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DOMINICAN 

REPUBLIC 

Meeting & Incentive 

Planner 2011/2012 

How much ‘Awesome’ 

can your incentive 

group handle? 

[on location] dawna robertson

CONTENTS 

 

8 

Sure, the place is beautiful. But who says you 

can’t be good-looking and serious about 

business at the same time? AMResorts knows 

the business of meetings inside-out. And we 

have the facilities and expertise to go with it. 

Gorgeous. And smart. 

Dreams Resort & Spa Punta Cana

M E E T I N G S & I N C E N T I V E S 

Learn more at 

www.AMRMeetings.com 

Riviera Maya, Cancun, Puerto Aventuras, Tulum, 

Riviera Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, 

Huatulco, Ixtapa, Punta Cana, Cap Cana, La Romana, Montego Bay

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism, welcome to our amazingly 

diverse meetings destination boasting an array of unique and exciting venues for 

convening in the world’s top hotels and resorts. 

A destination like no other, Dominican Republic features unspoiled white sand beaches, 

mountains studded with waterfalls and rivers, lush coconut palm forests and a remarkable 

variety of arts and entertainment options. Here the pulse-pounding thrill of the merengue, 

intriguing relics from centuries past, sumptuous gastronomy, premium cigars and magical 

ecotourism adventures await your meeting delegates. 

Dominican Republic is a colorful tapestry of Spanish, French and African influences 

woven by a rich and storied history. On his first voyage and landing in the Americas, 

Christopher Columbus described Dominican Republic’s lush land as “a beautiful island 

paradise with high forested mountains and large river valleys”. This statement is still as 

true today as it was in 1492. 

From the world-class beaches and resorts along the East Coast to the culture-rich 

hotels in Santo Domingo, up to the eco-diverse North Coast and Peninsula, Dominican 

Republic’s wealth of meeting facilities and resorts makes it ideal for programs of all types 

and sizes. Our savvy meetings industry is known for very friendly, warm people and 

excellent, professional services. And with a variety of lavish hotels, convention centers 

that can accommodate anywhere from 200 to 5,000 people, and historic venues, 

Dominican Republic offers a fantastic combination of environments for your meetings. 

Exceptional value is another plus. Featuring a total of almost 70,000 hotel rooms, 

Dominican Republic’s world-class resorts and hotels offer expansive meeting space, 

state-of-the-art technology, and affordable cuisine. 

Please come and explore Dominican Republic for your next meeting and bring your group 

to our breathtaking island sanctuary for spectacular meetings in our tropical paradise. 

Sincerely, 

Francisco Javier Garcia 

MINISTER OF TOURISM, 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

MEXICO 

Mayan Riviera 

Riviera Nayarit 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 

Punta Cana 

Santo Domingo 

JAMAICA 

Montego Bay 

BRAZIL 

Salvador de Bahía 

SPAIN 

ITALY 

Introducing 

FHG Meetings & Events 

FHG Meetings & Events would like present its wide variety of hotels 

and resorts: From stylish, urban hotels in the main Spanish capital 

cities to breathtaking, all-inclusive resorts for incentives and events 

in the Caribbean, Pacific and Brazil. 

Featuring modern, first class facilities for conventions of up to 500 

people as well as an expert team of coordinators in each destination 

to ensure the success of every corporate event. 

Call Center: +1888 237 1226 (Toll Free) 

grupos.madrid@fiestahotelgroup.com 

www.fiestahotelgroup.com

CONTENTS 

8 Hard 

Welcome 

Learn why this Caribbean island 

provides so much ROI for your 

next meeting or incentive. 

Planning Points 12 

Key essentials that planners should know when 

organizing a program in the Dominican Republic. 

Meeting Hotels 14 

A lineup of all the major meeting properties 

located in both beach and urban regions. 

Punta Cana & Bavaro 16 

Superb beaches, large all-inclusive resorts, 

world-class golf, and eco-adventures. 

La Romana, Bayahibe & More 22 

A shing village vibe, spectacular golf, unique 

cultural venues, and o shore island escapes. 

Cruise 27 

Extend meetings and incentives with exciting 

cruises to nearby islands. 

Puerto Plata 28 

Awesome group adventures both on the water 

and high up in the mist-swept mountains. 

6 GoDominicanRepublic.com 

Dominican Republic Meeting & Incentive Planner 2011/2012 was produced by Worth Custom Publishing, 

a division of Worth International Media Group, in cooperation with BVK and the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. 

5979 NW 151 St., Suite 120, Miami Lakes, FL 33014 · (305) 828-0123 · (800) 447-0123 · worthit.com 

EDITORIAL | Editor: Greg Oates; Contributing Editors: Diana Rowe, Danielle Cohen 

DESIGN | Creative Director: Scott Glick; Production Manager: Estrella Bibas; Ad Traffi c Manager: Susan Dikeman 

SALES + MARKETING | Dominican Republic Managing Director: Sandra Reed; Director of Marketing: Matthew Bray 

EXECUTIVE STAFF | Chairman of the Board: Hal Herman; President/Editorial Director: Laurel Herman; 

Executive Vice President: Gary Herman; Vice President/Group Publisher: Lorri Robbins; 

Vice President/Associate Publisher: Terence K. Murphy 

Reverse 

Black on white 

Rock Hotel Punta Cana 

Samaná 31 

This ultimate tropical fantasy feels remote but 

it’s easily accessible for all types of groups. 

Santo Domingo 32 

This venerable seaside city is the birthplace of 

the New World and a UNESCO Heritage site. 

Santiago & Central Region 36 

The mountains provide an array of activities from 

cigar museums to whitewater rafting. 

Food & Music 39 

Dominican food combined with Merengue music 

is an unbeatable networking opportunity. 

DMC List 40 

A roundup of on-island, professional destination 

management companies. 

Tourism Offi ces 42 

A list of Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism 

o ces around the world.

