There is a saying: "a house and a home are not the same thing." The first refers to occupying a space; the second is an invitation to experience it fully.
A similar vision was presented today by Platea PR, which is expanding its content with an invitation to live in Puerto Rico, rather than simply living in Puerto Rico.
"Platea is more than a digital publication, we are part of a movement that is transforming how Puerto Ricans see, understand and shape the future of our island," said Selymar Colón, Platea's general director, during the brand's first Upfront, held at the offices of Forward, in Santurce.
The platform launched in 2020 as a space for sharing information on things to do, places to go and where to eat. Since then, it has reached more than 3,000 businesses in Puerto Rico, including restaurants and bars, small and midsize businesses, nonprofits and entrepreneurs, among others.
In four years, Platea has built an online community of more than 600,000 people, primarily between the ages of 25 and 45, across all its digital platforms, including the newsletter El Pocillo, its website plateapr.com and social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn).
Platea is now solidifying its mission to guide, educate and inspire with four pillars that will define its content starting in 2025: culture, country, sports and wellness.
Recognizing that people continue to lose trust in what they consume online and that more are seeking a digital detox as they feel overwhelmed, Platea aims to "break with the paradigm," framing the opportunity to reimagine Puerto Rico through possibility and optimism.
"Often, the narrative around Puerto Rico is dominated by scarcity, portraying the island through the lens of economic struggle, brain drain and systemic challenges. We, however, bring an abundance of optimism, highlighting the strength, creativity and untapped potential of our people."
-Platea PR
Platea will continue offering the lists and guides that have defined the brand and will expand its footprint with explainer articles and other digital content covering, among other topics, social, political, cultural and sports issues.
Mentores en tu pueblo: an initiative to provide spaces for encounters with leaders and entrepreneurs from various industries in their own municipalities, so that people find inspiration and take action. This is done in collaboration with Jayson Ramos of Mentores en Línea.
Wellness Hub: a space dedicated to well-being in all its dimensions, with guides, tools and stories drawing on input from local experts to help people live fully in Puerto Rico and make decisions in favor of their own future.
PR pa'l mundo: stories, ideas and opinions that shed light on what Puerto Ricans in the diaspora are doing, from what it's like to celebrate a Puerto Rican Christmas in the cold of New York to the achievements that raise Puerto Rico's flag around the world.
Platea is also continuing to invest in its flagship products, including the Directorio, for finding places around the island; the "Roadtrip planner," where users can create their own lists of favorites; and Copiloto, an artificial intelligence-powered assistant for navigating Puerto Rico and winner of the 2024 Innovation award from the Asociación de Ejecutivos de Ventas y Mercadeo de Puerto Rico (SME).
Platea's Upfront featured José Juan Barea, former basketball player and current assistant coach of the Men's National Basketball Team, and Crystal Díaz, co-founder of PRoduce and owner of the agro-inn El Pretexto, in Cayey. Both shared their experiences and challenges in betting on the growth of sports and agriculture, respectively, in Puerto Rico.
"I fully believe in this project, in what we are and in the evolution we have set out to continue. Because Puerto Rico has a lot of stories to tell, stories that help us build and celebrate," Colón said.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
