• The new hotel provides 500 suites and is the only luxury "All Inclusive" resort in Puerto Rico.
  • It also becomes the first hotel in Puerto Rico to form part of the exclusive club of "The Leading Hotels of the World".

The official opening was attended by leading figures in the local travel industry from both the business world and authorities, including the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Sila María Calderón; the Secretary for Economic Development and Commerce, Milton Segarra; the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, José Suárez, and the Mayor of Río Grande, Emilio Rosa Pacheco. André Gerondeau, Executive Vice President of the Sol Meliá North and Central Americas Division attended the event as representative of the company Chairman, Gabriel Escarrer, and was accompanied by the new resorts General Manager, José Carrasco.

During the event, the Honourable Governor Sila María Calderón emphasised that economic development, the creation of employment and the promotion of the tourism industry are the priorities of the administration, adding that "I am pleased to have the chance to be here with you at the inauguration of the Paradisus Puerto Rico, a hotel which today becomes one of the most emblematic in the whole of the island". "700 jobs have been created during hotel construction, and another 500 people will be here to make it run. Without any doubt, this grand hotel development and all of its staff will create the finest showcase for the development and promotion of Puerto Rico as a travel destination".

During his speech, André Gerondeau declared that "after several years of hard work and sacrifice, we are proud to have concluded the construction of what we aim to make, beyond any doubt, one of the most emblematic and beautiful resort hotels in the whole of the Caribbean. I can assure you that we have spared no effort in carrying out the task of providing the resort with all of the facilities and services that will make Puerto Rico feel proud of this new Sol Meliá hotel, our first 5 star deluxe All Inclusive".

The Paradisus Puerto Rico, one of the finest hotel in the whole of the Caribbean

After an investment by Sol Meliá of 150 million dollars in its construction, the luxury facilities and magnificent location of the new Paradisus Puerto Rico make it one of the most exceptional hotels in the whole of the Caribbean. The hotel is also the only hotel in Puerto Rico to form part of the exclusive club of "The Leading Hotels of the World", a club to which a further 8 Sol Meliá hotels already belong.

The resort was designed by the prestigious Spanish architect, Alvaro Sans, and consists of 20 bungalows containing 486 Junior Suites with ocean views (96 of them providing Royal Service, and 12 Honeymoon Suites with private jacuzzi). The resort also provides a Presidential villa with a private terrace and swimming pool, as well as five Garden Villas.

The opening of the first hotel in Puerto Rico fulfils a double objective for Sol Meliá: firstly, to offer a new destination in the Caribbean to European customers, and secondly, to provide an alternative to customers in one of the most attractive markets in world travel: the United States. The hotel provides superior facilities for both business and leisure travellers from each of these important markets.

The Paradisus Puerto Rico enjoys a magnificent location in the Miquillo Peninsula (Río Grande), very near the Caribbean National Park, better known as El Yunque. Its 500 suites are located in low-rise luxury bungalows, blending in perfectly with the natural environment and one mile of tropical beach to create the most beautiful and elegant of settings.

The Paradisus brand is home to Sol Meliás 5 star All Inclusive Eco-Resorts, in this case including facilities such as a Grand Casino and an extensive range of sports and entertainment facilities such as 2 swimming pools, 3 tennis courts, a grand spa, children's club and water sports centre, amongst many others. For golf fans, the Paradisus Puerto Rico provides two exclusive 18-hole courses designed by Tom Kite and Bruce Besse. In the evenings, the hotel offers guests some of the most exclusive shows in Puerto Rico, and there is also live music to be seen and heard during the day.

The Paradisus Puerto Rico also provides a wide range of choice of great cuisine in its 6 restaurants, including the "Mirador Grill" serving an extensive international buffet and "El Caribeño" with the finest of Puerto Rican and Caribbean cuisine. Four more "à la carte" restaurants delight the taste buds of guests: the "Romántico" restaurant provides the finest of international cuisine, specialising in French dishes; the "Avocado" serves traditional light dishes from the California region; the "Toscano" presents the very best of northern Italy; and, last but not least, the "Bamboo" specialises in oriental fusion with delicious treats from Thailand, Japan and China, as well as a Sushi Bar and Tepanyaki Grill.

There are also magnificent facilities for congresses and incentive trips, with a modern Convention Centre set over 2,700 square metres being home to 13 meeting rooms for up to 1,500 guests.

Paradisus, an exclusive brand for very special occasions

There are times when you just have to get away from it all and relax in exceptional comfort in a hotel that lies beside a beach with crystal-clear waters set in a dream location. Paradisus Resorts are magnificent "All Inclusive" resorts, built in traditional style and fully integrated within their natural environments. White sands and exotic scenery are the backdrop to a an exquisite range of services that allow guests to bathe in the luxury of an resort designed to allow rest and relaxation or as much fun as you could wish, unforgettable dining experiences and endless sports and leisure choices.

With the opening of the Paradisus Puerto Rico, Sol Meliá now provides 6 Paradisus Resorts in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Puerto Rico, a rising star in world travel

A report by Deloitte & Touche which measured tourism in 320 international markets placed Puerto Rico in fourth position in the hotel occupancy ranking for 2003, confirming its status as the leading destination in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico has one of the finest coastlines in the whole world, with a total of 272 miles of coast and hundreds of beaches. Its scenery and the kindness of its people make it one of the most attractive locations in the Caribbean.

Fans of water sports such as scuba diving, sailing or surfing also enjoy some of the best locations on Earth. The island has some of the best restaurants in the Caribbean, many serving Puerto Rican specialities, a mixture of Spanish, Creole and Indian influences. Visitors can also enjoy vibrant nightlife, cultural attractions, casinos, theatre, dance, opera and open-air concerts.

Founded in 1956 in Palma de Majorca in Spain, Sol Meliá is the largest resort hotel company in the world and by far the largest hotel company in Spain, both in the city and resort hotel markets. The company currently provides 350 hotels in 30 countries on 4 continents and provides employment to more than 36,000 people in its Meliá, Tryp, Sol, Paradisus and Hard Rock Hotels.