GROUPS, MEETINGS, INCENTIVES & EVENTS SPECIALISTS 

YOUR CONNECTION TO SUCCESS 

The only CMP certified DMC in the Dominican Republic 

Shipping and customs assistance 

Exclusive airport meet and greet 

Advance pre-purchasing 

of Tourist Visa Cards 

Luxury transfers, Private SUVs 

and Limousines 

Exciting tours and adventures 

Team building and Treasure 

Hunt activities 

Humanitarian donations 

(schools, clinics, orphanages) 

Golf & Fishing Tournaments 

Full Meeting & Conference Services 

www.ctsdr.com 1.809.959.0505 

Extensive A/V technology and décor 

experience 

Translation Equipment 

Photography and Videographer Services 

A full range of spectacular themed events 

for welcome & farewell parties 

Hospitality desk staffed by our group 

coordinators who are local experts 

Gift Selections 

Cell phone rentals 

AND MUCH MORE... 

Your every wish is our command! 

ASSOCIATION OF DESTINATION DEFINING THE 

MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES DMC PROFESSION 

Dominican Republic Meeting and Incentive Planner 2008/2009 

7

DOMINICAN 

REPUBLIC 

land of explorations 

Dominican Republic combines every 

imaginable Caribbean experience with 

energy and grandeur. Think of it as the 

Caribbean with the volume turned up, 

o ering meeting and incentive planners a 

convenient way to create powerful programs 

not soon to be forgotten or duplicated. 

8 GoDominicanRepublic.com

Left: Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana 

there are unending, blistering white beaches studded 

with thousands upon thousands of palm trees for as far 

as the eye can see. As the second largest island in the 

Antilles, Dominican Republic offers a sense of unlimited 

expanse and adventure filled with secret spots waiting to 

be explored and discovered. Offshore, the tropical light makes 

the warm waters vary in color from clear turquoise hues to deep 

cobalt blues, filled with teeming marine life flitting among the 

nearby colorful coral reefs. There are numerous small islands 

too, perfect for exclusive group events where attendees will feel 

like they’re congregating in a postcard. 

Inland, few others places in the Western Hemisphere 

can claim the spectrum of geography here. The mist-covered 

summit of Pico Duarte rises 10,700 feet (3,175 mts) from 

the palm-swathed forests of the Cordillera Central mountain 

range—the highest elevation in the Caribbean. Deep crevasses 

are filled with exotic foliage and hidden waterfalls cascade over 

wide gorges, where groups of attendees will surrender in awe to 

the prehistoric scenery devoid of modern development. 

And there are the small towns, quaint fishing villages and 

large cosmopolitan cities where the locals are proud to share 

their passion for music, food, sports and culture with visitors in 

a natural, unassuming manner. If you start a conversation with 

a local about Merengue dancing or baseball, be prepared to sit 

for a while. You may also want to order some strong Dominican 

coffee or a glass of the island’s rich amber rum to sip while you 

listen. Dominicans are passionate about their country and love 

educating visitors about the best way to enjoy its offerings. As a 

bonus, you may end up learning a few dance moves before the 

conversation is over. 

The VALUe & eVOLUTION Of IsLANd MeeTINgs 

The diversity of experiences and locales available in Dominican 

Republic is only part of the seduction for meeting planners. 

While most tourism destinations around the world felt the 

impact of the global economic crisis in recent years, the island 

continues to post record arrivals annually. Much of this is due 

to the incredible values inherent with all-inclusive pricing, where 

food, beverages, activities and entertainment are included in the 

price, so planners know the total cost of a program upfront. 

In addition, business meetings in the DR are tax-deductible 

for U.S. citizens, as stipulated in the Tax Information Exchange 

Agreement within the Caribbean Basin Initiative. And the 

exchange rate between the dollar and the peso is highly 

favorable for visiting groups, adding even more value. 

Over and above the excellent ROI that Dominican Republic 

offers, the group hotel, transportation and telecommunications 

infrastructure has evolved to a level of world-class quality. 

Dominican Republic Meeting & Incentive Planner

A wide range of newly constructed and renovated convention 

venues, large city hotels and beachside group resorts provides 

the latest in technology for groups, while an expansive network 

of large DMCs operate out of all of them to provide the required 

support services. 

Dominican Republic’s key geographic location in the center 

of the Caribbean Basin positions it as a strategic commercial 

and business center. There are eight major international airports, 

many recently upgraded, located in Santo Domingo, Punta 

Cana, La Romana, Puerto Plata, Barahona, Santiago and 

Samaná. Equidistant to Central, North and South America, this 

is the one destination in the Caribbean that can provide both a 

sense of the exotic and the familiar for large international trade 

shows, conferences, meetings and incentives. 

“Dominican Republic has evolved on all fronts: new 

highways, new hotels, updated airports, and new standards 

of technology and service,” says Les Pye, Marketing Director 

for Connect Travel Services, an on-island DMC that caters 

exclusively to meeting/incentive groups. “Most of the large 

hotels and resorts focus on MICE business, and the world-class 

golf and amazing beaches and beautiful scenery are the best in 

the Caribbean.” 

The real beauty of Dominican Republic, however, is that 

much still exists as it did when Columbus dropped anchor 

here in 1492. First-time visitors will see few high-rise buildings 

outside Santo Domingo. Mass tourism and international 

business arrived to this tropical paradise long after global 

awareness exposed the benefi ts of low-impact development. 

The island’s vast resources—from the national mahogany tree to 

the delicate ibis waterfowl—remain stridently protected for the 

generations of tomorrow. 


Non-hotel Convention Spaces 

around Dominican Republic 

SANTO DOMINGO Capacity* 

Puerto Sansouci 8,200 

Banco Central 723 

Casa San Pablo 120 

Palacio de Bellas Artes 625 

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores 1,050 

Teatro Nacional 2,175 

Universidad Autónoma de 1,500 

Santo Domingo 

REGIONAL RUNDOWN 

As you explore the Planner, you’ll see that we divided up the 

country into different regions. The map on the opposite page 

gives you the lay of the land, but below we also break out each 

region’s destinations and group experiences to give you a sense 

of what to expect. 

East Coast: Luxury big-brand hotels offering exquisite 

beaches, world-class golf and a wide range of water sports 

enthrall groups headed to Punta Cana, Bavaro Beach, Uvero 

Alto and Macao. 

