of Hilton-managed properties. The only Hilton-branded property that has separate management is the Hampton Inn, under franchise agreement. Other local Hilton properties include two Embassy Suites hotels, one DoubleTree (The Pierre), Caribe Hilton in San Juan and Ponce Hilton.

While the Caribe Hilton is the most recognized of the Hilton properties in Puerto Rico, other brands of the hospitality chain include Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Homewood Suites, Conrad Hotel & Resorts and the Waldorf Astoria Collection.

All three soon-to-be former LXR properties recently completed a $225 million-plus renovation, bringing them up-to-par with the latest in hotel and resort industry amenities. Combined, the three properties will add 1,600 rooms to Hilton’s inventory on the island.

LXR’s parent company, the investment firm Blackstone Real Estate Advisors, acquired the three properties as part of a 35-hotel package when it finalized the $3.24 billion purchase of Wyndham International Inc. in August 2005. Soon thereafter, Blackstone disposed of 19 of those hotels while announcing the formation of LXR Luxury Resorts to run the remaining 16 properties.

The Waldorf Astoria Collection

Under the Waldorf Astoria Collection each hotel maintains its own individual character, timeless architecture and special history. Hotels and resorts in the collection include the legendary Waldorf Astoria in New York City, Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa in Maui and Qasr Al Sharq in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

El Conquistador, the first of two new Waldorf Astoria Collection properties by Hilton, completed a $120 million renovation. Four decades since its Nov. 4, 1968 inauguration, El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa has made a comeback as one of the leading resort destinations in the region.

Sporting its “South Beach chic” new personality, El San Juan Hotel completed its $41 million renovation including the 340 rooms in its tower, pool area and landscaping. LXR designers were going for the striking effect guests get when arriving at the Delano or Sagamore in South Beach, except for the fact that guests are in San Juan, not Miami.

Conrad Hotels & Resorts

Once dubbed “Puerto Ricans’ favorite hotel”, the Condado Plaza recently completed its $55 million facelift including a total transformation of the lobby, new shops and restaurants, chief among them Varita, a wood-burning rotisserie-style eatery where Tony Roma’s used to be. New York-based Strip House steakhouse didn’t have any luck at the renovated Condado Plaza; it closed operations within a year of its inauguration. Under Conrad’s award-winning luxury brand, Condado Plaza joins properties in other top capital cities around the world. Like Condado Plaza, most of the Conrad properties are well-suited for both business and leisure travelers.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...959&ct_id=0


Warner Chilcott to expand operations in Fajardo
By : LAWSON D. THURSTON
lawson@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: February 19, 2009 | Volume: 37 | No: 7

Will invest to upgrade facilities, improve efficiency, and prepare plant for future product lines

Warner Chilcott Company Inc. will be expanding and ugrading its operations in Fajardo. The company will be investing an undisclosed sum to improve efficiency and to prepare the plant technologically for future product lines that it hopes to bring to the island.

The plant in Fajardo specializes in manufacturing and packaging women’s healthcare products, which include oral contraceptives and hormonal replacement products. They also produce and package dermatology products.

“Right now, we are expanding our capacity inside the existing building to make our hormone operation more efficient and functional. This doesn’t necessarily imply that we are going to be hiring more people. Also, we want to prepare ourselves for any future products (that could come to the plant) because the company is active in business development, acquiring products and looking for alternatives. Recently, our company has been involved in agreements with other companies to acquire the rights to develop and market different products.” said Max Torres, Warner Chilcott general manager of business operations.

According to Torres, the plant has been in Fajardo for approximately 40 years. It was originally part of Warner Lambert. Between 2000 and 2001, Pfizer acquired Warner Lambert. “At that time, Pfizer had basically three plants in Puerto Rico: Barceloneta, Vega Baja and Fajardo. Then when Pfizer acquired Pharmacia, they decided that they wanted to reduce the number of plants and were looking at alternatives for the Fajardo plant, including closure.”

Torres indicated that through a twist of fate or destiny, the Fajardo plant was saved from closure. “At the time, Warner Chilcott was planning to build a manufacturing facility in Ireland; they had already acquired property there for that purpose. But when they realized there was a good facility available (Fajardo) in Puerto Rico with highly skilled employees, they decided they wanted to acquire it from Pfizer and did so in June 2004.

“At that point, that purchase basically is what permitted the securing of some 300 to 350 jobs that Pfizer was planning to let go. Since then, we have been moving a lot of our products to this facility.”

According to Torres, the employment level at the Fajardo plant is somewhere around 320 to 330 employees. Depending on the volume levels, there are times when they also need to hire temporary workers.

