A hip new boutique hotel has opened its doors in the Condado district of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The hip new 26-room hotel is the product of a $1 million investment by owner Rafal Pagan, who now has a portfolio of three hotels in Condado, including the Wave hotel and the El San Geronimo hotel. 

“Despite the challenges that global tourism is going through as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, in Puerto Rico we confirm the strength and resilience of this economic activity with an aggressive pipeline of new investments in the sector,” said Carla Campos, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. 

So what’s it like?

The sleek, crisply-designed Ivy has a a pool and sundeck, free Wi-Fi across the property and little touches like authentic Puerto Rican coffee in every room. 

The boutique proposition was an attractive one for Pagan. 

“The value I see in the boutique hotel segment is that the properties have a relatively low ceiling and strong operating margins, and as a result are more resilient during economic downturns” he said. “This is a major advantage compared to the larger hotel chains.”

More and more travelers are also seeking out authentic, intimate experiences, Pagan said. 

The Ivy is the latest in a burgeoning collection of design-forward hotels in Condado, one that kicked off in earnest with the debut of the O:live hotel by hotelier Loisse Herger, who followed that up with her most recent entry, the stunning OLV: Fifty Five.

Most recently, the former Serafina Beach Resort was transformed into the new Condado Ocean Club, which officially launched its rebranding this fall. 

And it’s yet another sign that it may be time for Puerto Rico to start marketing Condado as a unique destination in its own right. 

“The transformation of this property is key to continue raising the standards of the hotel offering in the heart of Condado ” Campos said. 

For more, visit The Ivy. 

— CJ