Caribe Hilton hotel in San Juan reopens after $150m restoration

Caribe Hilton hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which was damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017, has reopened following the completion of work by project development consultancy Project Development Services (PDSI).

Served as a social hub in Puerto Rico, Caribe Hilton was Hilton’s first property outside of the continental US, making Hilton the first international hotel chain in the region.

Caribe Hilton, which was thrown open in 1949, is the only hotel on the island with its own private beach.

The restoration work under the $150 million contract included 652 rooms and suites, 11 food and beverage outlets, a new spa and fitness center, and meeting and event space.

The work also involved upgrades to all building systems and envelopes to secure the property from storm damage in the future.

The re-opening of the Caribe Hilton, which coincided with the 70th anniversary of the hotel’s original opening date, took place on 18 June 2019 after 15 months of closure.

Fernando Pla – PDSI San Juan office project director said: “Working to restore the Caribe Hilton was a very nostalgic experience for the project team. Many of us grew up with that hotel being an integral part of our lives.

“This renovation allowed me to re-live my memories of the beauty, history, and elegance of the Caribe. The hotel is ingrained in the DNA of each Puerto Rican.”

Park Hotels & Resorts, the owner of the Caribe Hilton hotel, had given a contract PDSI to renovate, restore, and transform the resort.

PDSI is a privately held project management firm that develops and renovates hospitality projects globally.

The company has managed over $5 billion in projects from limited service to luxury, minor renovations to large scale, ground-up developments, and adaptive reuse since its inception in 2001.

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