Built in 1959, the hotel has been an important tourism and activity center, both for local and international tourists. During the 1970s and 1980s, many important performers either worked or stayed at the Caribe Hilton Hotel. Other famous guests have included many world champion boxers during Puerto Rico's so called golden era of boxing. The national teams of 12 countries stayed there for the 2003 basketball pre-Olympic of the Americas tournament. The building itself is one of the first features that passengers arriving in Puerto Rico see from their plane windows.
Puerto Ricans even coined a famous phrase after the Caribe Hilton: Puerto Ricans would say Vete al carajo! for go to hell. Since carajo is considered a bad word, those who want to express that feeling without talking dirty would say Vete al Caribe Hilton! or Vete al Caribe! (Hilton).
In addition to that, the hotel is also famous for its design: Most of the windows on this skyscrapper are dark black.