PUNTA CANA, May 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Santo Domingo, the capital and cultural hub of Dominican Republic, welcomes new hotel developments to its booming Colonial City, according to updates from officials at this year’s Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE).
A $30 million MITUR project financed by the Inter-American Development Bank was kicked off last year that made sweeping improvements to Santo Domingo’s Colonial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Radhamés Martinez Aponte, Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) Vice Minister, announced that $90 million will be used to continue those projects, including refacing old homes, updating sidewalks, recovering museums and supporting entertainment and activities such as Jazz Thursdays, a free weekly concert. Santo Domingo is also renovating the Malecón—its famous oceanfront promenade.
Hodelpa Hotels & Resorts, a hotel group with properties across Dominican Republic, also shared plans to develop a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) project for the Colonial City. Construction began April 15 on the Smartech Hotel, which will accommodate business travelers. Located across from the Acropolis shopping center and surrounded by business space, prestigious restaurants and numerous attractions, the hotel will consist of 13 floors of smart rooms designed for millennial executives.
Hodelpa’s expansion continues across the island with the acquisition of land in Las Galeras, Samaná and Uvero Alto, Altagracia, where two new Emotions hotels will be built. Hodelpa also announced plans to begin construction in 2017 on a new Hodelpa Garden Court in the Vista Cana project on Punta Cana Boulevard. The hotel will provide an option for business travelers seeking an alternative to all-inclusive hotels. In December 2017, Sensations by Hodelpa will open on the beautiful Juan Dolio Beach, offering 325 rooms, bars, restaurants and luxurious adults-only amenities.
These projects will contribute hundreds of new hotel rooms to the country, where hotel occupancy reached 78 percent in 2016; an 18 percent increase over the previous year.
This year’s DATE conference was held from May 2 - 5 at the Barceló Bávaro Convention Center in Punta Cana.
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