Intercontinental San Juan Reopens After Multi-Million Dollar Resort Transformation
Renovations include new guest rooms and bathrooms, updated dining venues, conference spaces and spa
Following a tough few years in the wake of Hurricane Maria, an all-new InterContinental San Juan officially reopened last week sporting a multimillion-dollar reimagination that ushers in a new decade for the beachfront hotel. The grand property sits in a location that is minutes from the nightlife of Old San Juan along Isla Verde beach, and reinstates InterContinental San Juan’s status as a top destination for both business and leisure travelers.
The resort offers 398 guest rooms and suites, over 24,000 square feet of meeting and event space, an outdoor lagoon pool with a swim-up bar, seven restaurants and bars serving up a variety of exquisite cuisines, and a full-service spa.
Designed by Boston-based Parker-Torres Design, all guestrooms, suites, and Club rooms have been updated with a crisp blue and white palette combined with soft wood tones that echo the island’s pristine beaches and bright waters. The redesigned accommodations reflect the vibrant yet relaxed energy of the destination.
Newly designed suites, including an entirely new master suite and two executive suites, provide VIPs and groups with spacious accommodations. The InterContinental San Juan remains a hub for business travelers, with over 24,000 square-feet of meeting space that can be configurated for a variety of meeting needs. An updated conference floor houses meeting rooms with floor to ceiling windows offering scenic views. The largest spaces are the 6,036-square-foot Preciosa Ballroom, the 5,065-square-foot Grand Ballroom, the 2,850-square-foot Caribbean Ballroom, and the 2,344-square-foot Atlantic Ballroom.
InterContinental San Juan is home to seven restaurants and bars including Ocean Breeze, known for having the only toes in the sand oceanfront bar in Isla Verde serving up inventive cocktails and fresh salads, sandwiches and homemade pizzas, and SAK-I, offering an artful blend of Asian flavors with a tropical twist. Additional dining options include Ruth’s Chris Steak House; Alelí, the hotel’s main breakfast restaurant; La Bodeguita, a café and wine bar offering gourmet breakfast, lunch and evening delights; Akua Bar, a casual swim-up bar serving light lunch and popular tropical cocktails; and Karaya, the resort’s indoor/outdoor main bar.
In addition to a full-service fitness center, guests can experience the newly remodeled Akua Spa that reopens this month. It features a sauna, steam bath and five private treatment rooms where guests can enjoy ocean-inspired massages, facials and body treatments.
Interest in Puerto Rico is stronger than ever as major airlines continue adding nonstop flights to the island, giving visitors access to the Caribbean without having to bring along a passport. Room rates on average at InterContinental San Juan start at $329 per night.
Puerto Rico is still healing after the extensive damages inflicted by Hurricane Maria in 2017, costing the commonwealth an estimated $90 billion. But 2019 turned into record-breaking numbers for the destination in lodging revenue, airport arrivals and meetings, incentives, and conferences and exhibitions (MICE) bookings. The island expects to sustain the tourism momentum through 2020.
“Our destination is ready and continues to receive visitors not only in the San Juan area, but across all regions,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. “A way people can show their support for the Island is to travel to Puerto Rico for their vacations, work trips, meetings, conferences and events. Flights are operating normally to all airports, attractions across the Island are open, and all major hotels are operating.”