Warner Chilcott Limited, a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of branded prescription pharmaceutical products in women’s healthcare and dermatology segments in the United States and internationally.


http://caribbeanbusi...?...74&ct_id=18



Federal funds to pump through island by summer
By : JOHN MARINO
marino@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: February 19, 2009 | Volume: 37 | No: 7

Pierluisi sees $5 billion for P.R. to show improvement by next year

President Barack Obama’s stimulus package will give Puerto Rico at least $5 billion over the next two years, and there are millions more available in discretionary funding that the island could win on a competitive basis, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi said.

Pierluisi said the stimulus package is large enough to jolt the island’s economy, which is trudging through its third year of recession, but that it offered no magic bullet for what ails it. Government officials still have to take the necessary steps to fix the “structural problems” affecting the economy’s long-term health, they added.

“This is as though a hurricane has just come through, and here comes FEMA to rebuild,” Pierluisi said, referring to the disaster relief doled out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency following storms. “This extra federal funding amounts to five percent of the GDP annually. My guesstimate is that this will lead to positive economic indicators by next year.”

Pierluisi’s staff was still finalizing the latest numbers for Puerto Rico as CARIBBEAN BUSINESS went to press, but the bulk of the money consists of $1 billion in tax rebates to workers ($800 to families and $400 to single workers), about $657 million in “state fiscal stabilization funding” and some $763 million for education.

The island also got about $200 million for highway and bridge construction, $386 million

in housing funds, with much of the money slated to improve public housing, a $579 million or 13% increase in the Nutritional Assistance Program (PAN) and an extra 30%, or $187 million, in Medicaid funds. About $200 million will also be appropriated to give island veterans and Social Security recipients a one-time $250 check.

Gov. Luis Fortuño is expected to appoint a task force to set priorities for the federal funds and to ensure they are distributed in an expedited matter. “Things will start to move by the summer,” the resident commissioner said. Veterans and social security recipients should get their checks within two months, and rebate checks could follow the same timetable.

Half the school funds should be disbursed by the summer so that improvements can be made before the start of the next school year, Pierluisi added. He also sees some of the larger construction projects getting under way by the end of the summer.

The resident commissioner called the economic stimulus package “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” He said the administration is working to maximize its benefits by creating its own $500 million stimulus package and by paying off the $700 million in debts with suppliers that the previous administration had left. Now that the federal stimulus package has been finalized, Gov. Fortuño is also expected to release details on the local spending plan.

Pierluisi said there are millions more available in discretionary funds for which the island government could compete. For example, some $1.2 billion is available for Veterans Administration health facilities and millions more in energy projects. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also expected to get between $50 million and $100 million to spend on island projects, according to the resident commissioner.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...957&ct_id=0


Retro-futurist concept Jake’s Over the Top available
By : FRANCES RYAN
frances@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: February 12, 2009 | Volume: 37 | No: 6

New classic “Americana-menu” chain aims at opening 80 locations in P.R.; cost of franchise $30,000, to generate 1,600 new jobs once fully operational

The latest addition to Puerto Rico’s fast-food heaven is Jake’s Over the Top, with a remake of the franchise and plans to open at least 80 locations around the island over the next seven years, CARIBBEAN BUSINESS learned. The exciting retro-futurist franchise concept, also dubbed the “North American” sister chain of Taco Maker, features a full-service menu of such American classics as hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and a complete selection of ice cream flavors. The first two locations are slated to open later this month in Humacao and Plaza Escorial in Carolina.

Ranging 1,200 to 1,500 square feet in size, Jake’s Over the Top locations can stand alone helping generate 16-20 new jobs per location, or 1,600 once the chain is fully operational, said Carlos Budet, president of FransGlobal, parent company of both Jake’s Over the Top and Taco Maker. A fast-food module is also available requiring as little as 500 square feet to develop a fast-food counter operation.

“Over the next few years, FransGlobal will be focusing on rapidly growing Jake’s Over the Top in Puerto Rico, later in Florida where we already have Taco Maker operations and in the long run moving into international markets,” Budet explained, adding the cost of the franchise will be $30,000. Budet is the first to admit that securing financing for a new franchise is difficult during recessionary times. Those interested in acquiring a Jake’s Over the Top franchise will be required to have a net worth of $300,000 and a cash flow over $100,000.

The Jetson’s-like chain was designed by the Miami-based advertising firm BxP, known for their integrated creative approach to combining consumer product design and experiential marketing.

Currently, there are 14 Jake’s Over the Top locations adjacent to Taco Maker stores, mostly operating with the ice cream menu. The new Jake’s chain, which represents a merger with the now-extinct Angel’s chain, will be developing full-size locations with the new retro-futurist graphic identity.

