From the Publisher’s desk.

As the annual San Sebastián Festival begins this week, I am reminded of how special Old San Juan is and how grateful I am to call it my home. The history and traditions surrounding SanSe are truly remarkable, and it just wouldn’t be the same without its host, Old San Juan.

The architecture and history of Old San Juan create a perfect backdrop for a 5-day street party filled with parades, festive cocktails, local artisans and live music. Even during the other 51 weeks of the year, tourists and locals alike are enjoying the art, history and great cuisine of the oldest city under U.S. jurisdiction. But, during the festival, the number of visitors swell as people come from all around the world to take part in the revelry.These visitors don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon either. In April of 2018, there were 1,332 Airbnb reservations just in Old San Juan alone. And, since the passing of Hurricane Maria, the Municipality of San Juan has around 963 rooms available for short-term accommodations, which is spread over more than 300 properties. While the Airbnb and short-term rental boom is positive for tourism, there are lots of small businesses and residents who have lived in Old San Juan for most, if not all, of their lives, which is why it’s important to keep the streets clean and visitor friendly, while also balancing the needs of residents and local business owners.This balancing act in Old San Juan is not new. For decades, centuries even, families in the walled city have shared their community with many different businesses including marine trade, banking, food processing, retail and much more. Even so, community leaders should be mindful of the limits of the old city’s infrastructure, and the extra income that comes from activities like Airbnb rentals and SanSe should be prioritized for good keeping of the city’s streets, electricity, pipes and sewers. It’s the kind of balancing act that historic cities all over the world have been successful at – keeping the charm of their neighborhood while welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors throughout the year.Whether it’s the week of SanSe or just a regular week in Old San Juan, I’m proud to live here and to share its beauty with longtime residents and visitors.As for this weekend, I’ll see you at Las Fiestas!

*Mark E. Curry is a leading entrepreneur, philanthropist and impact investor. Curry founded SOL Partners in Puerto Rico in 2012, and in January 2017 completed acquisition of NotiCel. As Chair of the Mark E. Curry Family Foundation, he invests in critical community charitable organizations.