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Hotel Ponce Intercontinental

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Coordinates: 18°1′17.4″N 66°37′14.59″W / 18.021500°N 66.6207194°W / 18.021500; -66.6207194
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Hotel Ponce Intercontinental
Former Hotel Ponce Intercontinental over the El Vigia Hill in Barrio Portugues Urbano, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Map
General information
LocationPaseo de la Cruceta
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Coordinates18°1′17.4″N 66°37′14.59″W / 18.021500°N 66.6207194°W / 18.021500; -66.6207194
Opening1 February 1960[1]
Closed31 May 1975[2]
OwnerPonce Hotel Corporation (1957–1985)
PRIDCO (1985–2006)
CBC Development (2006–2018)
Misla Hospitality Group (2018–present)
ManagementInterContinental Hotels Group (1960–1975)
Marriott International (begins March 2022)
Technical details
Floor count7
Design and construction
Architect(s)William B. Tabler Architects
Other information
Number of rooms170[3]
Currently under redevelopment

The Hotel Ponce Intercontinental (also known as "El Ponce") is an abandoned hotel with a still existing structure at Cerro del Vigía in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The structure is considered a historic landmark and a national icon in the city of Ponce and Puerto Rico.[4] The property is currently owned by Misla Hospitality Group, a family of local Ponce investors who bought it from CBC Development. Its architecture is classical modern.[5] When it opened, in 1960, it became the first modern hotel in the city.[6]

Location and features

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The hotel is located in the northern section of the city of Ponce, on a hill just north of the El Vigia Hill, behind Cruceta del Vigía and Castillo Serralles.[7] The hotel had a large circular outdoor swimming pool, a ballroom named Salón Ponciana, a cocktail bar named Bar Coquí; and a restaurant called El Cafetal.[8] The hotel also had a casino that operated until 1973.[9] On the top of the hotel, WRIK-TV had its transmission antenna.[10] The hotel is on a lot measuring approximately 25 cuerdas (roughly 25 acres).[11] The land area is 22.5 cuerdas.[12]

Design

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One of the hotel's façades in 1964

The hotel was designed in 1957-58 by American architect William B. Tabler, FAIA. Tabler, whose offices were in New York City, designed hotels worldwide for the Statler chain, Hilton, and Intercontinental.[13][14]

Tabler designed the Ponce Intercontinental in a modern style with ample space for cross ventilation and light, interior details, and quasi-futuristic traits. The design takes advantage of the location of the building for natural ventilation and exposure to large and spacious panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea from the top sector of the El Vigia Hill in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico.[15]

The architectural design of this hotel is simple but consistent with a curvilinear theme which is unique in Puerto Rico. The concrete shells that housed the restaurant, and activities rooms are geared to take advantage of large open spaces with majestic views of the Caribbean Sea.[16] The use of ornamental roofs is typical of modern architecture of the mid-1950s era.[17]

History

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2007 photo of the front facade of the derelict structure

The first stone of the Hotel was placed on January 6, 1958, under the project name “Hotel El Ponceño”,[18][19] and the Hotel opened as a luxury hotel on 1 February 1960.[20][21] The cost of the construction of the hotel was $3.75 million USD ($40 million today).[22] The Hotel operated for 15 years (from 1960 to 1975) and was of particular importance in the collective memory of the Ponce's popular society in the 1960s through the 1970s.[23] The hotel was a bustling center of entertainment that stood out as a center of large musical events of those years. The Ponce Intercontinental is remembered for being the birthplace of great artistic, social and political events of its time.[24] Celebrities, such as Chucho Avellanet, Iris Chacon, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Celia Cruz, Marco Antonio Muñiz, José José, Sandro de America, Camilo Sesto, Raphael, and others, stayed or performed at the hotel.[25]

