Discover Puerto Rico Sales Team Closes the Year at Expo! Expo! IAEE
The Discover Puerto Rico Sales team closed the year by participating in Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition, the annual convention of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)—a key industry event that facilitates strengthening and creating new relationships, learning about emerging trends, and discovering new opportunities in the trade show and convention sector.
The event took place December 8–10 at the Houston Convention Center, with the participation of over 700 coordinators and planners from the United States and Puerto Rico.
The main goal of Discover Puerto Rico’s participation was to maintain and enhance the Island’s visibility as a destination for group travel and conventions. As the last major industry event of the year, the Island’s presence helped keep Puerto Rico top-of-mind for planners as a versatile option for hosting events.
As part of its strategy, Discover Puerto Rico served as a sponsor of the Hosted Buyer Lounge, allowing the team to hold one-on-one meetings with approximately 45 planners. These meetings strengthened existing relationships, built new connections, and identified future business opportunities for the destination.
Additionally, the DMO had a booth within the Legends Global trade show, managed by the Puerto Rico Convention Center, showcasing the Island’s capabilities for large-scale events, supported by a globally recognized brand.
During the event, Discover Puerto Rico shared space with destinations such as Canada, Detroit, Alaska, Pittsburgh, and Denver, allowing the Island to compete directly with these markets and demonstrate that Puerto Rico offers the same scale and value as traditionally preferred convention destinations.
In conversations with planners, the team highlighted new hotel developments in the metropolitan area, increasing lodging capacity, as well as renovations of established properties that add value to the convention segment. The DMO also presented promotions and incentives designed to give planners flexibility and peace of mind regarding budgets and expenses.