Puerto Rico Convention Center Opens

San Juan, Puerto Rico -- The Puerto Rico Convention Center opened here yesterday as the largest and most technologically advanced facility of its kind in the Caribbean.

The center contains a 152,700-square-foot exhibit hall, divisible by three; a 39,500-square-foot ballroom; and 36,400 square feet of meeting space, including 15 meeting rooms, which can be divided into 28 breakout rooms. The $415-million facility can host groups of up to 10,000 people.

Technologically, the center features fiber-optic broadband and wireless Internet access throughout the meeting areas; video-conferencing, with satellite up-link and down-link; and equipment for simultaneous language translation.

"The opening of the Puerto Rico Convention Center represents a new era in our tourism history, as we now have the capacity to host large-scale meetings in one of the most modern and visually-splendid facilities in the world," said Ana Maria Viscasillas, chief executive of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, which is the center's official sales and marketing agent.

More than 70 events are scheduled to take place at the center through 2008. It is estimated that the center will generate more than $300 million in business annually for Puerto Rico.

In conjunction with its opening, the center has upgraded its website, at www.prconvention.com. The site includes comprehensive floor plans, details on services, and a live events calendar, with links to show sites for event registration and other information.

Other website highlights include an online request for proposal system, sales and management contact information, and a downloadable event planning guide.