More than 500 industry professionals to examine growth of Puerto Rico’s independent hospitality sector
By THE STAR STAFF
Puerto Rico’s independent hospitality sector—once considered a complementary segment of the lodging market—has become one of the island’s most dynamic engines of tourism growth. Reflecting that momentum, more than 500 professionals will gather on September 29 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center for Rebook Hospitality Conference 2026, a full‑day forum designed to analyze industry trends, identify business opportunities, and strengthen commercial ties across the expanding ecosystem of boutique hotels, short‑term rentals, restaurants, technology firms, and service providers.
“Independent hospitality today integrates boutique hotels, short‑term rentals, restaurants, experiences, technology, design, and services. Rebook responds to the growth of this industry,” said Pedro Fernández, producer of the event and president of CUBE Events. “Our goal is to bring together entrepreneurs and professionals so they can establish connections, identify new business opportunities, and continue growing.”
Recent data from Discover Puerto Rico underscores the sector’s rapid expansion. Lodging revenues climbed from roughly $1.3 billion in 2021 to nearly $1.99 billion in 2025, a jump of about 53% in four years. At the same time, the composition of the lodging market has shifted dramatically: hotels accounted for 66% of available inventory in 2019, but by 2026 short‑term rentals represented approximately 56% of the supply. The shift highlights the increasing weight of independent operators in Puerto Rico’s tourism economy.
“The independent segment is no longer secondary. It represents a significant share of lodging supply, demand, and economic activity,” Fernández said.
The conference will cater to a wide range of participants, from established operators to newcomers seeking to enter or scale within the industry. Attendees will include owners and managers of small hotels and short‑term rentals, property administrators, restaurateurs, developers, investors, suppliers, and tourism professionals.
Sessions will address operational and strategic topics such as profitability, technology and automation, security, regulation, marketing, investment, trends, and guest experience. Content will be organized by levels and will feature concurrent workshop‑style sessions that allow participants to dive deeper into specific subjects and select programming aligned with their business needs.
Industry leaders and specialists will contribute perspectives on guest experience, technology, investment, and emerging opportunities. Confirmed speakers include Jorge Pérez, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico; Lynnette Veguilla Torres, CCXP and founder of CX Puerto Rico; and Bolívar Bencomo, Research & Design Lead at SeriouslyCreative, among others who will participate in panels, workshops, and specialized sessions.
Most sessions will be conducted in Spanish, Fernández noted.
An exhibition area will complement the programming, offering access to products, services, and solutions for hospitality operations, along with opportunities to meet suppliers directly.
“We want Rebook to function as a working day for the industry,” Fernández said. “A place where you can learn about a topic, sit with an expert, explore market solutions, see them in action, and also have a business conversation—all in one place.”
Rebook Hospitality Conference 2026 will take place Tuesday, September 29, at the Puerto Rico Convention Center. Tickets, agenda details, and participation opportunities are available at rebookconference.com.
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