Closing

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The hotel's definitive closure was first announced on April 21, 1975, slated for May 30, due to the hotel's profound economical crisis as losses were accumulating over $1.7 millions ($10 millions today).[26] The hotel's management were disposed to accept offers to avoid the hotel's closure, requiring $1 million ($6 millions today) investment.[27] A group of local Ponce investors were interested in leasing the hotel to continue operating, once Inter·Continental Hotels ceases operations.[28]

However, the interested group didn't have the necessary economical resources to continue operating the hotel, and the hotel was finally closed on May 31, 1975 at 11 pm, a day after the anticipated date, losing over 145 jobs. 7 guests were staying at the hotel on the last day of operations.[2][29] After the hotel's closure, Inter·Continental Hotels continued in charge of the building's maintenance until 1980.[30]

The hotel's location, high costs, labor conflicts, and the lack of appropriated road access were considered factors for the hotel's economical problems that caused the closure.[31][32][33][34][35] The hotel's only access road was through a narrow one-way, one-lane alley in a financially deprived neighborhood north of the city. The lack of touristic promotion outside San Juan Metropolitan Area and the hotel's bad administration were also blamed for the hotel's failure.[36]

Re-construction

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January 2012 photo of the former hotel, as seen from the city of Ponce

In 1979, the mayor of Ponce José G. Tormos Vega announced that the hotel would reopen under new owners for the 1979 Pan American Games, which was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, the hotel didn’t reopen and in 1981, a group of Puerto Rican and American investors were reportedly looking into purchasing the property. No other developments were subsequently reported.[37]

In 1985, and under Government of Puerto Rico guidelines, Puerto Rico's Compañia de Fomento Industrial ("PRIDCO") decided to buy the structure on 7 November 1985, with the goal of remodeling it, expanding its facilities, and providing the city of Ponce with world-class accommodations. PRIDCO commissioned the architectural firm of Pablo Quinones & Associates to initiate investigations and studies on the condition of the main structure with the intention of upgrading it to modern codes. The design team generated its recommendations, which were delivered to the PRIDCO. Simultaneously, the team traveled to New York City in 1985-86, where it located the original plans at the offices of William B. Tabler. As a design strategy for its architectural features, they decided to remodel the essence of its main structure and proposed an enlargement to accommodate a modern convention center within the premises.[38]

On 7 October 1985, as a result of the landslide in Mameyes, the hotel was used as temporary accommodation for people affected by the floods. As the time of the relocation of the affected tenants became longer than anticipated, plans to enlarge and re-model the hotel were abandoned.[39]

In 1999, George Philip Rivera, a local businessman and entrepreneur, became interested in buying and in remodeling property, and have it operate as El Vigía Hotel & Casino. He envisioned the construction of villas, a multilevel parking garage and banquet facilities.[40] However, by 2001 the sale had fallen through and PRIDCO put the property for sale again. CBC Development won the auction for the property and planned to demolish the structure and build a 365-unit walk-up apartment complex.[41]

In 2006, PRIDCO sold the property to CBC Development, however, CBC changed the plans. It then planned to remodel the hotel, build an 80-room condo hotel, a 15,200 ft. square convention center, and 80 villas. The project was named Vista Magna Hotel & Resort. Two years later, however, in 2008, due to the estructural damage deemed too extensive, CBC decided it would instead demolish the structure and build a new hotel having some elements of the nostalgic original building.[42] In any event, neither repairs nor demolition took place and, in 2012, CBC Development along with the Integrated Development Commission of the South Region from the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico began considering the possibility to rehabilitate the structure to operate as a senior citizen housing complex. The plan called for 126 senior housing units.[43]

By 2016, however, a new player surfaced. Juan Jose Acosta won approval to convert the building into a housing complex for homeless youth members of the LGBT community.[44]

In 2018, Grupo Misla Villalba, owners of Hotel Meliá, bought the property from CBC with plans to rehabilitate the structure as a hotel.[45]

