Rafael Fábregas, Fred Dieterle, Héctor Ledesma, Héctor Piñeiro, and Kiko Pesquera are joined by Justo Pastor Rivera (in the white suit), who was President of the Chamber of Commerce.

PRCB leaders improved relations with local hotels and fostered closer contact with international peers through membership in professional associations such as the IACVB (International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau).

1970-1980
By the early 1970s, changes in government policy improved conditions for the Puerto Rican hospitality industry that benefited the convention business. However, a major limitation remained – the absence of a convention center that could house large groups and consolidate facilities in one site. The PRCB campaigned vigorously for constructing such a center.

1970 Board of Directors

The inauguration the San Juan Convention Center (El Centro) in 1972 was a welcome addition to Puerto Rico’s infrastructure in support of the island’s emerging group business market. As the decade unfolded Puerto Rico’s popularity as a group destination grew in record numbers. It soon became evident that a larger facility would be needed to serve the apparent influx.

El Centro, inaugurated in 1972

1980-1990
In 1980, the government passed legislation that established funding for PRCB operations by adding one percentage point to the room tax charged on all hotels and motels in Puerto Rico. This provided the PRCB with a dedicated revenue source and ended financial dependence on other government agencies or member donations.

In the 80's the Mayors of the Great Cities of America Conference was held at the Caribe Hilton.

The PRCB opened its first U.S. mainland sales and marketing office in Washington D.C. This measure proved to be instrumental in our marketing efforts.

Bureau's Board inauguration in 1985

1990-2000
Recognizing the enormous potential of generating group business from local contracts, the Bureau launched the Ambassadors Program in 1994. The program is a marketing initiative to generate group business by developing contacts and building strong relationships with diverse professionals in Puerto Rico which, in turn, refer group business to support the PRCB. Due to the success of the Ambassadors Program and in recognition of the enormous potential of group business from the Hispanic market in the U.S. mainland -- common culture, heritage, and shared language -- the Bureau launched its Hispanic Ambassadors Program in 1997.

In 1999, the Bureau launched its Extraordinary Service Program, providing Bureau team members the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge sales training seminars modeled after some of the world's most respected organizations both within and outside the travel industry. As part of this initiative, the PRCB established ‘Our Pledge to Service’ -- a promise to serve the best interests of meeting planners and to conduct business with integrity, responsiveness, and efficiency. This effort has now expanded the Bureau’s member-supplier community.

During the same year, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico contracted the services of the Bureau to become the official sales agent for the new Puerto Rico Convention Center, which opened in November 2005. Later in 2002, marketing responsibilities were assigned to the Bureau, thus making it the official sales and marketing agent for the Puerto Rico Convention Center.