South Coast: Historic attractions, art hubs, eco-escapes 

and superb golf courses defi ne the excitement in La Romana, 

Bayahibe, Saona, Catalina, Boca Chica and Juan Dolio. 

North Coast: Gorgeous beaches, thrilling water sports like 

kite boarding and a thriving arts and crafts scene are among the 

group options in Puerto Plata, Sosua and Cabarete. 

Samaná Peninsula: Here, natural attractions and incredible 

beaches blend with eco-fun activities such as hiking, swimming, 

whale watching and horseback riding. 

Santo Domingo: Age-old marvels counterpoint sleek new 

properties, sizzling nightlife and cultural insights are among the 

highlights found in the country’s capital. 

Central: Refresh and recharge your group by exploring the 

charming towns, fascinating museums and stunning landscapes 

of Santiago, Jarabacoa and Constanza. 

OUTSIDE SANTO DOMINGO Capacity 

Gran Teatro del Cibao, Santiago 2,100 

Universidad Católica Nordestana, 360 

San Francisco de Macoris 

Jarabacoa Country Club 800 

*Number denotes group size, theater-style

Cayos 

Siete 

Hermanos 

Bahía de 

Manzanillo 

Haiti 

Isla Cabritos 

East: Punta Cana & Bavaro 

• 

MAP OF MAJOR REGIONS & 

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS 

Punta Cana International Airport serves Punta Cana, 

Cap Cana, Bavaro Beach, Macao, Uvero Alto, 

Cortecito and Higuey 

South: Santo Domingo, 

La Romana & Bayahibe 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Montecristi 

Parque Nacional 

Isla Cabritos 

Cabo Rojo 

Lago Enriquillo 

Parque Nacional 

Sierra de Bahoruco 

Hoyo de 

Pelempito 

Pedernales 

Jaragua 

Oviedo 

Laguna 

de Oviedo 

José del Carmen 

Ramírez 

Isla Beata 

Cayo Arena 

(Paraíso) 

Laguna Rincón 

de Cabral 

Estero Hondo 

Polo 

Magnético 

J. Armando 

Bermúdez 

Luperón 

Puerto Plata 

Damajagua 

San José 

de las Matas 

Pico Duarte 

Santiago 

Barahona 

María Montez (BRX) 

 

Gregorio 

Luperón 

(POP) 

Jarabacoa 

Reserva Científica 

Ébano Verde 

Constanza 

Sosúa 

Cabarete 

El Choco 

Cibao (STI) 

La Vega 

Bonao 

Las Américas International Airport serves Santo Domingo, 

Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, La Romana and Bayahibe 

La Romana International Airport serves La Romana 

and Bayahibe 

La Isabela International Airport serves Santo Domingo 

María Montez International Airport serves Baharona 

Azua 

Dunas 

de Baní 

Caribbean Sea 

Monte Plata 

North: Puerto Plata & Samaná 

• 

• 

Gregorio Luperón International Airport serves Puerto 

Plata, Cofresi, Cabarete and Sosua 

El Catey International Airport serves Samaná Peninsula 

Central: Santiago, Jarabacoa 

& Constanza 

• 

Playa Grande 

Río 

Cabrera 

San Juan 

Cabo 

Francés 

Viejo 

Loma Quita Espuela 

Dominican Republic 

Nagua 

El Portillo 

Cabo Cabrón 

San Francisco 

Las Terrenas 

Cabo Samaná 

De Macorís 

El Catey (AZS) Salto El Limón 

Samaná 

Arroyo Barril 

Bahía de 

Samaná 

Los Haitises 

Hato Mayor 

Atlantic Ocean 

Cayo 

Levantado 

Laguna 

Miches Redonda 

Laguna 

Limón 

Lagunas Redonda 

y Limón 

Cueva 

El Seibo 

Fun Fun 

La Isabela (JBQ) 

Higüey Punta Cana (PUJ) 

La Romana Punta Cana 

SANTO DOMINGO 

San Pedro 

Casa de Campo 

De Macorís 

(LRM) 

La Caleta Boca 

La Romana Altos de 

San Cristóbal 

Chica 

Chavón 

Juan Cueva Las 

Las Américas 

Maravillas 

Boca 

(SDQ) Dolio 

Isla 

de Yuma 

Catalina 

BANÍ 

Parque 

Nacional 

del Este 

KEY 

City and Town 

Point of Interest 

Cruise Port 

International Airport 

Domestic Airport 

Santiago International Airport serves Santiago, 

Jarabacoa and Constanza 

Bayahibe 

Beach 

Dominican Republic Meeting & Incentive Planner 

Isla Saona 

Protected Area/Park 

Golf Course 

Whales 

Highest Peak 

11

planning 

points 

keys to keep in mind 

Knowing these basics about Dominican Republic will help you 

channel its varied charms into memorable events, meetings or 

incentive programs. 

langUagE 

Spanish is the official language. However, English is spoken by 

nearly everyone throughout the tourism industry. 

aiRliFt 

Getting your group here is easy, thanks to a number of direct 

flights from the U.S., Canada, Europe and Latin America to the 

island’s major destinations. American airlines flying to DR include 

American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue 

Airways, Northwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and US Airways. 

The following U.S.-based airlines fly from Canada: American 

Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines 

and US Airways. 

These airlines have charter flights from Canada: Air Canada 

(Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Samaná); Air Transat (La 

Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Samaná); Sunwing 

(La Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Samaná and Santo 

Domingo); Thomas Cook/Sky Services (Puerto Plata, Punta 


Cana and Samaná); West Jet (Punta Cana and Puerto Plata). 

There are eight international airports in Dominican Republic, 

serving the major beach tourism regions and the two large 

metropolitan areas of Santo Domingo and Santiago: 

• Las Americas International Airport—serving the capital city 

of Santo Domingo, Boca Chica and Juan Dolio 

• La Romana International Airport—serving the Casa de 

Campo resort and golf mecca, and Bayahibe hotels 

• Punta Cana International Airport—serving the Punta Cana/ 

Bavaro resort region 

• Gregorio Luperón International Airport—serving the Puerto 

Plata resort region 

• Santiago International Airport—serving the city of Santiago 

and the interior mountain towns of Jarabacoa/Constanza 

• El Catey International Airport—serving the ecologically rich 

Samaná Peninsula 

• La Isabela Airport, Santo Domingo—offers domestic flights 

within Dominican Republic and flights to some Caribbean 

islands. La Isabela will be equipped to serve international 

flights in the future. 