On 28 July 2020, Misla Hospitality Group announced that the structure will be rehabilitated to convert it into the Puerto Rico's first Tribute Portfolio by Marriott International. The hotel was preliminarily expected to open in March 2022 after an investment of $20 million. The new hotel will feature a casino, spa, night club, swimming pools, and three restaurants. It would be the second under the Marriott flag in Ponce, after the Aloft hotel located on the Ponce Bypass and PR-12.[46]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hotel Ponce Intercontinental:La Historia comienza el 1_ero de Febrero de 1960... El Nuevo Día. 1 February 1960, p. 5. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  2. ^ a b Rivera, Miguel (2 June 1975). "Brotan Llantos y Risas al Cierre de Hospedería". El Mundo. p. 11-B. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  3. ^ Remodelarian Hotel Intercontinental de Ponce a un Costo de $10 Millones. Clarence Beardsley. El Mundo. 2 October 1980. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  4. ^ Nuevos dueños: Ponderan la demolición del Intercontinental. Jason Rodríguez and Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 17 June 2009. Page 6. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  5. ^ El Ponce Intercontinental: Joya que debe ser rescatada. Luis V. Badillo. Badillo & Associates. La Perla del Sur. Year 27. Issue 1334. 24 June 2009. p. 20. Accessed 4 May 2016.
  6. ^ Elements to Bear in Mind about Ponce Architecture. Jorge Ortiz Colom. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, Ponce Office. November 2007. Page 7. Accessed 20 March 2018.
  7. ^ PRIDCO Expected to sell the former Intercontinental Hotel. Caribbean Business. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 19 May 2000
  8. ^ Hotel Ponce Intercontinental: La Historia comienza el 1ro de Febrero de 1960... El Nuevo Día. 1 February 1960, p. 5. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  9. ^ Rivera, Miguel (4 April 1973). "Pérdidas Provocan Cierre Casino Hotel". El Mundo. p. 10-A. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  10. ^ Luis Fortuno Janeiro. Album Historico de Puerto Rico (1692–1963). Page 408. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Imprenta Fortuno. 1963.
  11. ^ Yace olvidado el Ponce Intercontinental. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 8 August 2012. (Title in the printed version: "¿Tendra Otra Oportunidad?: Yace Olvidado el Otrora Hotel Ponce Intercontinental." Year 30. Issue 1497. Page 14. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. 8 August 2012.") Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  12. ^ Premian plan para restaurar la estructura del Ponce Intercontinental: Proponen rescatar la estructura y convertirla en un moderno espacio residencial para jóvenes sin hogar de la comunidad LGBTT. Aurora Rivera Arguinzoni. El Nuevo Dia. Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. 2 July 2016. Accessed 15 January 2017.
  13. ^ Datos Relevantes Arquitectonicos del Hotel Ponce Intercontinental. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  14. ^ Nuevos dueños: Ponderan la demolición del Intercontinental. Jason Rodríguez and Omar Alfonso. La Perla Del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 27. Issue 1333. 17–23 June 2009. Pages 6-7. Retrieved 1 November 2011. Accessed 20 August 2021.
  15. ^ Datos Relevantes Arquitectonicos del Hotel Ponce Intercontinental. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  16. ^ Datos Relevantes Arquitectonicos del Hotel Ponce Intercontinental. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  17. ^ Datos Relevantes Arquitectonicos del Hotel Ponce Intercontinental. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  18. ^ Colocan Primera Piedra Hotel Ponce Intercontinental. El Dia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 8 January 1958. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  19. ^ Colocan Primera Piedra del Hotel El Ponceño. El Mundo. 11 January 1958. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  20. ^ Hotel Ponce Intercontinental:La Historia comienza el 1_ero de Febrero de 1960... El Nuevo Día. 1 February 1960, p. 5. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  21. ^ Nuevos dueños: Ponderan la demolición del Intercontinental. Jason Rodríguez and Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 17 June 2009. Page 6. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  22. ^ 30 millones de dólares en progreso para Ponce. El Mundo. 13 July 1959. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  23. ^ Datos Relevantes Arquitectonicos del Hotel Ponce Intercontinental Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  24. ^ Datos Relevantes Arquitectonicos del Hotel Ponce Intercontinental. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  25. ^ Musicos, Artistas, Politicos y Otras Personalidades que Estuvieron en el Hotel (Algunos). Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  26. ^ Rivera, Miguel (21 April 1975). "Hotel Ponce Cierra en Mayo". El Mundo. p. 1. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  27. ^ Rivera, Miguel (22 April 1975). "Tratan Evitar Cierre Hotel". El Mundo. p. 16-A. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  28. ^ "Plantearán Gestión Realizada En Torno Cierre Hotel Ponce". El Mundo. 9 May 1975. p. 16-A. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  29. ^ Rivera, Miguel (15 September 1975). "Firma de EU Compraría Hotel Intercontinental". El Mundo. p. 3-A. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  30. ^ Rivera, Miguel (12 May 1975). "Grupo Desea Operar Hotel Ponce Intercontinental". El Mundo. p. 15-A. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  31. ^ ¡Bienvenidos! Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  32. ^ No ocurrió así. El Vocero, 4 March 1981. p. 5. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  33. ^ Remodelarian Hotel Intercontinental de Ponce a un Costo de $10 Millones. Clarence Beardsley. El Mundo. 2 October 1980. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  34. ^ Reabren el Ponce Intercontinental. El Vocero. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 4 March 1981. p.5. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  35. ^ Inversionistas California Compraran El Hotel Ponce. El Vocero. 18 September 1980. p. 12. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  36. ^ Rivera, Miguel (25 April 1975). "Unión Gastronomica Culpa a Gerencia de Hotel Por Cierre de Hospedería". El Mundo. p. 14-A. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  37. ^ Gestionan Compra del Hotel Ponce. El Vocero. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 4 March 1981. p. 5. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  38. ^ Datos Relevantes Arquitectónicos del Hotel Ponce Intercontinental. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  39. ^ Datos Relevantes Arquitectónicos del Hotel Ponce Intercontinental. Retrieved 28 September 2011. Archived.
  40. ^ "PRIDCO expected to sell the former Intercontinental Hotel". Caribbean Business. 19 May 2000. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  41. ^ "Hotel Ponce Intercontinental". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  42. ^ Nuevos dueños: Ponderan la demolición del Intercontinental. Jason Rodríguez and Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 15 July 2009. Accessed 16 February 2017.
  43. ^ Resolución de la Cámara 1508. Luis G. León Rodríguez, President, Comisión Desarrollo Integrado de la Región Sur. GOBIERNO DE PUERTO RICO. 16ta Asamblea Legislativa, 5ta Sesión Extraordinaria. CÁMARA DE REPRESENTANTES. Resolución de la Cámara 1508. Tercer Informe Parcial. 18 December 2012. Accessed 16 February 2017. Archived.
  44. ^ Premian plan para restaurar la estructura del Ponce Intercontinental: Proponen rescatar la estructura y convertirla en un moderno espacio residencial para jóvenes sin hogar de la comunidad LGBTT. Aurora Rivera Arguinzoni. El Nuevo Dia. 2 July 2016. Accessed 16 February 2017. Archived.
  45. ^ Más habitaciones en el Sur. Sandra Torres Guzmán. Primera Hora. 5 September 2016. Accessed 8 November 2018. Archived.
  46. ^ El mito brillará de nuevo: revivirán al Ponce Intercontinental. Jason Rodríguez & Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. 28 July 2020. Accessed 28 July 2020. Archived on 29 July 2020, at 19:20:44, at the Wayback Machine. (Printed edition: Obras inician en noviembre: El mito brillará de nuevo: revivirán al Ponce Intercontinental. Year 37. Issue 1913. 29 July - 4 August 2020. pp. 1-3.)
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