Puerto Rico’s meetings, conventions, and sports sector experienced a remarkable surge in fiscal year 2024, achieving over $192.3 million in sales. This represents an 8% increase from the previous year and an astounding 249% rise compared to 2019, the last pre-pandemic year when the industry earned $55.1 million. The growth can be attributed to focused efforts in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) market, resulting in a significant increase in bookings.
The sector saw a total of 239,075 room night bookings, signifying a 22% increase from the previous year and a remarkable 87% rise compared to pandemic-era figures. These accomplishments have made fiscal year 2024 the most successful year for the sector in over a decade.
“When you combine a destination as diverse as ours with world-class facilities, culturally rich products, successful marketing, and strategic sales efforts, we achieve these accomplishments, marking a significant step forward for our industry,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico.
Discover Puerto Rico, the organization responsible for promoting the Island as a destination for both leisure and business travel, invested approximately $13 million annually in sales and promotional activities for the MICE and Sports market segment. These efforts have contributed significantly to the sector’s impressive performance.
The events with the highest number of contracted nights for fiscal year 2024 were:
* [List top events here, specifying the name and number of contracted nights]
“These new milestones in economic impact and bookings in the MICE and Sports market demonstrate our potential in the events and conventions segment. When the industry works together, we are more effective and better strengthen our appeal to group and business travel,” said Ed Carey, Chief Sales Officer of Discover Puerto Rico.
The remarkable growth in Puerto Rico’s meetings, conventions, and sports sector signifies the island’s increasing appeal as a destination for both business and leisure travelers. The success story is a testament to the collective efforts of the industry and Discover Puerto Rico’s commitment to promoting the island’s diverse offerings.