• Maria Montez International Airport—serving Baharona

GROUND TRANSPORTATION 

Motor coaches and vans arranged by the many local, 

professional destination management companies (DMCs) are 

the preferred method of group transportation. Since Dominican 

Republic is a large country, attractions can sometimes be a 

modest drive from the resort areas. Clients usually stay within 

the resorts except for group excursions. 

The major rental car companies are represented, but hiring a 

car and driver or taking a taxi are additional options for getting 

around. Use only the taxis in the tourist system: the taxis outside 

the airport and at the resorts. If you go out, keep the taxi 

company’s card and call the same taxi company to pick you up. 

The taxis are not metered, so always negotiate the fare before 

you get into the cab. 

MONEY 

The Dominican peso is the official currency, although American 

and Canadian dollars, as well as euros, are accepted in many 

areas. Major credit cards are accepted, and ATMs are readily 

available in the tourist areas. Many planners negotiate their 

prices in U.S. dollars with the resorts, DMCs and other DR 

vendors. 

ElEcTRIcITY 

Operates at 110 volts/60 Hertz, the same as North America. 

TIME 

The local time zone is Eastern Caribbean Time (GMT-0400). 

Dominican Republic does not observe daylight savings time. 

TIPPING 

A 10 percent tip is expected. For the best service, let the 

program staffers know that you will tip according to the quality 

of service. At the end of the program, give the head service 

people the cash tip for themselves and for however many 

people assisted you. 

DMcS 

Dominican Republic has many DMCs that operate throughout 

the entire country. Most meeting and incentive planners use 

them to arrange offsite day trips and transfers. See page 40 for 

a list of DMCs. 

TElEPHONE 

To call the United States and Canada, simply dial an area code 

and phone number as you would at home. Several cell phone 

companies offer service in Dominican Republic. The local area 

codes are 809, 829 and 849. 

TOURIST cARD 

When entering Dominican Republic, prior to entering the 

immigration line, visitors are required to purchase a Tourist Card 

for $10. This must be paid in American dollars or euros. No 

coins or other currency, including Dominican pesos, credit cards 

or traveler’s checks, are acceptable. The Tourist Card is paid for 

and collected at the airport. 

TAX BREAKS 

Under the terms of the Tax Information Exchange Agreement 

with the Caribbean Business Initiative, business meetings and 

incentives held in Dominican Republic are tax deductible for 

American citizens. 

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS 

All American and European citizens must show passports when 

they enter Dominican Republic. Canadians traveling directly to 

DR can enter with their original birth certificates and two photo 

identifications (driver’s license and health insurance card.) 


13

Meeting Properties in 

DoMinican 

RePublic 

BARAHONA 

Casa Bonita Tropical Lodge 

Meetings capacity: 20 ppl 

www.casabonitadr.com 

BAVARO-PUNTA CANA 

Barceló Bávaro Beach & 

Convention Center 

Meetings capacity: 5,000 ppl 

www.barcelobavarobeach.com 

Barceló Bávaro Casino 


www.barcelobavarocasino.com 

Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe 


www.barcelobavaropalacedeluxe.com 

Barceló Dominican Beach 


www.barcelodominicanbeach.com 

Barceló Punta Cana 


www.barcelopuntacana.com 

Caribe Club Princess Beach 

Resort & Spa 


www.princess-hotels.com 

Catalonia Bavaro 

Meeting space: 2,045 sq. ft. 


Dreams Palm Beach 


www.dreamsresorts.com/drepb/ 

Dreams Punta Cana 


www.dreamsresorts.com/drepc/ 

Excellence Punta Cana 


www.excellenceresorts.com 

Gran Bahía Príncipe Ámbar 


www.bahia-principe.com 

Gran Bahía Príncipe Bávaro 



Gran Bahía Príncipe Punta Cana 



Grand Palladium Bávaro Resort 


www.fiestahotelgroup.com 

Grand Paradise Bávaro 


www.amhsamarina.com 


Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana 


www.hardrockhotelpuntacana.com 

Hotel Bávaro Princess 

All Suites Resort Spa & Casino 



Iberostar Bávaro Resort 


www.iberostar.com 

Meliá Caribe Tropical 


www.solmelia.com 

Natura Park Beach Eco 

Resort & Spa 


www.blauhotels.com 

NH Real Arena 


www.nh-realarena.com 

Occidental Gran Punta Cana 


www.occidentalhotels.com 

Ocean Blue & Sand 


www.oceanhotels.net 

Paradisus Palma Real 

Meeting space: 25,865 sq. ft 

www.paradisuspalmareal.com 

Paradisus Punta Cana 


www.paradisuspuntacana.com 

Puntacana Resort & Club 


www.puntacana.com 

Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana 

Function space: 18,279 sq. ft. 

