Tourism and Hospitality

We have extensive experience in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry. Our team in this area is composed of a group of inter-disciplinary attorneys with extensive experience in virtually every legal aspect affecting the tourism and hospitality industry in Puerto Rico. We have actively represented hotel and resort developers and governmental agencies in matters involving legislation, tax planning, licensing and permitting, gaming, land assembly, zoning, resort development, financing, environmental, and employment and labor.

In the area of legislation, we have been instrumental in drafting important tourism legislation and regulations such as the Tourism Development Act of 1993 and its regulation (providing tourism incentives to new and existing tourism projects), the Timeshare and Vacation Clubs Act and its regulations (allowing the development of timeshare and vacation clubs projects in Puerto Rico), the Tourism Development Districts Act of 1998 (allowing the creation of special tourism development districts and the imposition of special assessments within such districts) and the latest and most comprehensive amendments to the Gaming Act and its regulation (updating the casino laws and regulations).

We have also been involved in major transactions in Puerto Rico representing both borrowers and lenders in construction and acquisition financings, debt restructuring for hotel and resort properties and mortgage foreclosures, asset resolution, and loan workouts. We have also served clients providing tourist transportation and airport support services. Particularly, we have experience in negotiating airport leases at major airport facilities in Puerto Rico and in procuring special permits such as rental and leasing car authorizations.