“Existing Taco Maker owner/operators have an opportunity to acquire the Jake’s concept,” explained Budet, adding the first stores in Humacao are franchised to business partners Dr. Isabel Alamo and Norma Rosario; Rosario now owns and operates two Taco Maker locations on the island. Her son, Javier Julián, will be opening the second Jake’s Over the Top Location in Carolina’s Plaza Escorial.

http://www.caribbean.......922&ct_id=0

[Jaykar]

Sephora to open before year-end
By : FRANCES RYAN
frances@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
Edition: March 5, 2009 | Volume: 37 | No: 9

Construction of first Sephora location underway at Plaza Las Américas; P.R. store part of chain’s multimillion-dollar expansion

European giant retail beauty chain Sephora, which has revolutionized the U.S. cosmetic market since 1998, is finally coming to Puerto Rico, CARIBBEAN BUSINESS learned. Sephora representatives, who in the past have shown no interest in the local market, have been in conversations with Plaza Las Américas’ leasing management for a while. The Puerto Rico store is part of the chain’s multimillion-dollar 2009 expansion plan.

In 2001, there was an initial approach from the Plaza Las Américas’ team to Sephora, but to no avail; it was still too early in Sephora’s mainland expansion plan. Earlier last year, during the annual ICSC (International Council on Shopping Centers) convention, CARIBBEAN BUSINESS confirmed Sephora had in fact accepted an invitation from Plaza Las Américas to explore a scenario whereby the company might come to Puerto Rico. Still, Plaza officials have kept a tight lid on the matter.

The wait is over. Construction of the first Sephora store is already underway in the lower level at Plaza Las Américas, near Radio Shack and west elm. To accommodate the beauty retailer, Plaza Las Américas had to relocate the former fast-food corridor in that area to make room for the new store.

The arrival of Sephora on the island, a brand already known by many Puerto Rican customers who frequently travel to the U.S. mainland, will certainly shake up the cosmetic and fragrance business category on the island, which is estimated to generate $100 million in annual sales.

Sephora is the leading chain of perfumes and cosmetics in France and the second largest in Europe. Its sales methods include inviting customers to touch, feel and smell all products and fragrances and seek all types of assistance. Clients can browse at their leisure on their own or seek detailed advice from employees.

The concept is similar to the perfume department at Macy’s in Plaza Las Américas, where consumers are free to glance through the merchandise instead of having to depend on behind-the-counter help.

As a means of expediting its U.S. mainland expansion, last year Sephora partnered with JCPenney to develop Sephora as a “store within a store.” The local Sephora store, however, will be part of the company’s multimillion-dollar expansion plan for 2009-2010.

Sephora has more than 200 stores in France, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan. The retail concept arrived in the U.S. in mid-1998 in New York and expanded to Miami and other cities. It is a division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), one of the largest luxury-product companies worldwide. LVMH’s divisions are wine and spirits, fashion, perfumes and cosmetics and retailing.


http://caribbeanbusi...?...039&ct_id=0


Puerto Rico to receive close to $70 million in transportation funds
By : JOHN MARINO
marino@caribbeanbusinesspr.com

President Barack Obama and top administration officials announced Thursday the release of $68.97 million in public transportation funds for Puerto Rico.

The funding is part of the $8.4 billion made available to repair and build America’s public transportation infrastructure under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal stimulus package aimed at jolting the United States out of recession.

“All over the country, resources are being put to work not only creating jobs now, but also investing in the future; a future that strengthens our transit system, makes us more energy efficient and increases safety,” said Vice President Joe Biden. “With this recovery package, we will be creating jobs, saving jobs, and putting money in people’s pockets. And with these resources, we’ll not only be rebuilding roads and bridges and schools, we’ll be rebuilding America.”

“Investments in public transportation put people to work, but they also get people to work in a way that moves us towards our long term goals of energy security and a better quality of life,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood added. “That is why transit funding was included in the ARRA and why we think it is a key part of America’s transportation future.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation has already committed $540 million in federally financed loans, about one-third of the total cost, for the intermodal center, which is proceeding on time and on budget.

In all, Puerto Rico expects to get some $5 billion over the next two years in extra funds from the federal stimulus package.

Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi said millions of dollars more are available to Puerto Rico in competitive grants, and that the administration would try to get as much of this funding as possible to increase the impact of the federal stimulus plan.

Gov. Luis Fortuño has formed an inter-agency working group to channel the implantation of the federal economic stimulus plan and ensure that Puerto Rico gets all the funding available to it.

A large portion of the money will be given directly to taxpayers in the form of checks emitted by the local Treasury Department. There are also millions for infrastructure projects and increases for beneficiaries of federal programs like the Nutritional Assistance Program, the Temporary Help for Needy Families program and Social Security, among others.

“The working group will expedite the disbursement of the federal funds to stimulate our economy as quickly as possible,” the governor said. It includes the heads of the Treasury, Education, Housing, Transportation and Public Works agencies, as well as the head of the Government Development Bank, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, the Infrastructure Finance Authority, the Environmental Quality Board, the Energy Affairs Office and the governor's advisors on legal and legislative affairs.

http://caribbeanbusi...?...1&ct_name=1

[urbanguy]

Thanks a lot for the updates! BTW do you have any pics of some of the different neighborhoods or cities around PR? I haven't seen any in a while.