www.altabellahotels.com 

Sirenis Cocotal Beach Resort 

Casino & Spa 


www.sirenishotels.com 

Sivory Punta Cana 


www.sivorypuntacana.com 

Tortuga Bay Boutique Hotel 


www.puntacana.com 

Tropical Princess Beach Resort 



VIK Hotel Arena Blanca 


www.aguaresort.com 

Zoetry Agua Punta Cana 


www.aguaresort.com 

BOCA CHICA 

Don Juan Beach Resort 


www.donjuanbeachresort.com 

Hotel Be Live Hamaca 


www.belivehotels.com 

CABARETE 

Celuisima Paraiso Tropical 


www.hodelpa.com 

Sea Horse Ranch 


www.sea-horse-ranch.com 

Tropical Casa Laguna Club 


www.tropicalclubs.com 

Velero Beach Resort 


www.velerobeach.com 

Villa Taina 


www.villataina.com 

JARABACOA 

Rancho Olivier Bed & Breakfast 


www.ranchoolivier.com 

CONSTANZA 

Rancho Constanza 


www.ranchoconstanza.com 

Hotel Alto Cerro 


www.recepcionaltocerro.com 

JUAN DOLIO 

Barceló Capella 


www.barcelo.com 

Coral Costa Caribe 


www.coralhotels.com 

Embassy Suites Hotel By Hilton 

at Los Marlins Golf Resort 


www.losmarlins.embassysuites.com 

LA ROMANA & BAYAHIBE 

Casa de Campo 


www.casadecampo.com.do 

Dreams La Romana 


www.amresorts.com 

Gran Bahía Príncipe La Romana 

Meetings capacity: 180 


Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus 



Hotel Be Live Canoa 



Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace 


www.vivaresorts.com 

PUERTO PLATA 

Barceló Puerto Plata 


www.barcelopuertoplata.com 

Be Live Grand Carey 



Be Live Gran Marien 



Casa Colonial Beach & Spa Resort 


www.casacolonialhotel.com 

Casa Marina Beach 



Celuisma Tropical Playa Dorada 


www.celuismacaribe.com 

Gran Ventana Beach Resort 


www.granventanahotel.com 

Iberostar Costa Dorada 



Puerto Plata Village 


www.puertoplatavillage.com 

Sosúa Bay Resort/ 

Victorian House 


www.sosuabayresort.com

VH Victoria Golf & 

Beach Resort 


www.vhhr.com 

Viva Wyndham Tangerine 


www.wyndham.com/hotels/popvt/ 

main.wnt 

RIO SAN JUAN 

Bahía Príncipe San Juan 


www.bahiaprincipe.com 

SAMANÁ 

Balcones del Atlántico 


www.balconesdelatlantico.com.do 

Gran Bahía Príncipe 

Cayo Levantado 



Gran Bahía Príncipe 

Cayacoa 



Viva Residences 


www.residenceatviva.com 

SANTIAGO 

Aloha Sol 


www.alohasol.com 

Helios Apart-Hotel 


www.heliosapartahotel.com.do 

Hodelpa Centro Plaza 



Hodelpa Garden Court 



Hodelpa Gran Almirante 



Hotel Platino 


www.hotelplatinord.com 

SANTO DOMINGO 

Barceló Santo Domingo 


www.barcelo.com 

Right (from top): 

Paradisus Punta Cana Beach Resort; 

Paradisus Palma Real Beach Resort, Punta Cana; 

Occidental El Embajador, Santo Domingo; 

Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana 

BQ Santo Domingo 


www.bqsantodomingo.com 

Clarion Hotel Santo Domingo 


www.clarionsantodomingo.com.do 

Courtyard Santo Domingo 

by Marriott 


www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ 

sdqcy-courtyard-santo-domingo 

Dominican Fiesta 

Hotel & Casino 


www.fiestahotelgroup.com 

Hilton Santo Domingo 


www.hiltoncaribbean.com/ 

santodomingo 

Holiday Inn Santo Domingo 

Meeting capacity: 160ppl 

www.holidayinn.com 

Hotel Nicolás de Ovando 


www.accorhotels.com 

InterContinental V Centenario 


www.intercontinental.com/ 

santodomingo 

Meliá Santo Domingo 



www.solmelia.com 

Occidental El Embajador 


www.occidentalhotels.com 

Quality Hotel Real Aeropuerto 

Santo Domingo 


www.realhotelsandresorts.com 

Renaissance Jaragua 



www.marriott.com/sdqgw 

Santo Domingo Hotel & Casino 


www.hotelsantodomingo.com.do 


15

PUNTA 

CANA 

& BAVARO 

paradise coast 

stretching along the entire east coast of Dominican 

Republic, where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean Sea, 

the region of Punta Cana consists of incomparable 

beaches stretching over 40 miles. The wide white sands along 

the areas of Bavaro, Macao, Uvero Alto, etc., are punctuated 

with literally hundreds of thousands of tall swaying palm trees 

just feet from the sea, providing no shortage of private places for 

groups to relax in the shade under the canopy of palm fronds. 

“I’m standing there thinking that beach looks almost fake, 

it’s so beautiful,” says Lynn Beierschmitt, who planned an event 

here for 300 international attendees for a software developer. “I 

know I will not have to dress that up. I won’t have to theme it.” 

Lining the beaches, a gauntlet of large, mostly all-inclusive 

properties represent the largest selection of group-friendly 

resorts on the island, including a handful of new and recently 


renovated conference hotels with voluminous, high-tech 

meeting space. There’s also a growing array of new ultra-luxury 

resorts offering both European Plan and all-inclusive pricing 

models for top-tier board retreats and incentives. 

Your inspiration begins on touchdown at the open-air 

Punta Cana International Airport—the largest privately owned 

airport in the world. The facility welcomes packaged mass travel 

to the island from around the globe, so it’s well equipped to 

handle large groups arriving all at once. 

AQUATIC ADVENTURES 

The wide-ranging collection of resorts in Punta Cana take full 

advantage of their prime oceanfront locale with a long list of 

beach- and water-based activities easily organized for groups. 

Right on the sand, there’s beach volleyball, windsurfi ng,

snorkeling, banana boating, glass-bottom boating, kayaking, 

kiteboarding, parasailing and sailing. 

How does this sound? Groups can climb aboard four large 

catamarans seating up to 100 people each for a sail out to the 

Marinarium Marine Park. Upon arrival, everyone slips into the 

warm water to snorkel and swim with friendly stingrays flitting 

about the brilliantly colored reef. Add some fresh pina coladas 

and lively merengue lessons onboard for the sail back, and the 

networking among the group will flow as naturally as the gentle 

waves washing ashore. 

Due to the confluence of the Atlantic and Caribbean, there is 

great deep sea fishing out past the reefs. Charter a fleet of boats 

and issue a team challenge before they set out to hunt for Atlantic 

blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, wahoo, white marlin and a 

host of other big game fish. 

Left: Bavaro Beach 

ManatI ParK 

Just a few minutes’ drive away from the bulk of beachfront 

hotels, Manati Park is an expansive eco-themed attraction that 

examines the early history of the island and some of its most 

colorful animal species in a lush exotic setting. The wildlife here 

is the main attraction, including: dolphins, flamingos, crocodiles, 

parrots, sea lions, turtles and iguanas. Some of the flamingos in 

Manati are the first ever on-island to be raised in captivity. 

Planners can organize private functions to swim with the 

dolphins, or arrange exclusive educational tours behind the 

scenes to see how the exotic plants and animals are nurtured. 

There’s also a re-created Taino Village offering insight into life 

before European settlement. Resident staff in native Taino garb 

practice the handicrafts of their ancestors, and onlookers can 

purchase wooden jewelry and small decorative household items 

that the Taino people created over 1,000 years ago. 

aDvEnturE tourS 

Local tour companies such as Bavaro Runners offer a wide stable 

of high-adrenaline adventures off the beaten path. The most 

popular land activity is the half-day Zipline Tour high up in the 

Taino Anamuya Mountains. Groups up to 70 pax make the 45minute 

trip via massive, open-air 4x4 safari trucks. 

The experience consists of 16 platforms connected by 12 

zip lines, including the two longest in the Caribbean. While flying 

over the rugged landscape, tree canopy and winding river far 

below, participants are treated with jaw-dropping views. 

Following that, everyone gathers at the Bavaro Runners 

Ranch set atop a mountain ridge overlooking the verdant chasm. 

It’s a great way to relax with your colleagues while enjoying fresh 

fruit, juices and pastries in the light mountain breeze. 

Another popular group tour is a full-day Culture Tour to 

explore all of Punta Cana’s cultural richness. Starting early in 

the day, groups will drive through the sugarcane and tobacco 

fields to visit both a sugar processing factory and a cigar-making 

facility. Both of these are an intriguing look into daily Dominican 

agricultural life as it’s existed for centuries. 

The tour also passes by local schools where groups can 

interact with the children and school teachers. Often times, the 

tour companies can help meeting and incentive planners organize 

some type of volunteer event or donation program at the schools. 

After that, groups always enjoy visiting a country home for 

a long leisurely homemade lunch with the locals. Guides are 

present to translate, and this is another opportunity to give back 

to the local community. 

Finally at day’s end, everyone jumps out of the safari trucks 

for a dip in the crystalline waters of beautiful Macao Beach, 

followed by a short siesta on the sand. 


17

Below Left: Spa at Melia Caribe Tropical 

Below Right: Corales Golf Course @ PUNTACANA Resort 


Updated 

beachfront 

convention 

hotels 

HARD ROCK HOTEL PUNTA CANA 

Beaches in Dominican Republic don’t usually 

bring to mind electric guitars and classic rock ‘n 

roll, but that’s what you’ll find at the new 1,800room 

Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana. Instead of 

tropical décor, Hard Rock lined the walls with 

nifty memorabilia such as Elvis Presley’s custommade, 

navy blue suit; Madonna’s fluffy bathrobe; 

and pop art paintings of icons like John Lennon, 

Santana and Janis Joplin. 

The rock star theme carries into the huge 

split-level suites, decorated with photos of classic 

rock ‘n rollers. They come with a big Jacuzzi at 

the foot of the bed and an enormous bathroom 

with a dual-head shower big enough to host a 

small event. Super fast WiFi and long distance 

calls to the U.S. are complimentary, as well as the 

in-room minibar. 

The resort was specifically designed with 

big conferences in mind, offering 65,000 sf of 

meeting space in the attached convention center. 

The resort features two giant lobbies with one of 

them solely dedicated to groups, located right next 

to the convention space. 

BARCELO BAVARO PALACE DELUXE 

The property that really established Punta Cana 

as a group business destination, Barcelo Bavaro 

Palace Deluxe Resort opened the first standalone 

Convention Center on the east coast almost a decade 

ago. With 23 rooms hosting a total of 2,500 delegates, 

this facility is a true convention center and a favorite 

venue for groups from around the world. The reason 

(besides the beach) is because the halls wrapping 

around the ballrooms have no walls, so you’re 

surrounded by water, tropical breezes and flowering 

plants during breaks. 

In late 2010, the 486-room hotel complex 

completed a comprehensive renovation that entirely 

reinvigorated the resort. The 488 full-size suites have 

jacuzzis on the balconies and a bright contemporary 

design. Meanwhile, the 582 hotel rooms next to the 

Convention Center are just minutes from the meeting 

rooms, and far away from the leisure guests. 

Most of the amenities have been rebuilt, 

including four panoramic restaurants right on the 

beach, and five more serving Japanese, Mexican, 

French, Italian and Spanish cuisine.

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

HISTORIC HIGUEY 

A visit to the bustling city of Higuey, the capital of the province, 

is a requisite stop for history aficionados. Take time to walk 

down the historic narrow streets founded in 1502 by the 

Spanish explorer Ponce de León. Step into a colmado (grocery 

store) and purchase Santo Domingo coffee or Dominican rum. 

Browse the colorful open-air market of meats, fish and produce, 

and find a bench in the park to take in the scene. 

Higuey is home to the stunning, mid-century modernist 

Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, home of the 

famous Virgin Mary painting brought over the Atlantic by the 

early Spaniards, now an awe-inspiring shrine with an altar. The 

shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims every year on the national 

holiday, Virgin of La Altagracia Day (January 21). 

Also include a stop at the House Museum of Ponce de 

León, a small palace built 500 years ago by the famous Spanish 

explorer, south of Higuey on the road to La Romana. The 

conquistador settled in this two-story home, now turned into a 

museum showcasing medieval architecture. 

Dominican_Meeting Planners_Half_Page_PCRC.pdf 1 4/18/11 3:15 PM 

M 

eet within an eco-conscious environment... 

GRAND GOLF & SPA RESORTS 

With 12 world class golf courses and more in development, 

Punta Cana offers the greatest collection of fairways in any one 

region in the entire Caribbean, many of them stretching along 

the sea. For groups, all of these golf courses are attached to 

large, all-inclusive and European Plan hotels with full-service 

meeting space and professional spa/wellness centers. 

Play the PGA Trump card at Jack Nicklaus Signature 

courses at the ultra-luxurious Cap Cana Resort, just south of 

Punta Cana International Airport. Choose from either the new 

Las Iguanas Golf Course or the first Nicklaus course in the 

Caribbean—the Punta Espada Golf Club—which hosted the 

2010 PGA Champion’s Course. 

Presently, Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana is open with a 

30,000-sf conference center. Scheduled to open early 2013, the 

Gems of Cap Cana complex of hotels will encompass three 

of the four AMResorts brands: the top-end Zoetry Resorts, 

the adults-only Secrets Resorts, and family-oriented Now 

Resorts. And like a growing number of hotel brands in Punta 

 

 

 

 

 

888.442.2262 | 809.959.2262 


19

Cana, AMResorts is well-situated to capitalize on “Bleisure” 

groups (mixing business and leisure) due to the availability of 

multiple resorts in a single destination. 

Opened in the late 1990s, PUNTACANA Resort offers a 

variety of accommodations on its swath of beachfront paradise, 

including a series of villas with interiors designed by fashion 

designer and resident Oscar de la Renta. The villas face the P.B. 

Dye championship La Cana Golf Course, with 14 oceanview 

fairways. In 2010, the resort unveiled the gorgeous $35 million 

Corales Golf Course perched atop huge coral formations 

leaning over the sea. And the Six Senses Spa is considered 

among the top three most luxurious spas in the country. 

A new marina provides anchorage for a gleaming stable of 

deep-sea fishing boats to go after swordfish and blue marlin. 

And with a careful eye towards preserving the environment, the 

owners have partnered with Cornell University and opened a 

$1 million bio-diversity laboratory. And for dining with a view, La 

Yola is built like a fishermen’s boat with a hull-shaped balcony 

extending into the water. 

Groups staying at the all-inclusive Meliá Caribe Tropical 

All-Inclusive Beach & Golf Resort should incorporate a 

round at the Cocotal Golf and Country Club, designed by 

Spanish golf champion Joe Gancedo. Choose from three 9-hole 

courses and also add private or group lessons at their onsite 

Silver Sands Golf Academy. 

The 1,128-room resort features 184 Royal Suites which 

provide exclusive access to resort amenities like a private pool, 

restaurant and concierge lounge, along with upgraded bath and 

room products. This is an exceptionally large property offering 

incredible variety with 13 restaurants and 14 bars. The 12 

meeting and banquet halls host up to 1,000 people, while the 

two open-air amphitheaters cater to 800. 

Sister resort to the Caribe Tropical, the new 554-room 

Paradisus Palma Real Resort includes an entirely separate 

resort complex called The Reserve. The 190 extra large suites 

wrap around a huge lagoon facility, each with a large terrace 

on the second floor, or an actual lawn with day beds on the 

ground floor. The property was designed with buy-out incentive 

Escape to Sivory 

A beautiful oceanfront luxury boutique hotel, awarded 4 Diamonds 

for property and its international cuisine restaurant “Gourmond”, 

combines Polynesian and Caribbean influences with style and 

modern sophistication, offers a picturesque and secluded piece of 

paradise for your corporate getaway or meeting. 

Located in Punta Cana, Sivory has 55 spacious suites, stunning 

ocean views and personal plunge pools, 2 equipped conference 

rooms, 3 art cuisine restaurants, one of the Caribbean’s most 

extensive wine cellars, infinity pool and the relaxing Aquarea Spa 

& Wellness Center, amongst 40 miles of golden beaches and palm 

trees. 

Let us cater to your corporate needs, and make this the most 

unforgettable, fascinating, successful trip. 

Sivory Punta Cana Boutique Hotel 

Uvero Alto / Punta Cana 


Tel. 1855 SIVORY 0 or 809 333-0500 

Fax. 809-334-0500 

reservations@sivorypuntacana.com 

www.sivorypuntacana.com 

20 SivoryAd.indd GoDominicanRepublic.com 

1 5/20/11 11:06:48 AM

groups in mind due to the exclusive nature of this self-contained 

sanctuary. The YHI Spa + Health Club is a Top 10 spa on the 

island situated in a lovely thatch roof structure, with trickling 

water running between all of the spa suites. The biggest surprise 

might be the South Beach-style GABI Lounge. The outdoor 

lounge by the pool combines a sultry mix of padded stools on 

the sand and large screens with MTV videos. 

And in a similar vein, The Royal Suites Turquesa by 

Palladium offers 372 beautiful new suites with marble floors, 

large in-room jacuzzi, hardwood 4-post beds and highthreadcount 

white linens. Groups staying here have their own 

exclusive use of the property for a serene experience among the 

tropical flora and swaying palm trees. Butler service and 24-hour 

room service are standard. 

Then when everyone wants the large, festive resort 

experience, they have sharing privileges at the nearby, upscale 

Grand Palladium Palace Resort Spa & Casino, Grand 

Palladium Bavaro Resort & Spa and Grand Palladium 

Punta Cana Resort & Spa. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ECO GROUPS 

Blau Natura Park Beach, Eco Resort & Spa sits on densely 

lush grounds within a veritable rainforest setting. It is especially 

great for visiting groups’ families, who like to poke around in 

the gardens to see the many peacocks, flamingos, ibises and 

other waterfowl that call Natura home. If you’ve never dined in a 

restaurant built on stilts over a lagoon, while lights illuminate the 

lush tree canopy at night, this is the place to do it. There’s also 

conference space for 120 people. 

BEACH BOUTIQUE 

The variety of hotel product along Dominican Republic’s east 

coast is staggering, especially as small designer hotels are 

entering the scene. For example, the quiet 55-room boutique 

hotel Sivory Punta Cana, a AAA Four-Diamond property, offers 

three upscale dining options. The most elegant is the French 

cuisine at Gourmond. The restaurant carries 8,000 bottles of 

wine, by far the best selection in Punta Cana, which is open for 

private group tours and tastings. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


21

la romana 

& bayahibE 

the caribbean coast 


Left: Dreams La Romana 

Below: Villa at Casa de Campo 

the southern shores of Dominican Republic reflect the 

rhythms of the Caribbean where fishermen get up with the 

sun to cast nets over the calm waters in the slanting light. 

