Above: the Hyatt Place Bayamon

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The new Hyatt Place Bayamon hotel has officially opened in Puerto Rico.

The property is the first Hyatt Place hotel to open in the Caribbean and the first Hyatt hotel in Puerto Rico in seven years.

It is the first of what will be two Hyatt Place hotels on the island; a second is slated to open in Manati in 2014.

“We are looking forward to showing travelers visiting Puerto Rico what the award-winning Hyatt Place brand is all about,” said Chris Walker, vice president of brands, Hyatt Place. “Opening the first Hyatt Place in Puerto Rico is a significant step as we continue to serve more guests worldwide and we prepare to welcome additional Hyatt Place hotels throughout the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America over the next few years.”

The Hyatt Place Bayamon has 156 rooms, a 24-hour gym, a “coffee to cocktails” bar and free Wi-fi across the property. It is one of 180 Hyatt Place locations in the US, Costa Rica and India.

Frankie Mariano is the general manager of the hotel.

Hyatt’s other Caribbean locations are in Trinidad and Aruba. Its new all-inclusive brand, Playa, will be opening a resort in Jamaica next year, the Ziva Rose Hall in Montego Bay.

Last month, the Park Hyatt St Kitts received final approval. That property is projected to open in 2015.