Paulson Puerto Rico’s expertise in the hospitality industry was highlighted through the active participation of Rolando Padua, President of Paulson Puerto Rico; Sigfrido de Jesús, General Manager of Casino del Mar; and Marian Juliette Medina, Communications Director of Paulson Puerto Rico. They shared their knowledge and perspectives on the importance of continuously developing new guest experiences, the need to educate staff on high service standards, the present and future of casinos on the island, and their support for local entrepreneurs through their contribution to the program for new company accelerators in the industry.
Rolando Padua participated as a panelist in the discussion titled “Lodging: Designing Guest Experiences That Define a Stay” at the Puerto Rico NEXT Tourism Summit. Joining him were Peter Hopgood, President and COO of International Hospitality Enterprises; Loise Herger, owner of O:LV Fifty Five and O:live Boutique; and moderator Stanley Tapia, Director of the International School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts at UAGM.
Meanwhile, Marian Juliette Medina had the opportunity to evaluate the 24 companies participating in the “Take Off” program, a small business accelerator by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. The evaluation was conducted through presentations aimed at obtaining a $5,000 grant for completing the program. Paulson Puerto Rico made a surprise contribution to the program by awarding an additional $2,500 prize. The prize, based on innovation, exemplifies Paulson Puerto Rico’s commitment to strengthening the island’s economic development and growth. By rewarding innovative initiatives, the company reaffirms its role as a driving force behind local business advancement. Padua, who participated in the decision-making, selected Yassem Méndez and Joann D. Morales of Destilería Capellán. The creators of Roncaña Clandestino won thanks to their presentation on the expansion plans for their distillery located in Isabela. “It was very exciting to see all the participants, and it was a difficult decision. Puerto Rico is globally recognized for rum production, and when I heard this company’s story, I felt compelled to help them take their business to the next level,” Padua shared during the award ceremony.
In the panel “Lodging: Designing Guest Experiences That Define a Stay,” the discussion emphasized that, to ensure a first-class experience, it is essential to focus on personalized attention, paying attention to every detail, reflecting constant innovation, and striving for a strong commitment to service excellence. Additionally, as Padua mentioned, it is equally important to invest in quality infrastructure and advanced technology to ensure guests enjoy an unparalleled stay.
Padua’s industry knowledge continued with his contributions to the panel “Elevating the Service Standards Across the Board.” According to Padua, “instilling this culture of excellence begins with leadership.” This is why at The Condado Collection hotel conglomerate, “we foster a mindset of exceptional service in all our employees, from initial training through development programs to ongoing recognition of their achievements.” Paulson Puerto Rico’s goal with this strategy is “to ensure that service quality contributes to memorable experiences that exceed our visitors’ expectations at Condado Ocean Club, Condado Vanderbilt, La Concha Resorts, and St. Regis Bahía Beach.” Similarly, the strategy will extend to Vanderbilt Residences, a collection of luxury condo-hotel residences in Condado’s urban area. “This is a way of reinforcing Paulson Puerto Rico’s commitment to this concept, which will offer Vanderbilt Residences as a viable and promising future that will influence the entire tourism ecosystem. By offering exceptional experiences, we not only attract high-profile visitors but also foster a positive perception of Puerto Rico as a world-class destination. This definitely has a multiplying effect,” he concluded.
Sigfrido de Jesús, General Manager of Casino del Mar located at La Concha Resorts, also participated in the panel “Betting on Success: Exploring Casinos, Sports Betting and Online Gaming” alongside José “Che” Julio Apario from WinIn PR, Guillermo Márquez from Casino del Sol, and Ismael Vega from Casino Metro, moderated by attorney Juan Carlos Santaella, interim Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission. The panel discussed the evolution and future of casinos in Puerto Rico, as well as the introduction of sports betting, of which Casino del Mar is proud to have been a pioneer on the island, marking a new trend in the industry.
As seen in: