Simply put, the Puerto Rico travel industry has made a remarkable recovery from Hurricane Maria. Airlines are back, cruise passengers have returned, the hotels are open again and new ones are also making their way in the pipeline.
Travelers are returning – and if you haven’t come back to Puerto Rico yet, it’s time to plan your trip.
With this first-ever Puerto Rico Travel Awards, we wanted to celebrate Puerto Rico’s amazing comeback — and to honor the industry that means so much to the island’s economy and people.
The first-ever Puerto Rico Travel Awards celebrates the best of the destination, from hotels and airlines to the people who work so hard to make Puerto Rico the leading destination that it has become.
“Puerto Rico is such a vibrant, fascinating place to visit, and its renaissance has been spectacular to watch” said Caribbean Journal Editor and Publisher Alexander Britell. “As the world’s largest website covering Caribbean travel, we are so proud to celebrate the best of Puerto Rico’s travel industry with this first-ever Puerto Rico Travel Awards.”
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Hotel of the Year: Condado Vanderbilt
When it made its debut in late 2014, the historic Condado Vanderbilt immediately set a new standard for hotels in Puerto Rico: this was a globally-competitive luxury hotel with the food, ambience and service to match. And that’s still the case today — the Condado Vanderbilt is an impressively appointed property that reminds the world just what a wonderful destination Condado is.
Hotelier of the Year: Loisse Herger
The 15-room O:live has long been one of the Caribbean’s hippest hotels — but it’s also one of its best. And that’s thanks to the passionate, creative spirit of hotelier Loisse Herger. Herger, who owns the property with her husband Fernando Davila, based the property on their Mediterranean honeymoon, and the property just oozes creative design. Herger is a great example of the kind of local entrepreneurship that is transforming Puerto Rico’s hospitality industry. And she’s not done, either: O:live’s new concept, the nearby OLV:55, is opening in December.
New Hotel of the Year: Serafina Beach Hotel
As many hotels on the island were recovering, another was beginning its life. Enter the Serafina Beach Hotel, the first hotel concept from New York’s legendary Serafina restaurant brand. The 96-room chic, breezy Condado property has instantly become a hotspot in San Juan, and a renewed symbol of the city’s rebirth.
Small Hotel of the Year: O:live Boutique Hotel
It’s no surprise to see Loisse Herger’s boutique hotel here, as it remains a halo hotel for all of Puerto Rico. Marrying the kind of international-standard design you find at the best boutique hotels in Europe with a bold, warm Puerto Rican personality, the O:live is the best-kept secret in San Juan and an oasis of cool in the capital.
Eco Hotel of the Year: Hix Island House
In a warming climate, resilience and the connection to the environment are paramount for any hotel. And no property better exemplifies these concepts than Vieques’ Hix Island House, the eco-hotel that is one of the world’s greenest hotels. The airy, wellness-focused hotel (that also includes a totally-off-the-grid solar wing called Casa Solaris, is an example for the entire Caribbean. Oh, and it’s a wonderful place to stay, too.
Chef Jose Enrique.
Chef of the Year: Jose Enrique
Jose Enrique is the name behind some of Puerto Rico’s hottest eateries, led by his eponymous Jose Enrique in Santurce. And it’s that creative, impassioned work that has helped put Puerto Rico at the center of the Caribbean’s gastronomic movement and made San Juan, in particular, one of the hottest foodie destinations in the hemisphere. And when the storm hit, Enrique stepped up, serving thousands of meals a day. Is there a more complete chef on the island right now? We don’t think so.
Cruise Line of the Year: Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Ocean Cruises, the ocean-going cruise line from Viking River Cruises, has quickly become a major player in the Caribbean cruise industry. And the luxury line was one of the first major cruise brands to return to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria — and remains a fixture at the port of San Juan. As good a cruising experience as there is in the region, Viking has made a strong commitment to Puerto Rico, and one that continues to pay dividends for the island.
Airline of the Year: Tradewind Aviation With all of the flights that come into San Juan every day, it’s easy to forget that San Juan isn’t just a destination — it’s a leading aviation hub for the entire Caribbean region. And that position has only solidified thanks to the work of Tradewind Aviation, the luxury airline and charter operator that bases its Caribbean operations in Puerto Rico, flying to destinations including the US Virgin Islands, St Barth, Antigua, Anguilla and Nevis. Tradewind continues to set a standard for service and quality, returning glamor to air travel.
The Paseo La Princesa in Old San Juan.
Attraction of the Year: Paseo La Princesa
It’s beautiful, it’s fun, it’s historic., it’s accessible. Better yet? It’s free. Our Attraction of the Year goes to one of our favorite stops in San Juan, the historic Paseo La Princesa boulevard that rings Old San Juan. Walking this beautifully-maintained promenade is one of the things you simply have to do on any visit to the old capital.
Person of the Year: Chef Jose Andres
It’s hard to know where to begin when it comes to Jose Andres, a man who has become an even more impressive humanitarian than he is a chef — and that says a lot. Andres became one of the faces of the recovery effort in Puerto Rico, helping to serve literally millions of meals on the island — a number that eclipsed even the largest aid organizations. He has also become an advocate for the island, where he has long operated a restaurant, and helped shine the spotlight on the island.