Fishing villages line the coast from Santo Domingo to Bayahibe, 

two hours away in the southeast, and their time-honored 

traditions imbue the area with a strong sense of community. 

About a 1/2 hour west of Bayahibe, the city of La Romana 

is the commercial and cultural hub of the region, anchored by the 

modern La Romana International Airport. 

The beauty of the Caribbean Coast for groups is its central 

location with convenient access to so many different types of 

island experiences. Planners can combine in one program: the 

spectacular beaches of Bayahibe, the best golf in the Caribbean, 

two beautiful offshore islands for Robinson Crusoe-type escapes, 

and the cultural wonders of Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone. 

BAYAHIBE & THE ISLANDS 

Early every morning of the week, dozens of 16-foot fishing scows 

filled with visitors depart the quiet harbor in Bayahibe, on the 

northern outskirts of the protected El Parque Nacional del Este. 

Everyone is heading out en masse to sea for a 45-minute 

ride to postcard-perfect Saona Island. On the way there, the 

boat drivers will head into the natural sanctuary to explore the 

hundreds of species of exotic flora, birds and fish who thrive here 

in this protected habitat. The peninsula is also known for its more 

than 400 caves and ancient cave paintings by the pre-Columbian 

Taino natives. 

From there, the group motors back out to sea until Saona 

appears on the horizon. Imagine the ideal beach with blistering 

white sand and tangled palm trees listing over Tiffany blue 

water. That’s Saona, a stunning atoll with enough space for 

300 pax to snorkel in the surf without feeling cramped. There’s 

also a little community with bright pink and yellow wooden 

homes lining the beach displaying vibrant Haitian art for sale. 

Be sure to pack a few additional boats with fresh seafood 

to barbecue on the beach, with enough Presidente beer, 

Dominican cigars and rum to go around. 

The ride back is special too. In the late afternoon, the 

water is as flat as a glass tabletop. The boats stop midway 

for a swim in the clear shallow water and there’s not a single 

person without a blissful smile stamped on his or her face. 

For scuba divers, Catalina Island is a small coral-rimmed 

island just 1.5 miles offshore from La Romana, which is well 

known in diver circles for two incredible dives ranked among 

the top 10 in the Caribbean. 

“The Wall” extends from 15-140 feet in depth, while “The 

Aquarium” is teeming with colorful species like toad fish, sea 

horses, and the highly sought after lion fish. 

BAYAHIBE BEACH HOTELS 

The handful of large all-inclusive resorts outside Bayahibe face 

some of the prettiest beaches on the island, and there’s a real 

sense of feeling secluded within a world all your own. 

The hip and contemporary 751-room Dreams La Romana 

Resort & Spa features an 8,000-sf ballroom and eight additional 

breakouts, eight restaurants and seven lounges. The top ranked 

spa and large rooms/suites are a big plus with planners. 

The 501-room Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus is designed 

like a series of Spanish noblemen’s haciendas, while the lobby 

gathering space is decorated with Taino artifacts, European 

antiques and a mesmerizing display of tile work. Two conference 

rooms seat 300 pax. 

A HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY 

One of the most comprehensive resorts in the entire Caribbean, 

the sprawling 7,000-acre Casa de Campo resort is like a large 

country club by the sea. Situated just minutes from La Romana 

and the airport, the 265-room property is really a full-scale 

community with luxurious villas, a mega-yacht marina and a 

staggering collection of amenities, activities and venues. 

Beyond the luxurious suite accommodations, hundreds of 

expansive private villas are available for group rentals for elegant 

100-pax dinners prepared in-house by a resort chef, or hospitality 

golf suites, executive retreats, spouse programs, etc. Indoor 

conference space is 15,000 sf. 

The villas and suites encircle two of the best golf courses 

in the hemisphere. “Dye Fore” features breathtaking views 

overlooking precipitous chasms high above the winding Chavon 


23

River. And the waterfront Teeth of the Dog golf course, ranked 

#1 in the Caribbean, undulates along the seashore framed by 

palm tree forests and million-dollar homes. 

Adding to the stable of top caliber sporting venues, the 

Equestrian Center is home to championship polo tournaments 

that groups can view, or try the always fun donkey polo for 

themselves. The most comprehensive skeet shooting facilities in 

the Caribbean provide a highly memorable teambuilding activity, 

and the luxurious La Terraza Tennis Center features 13 courts. 

And following an extensive $30 million renovation in 2010, 

Casa de Campo added the stunning Cygalle Healing Spa 

featuring huge spa suites. There’s also the brand new Beach 

Club by Le Cirque restaurants where chefs visit for 6-month 

stints from the illustrious NYC establishment. 

The mega-yacht marina is encircled by dozens of shops 

and restaurants with large waterfront seating capacity. Organize 

a lunch with Cantonese specialties from Chinois restaurant and 

calamari on handmade Amalfi china from Limoncello, before 

sailing to nearby Catalina Island where Casa de Campo has 

permanent beachside facilities for private group events. 

ALTOS DE CHAVÓN 

Perched atop dramatic cliffs overlooking Chavon River next to 

Casa de Campo, Altos de Chavón is a recreated 16 th century 

Mediterranean plaza, exceptionally well designed to host lavish 

gala events for groups of all budgets. 

Built in 1976, it was designed by cinematographer Roberto 

Copa who used skilled local artisans to construct the weathered 

limestone, wood and iron buildings by hand. The 5,000-seat 

outdoor amphitheater has hosted concerts for singers Placido 

Domingo and Julio Iglesias, and it’s available for corporate 


Below: St. Stanislaus Church, Altos de Chavón 

rental. The venue also hosts extravagant musical performances 

at night that celebrate local culture and dance. 

Furthermore, there’s a coterie of casual and upscale 

restaurants like the rustic La Piazzetta for Italian fine-dining. 

And many corporate groups take advantage of the panoramic 

views to arrange large, al fresco receptions and dinners on the 

cobblestones in front of the charming St. Stanislaus Church. 

Parsons School of Design in New York operates a satellite 

facility at the Altos de Chavón School of Design, where 

planners can organize group art classes. There’s the magnificent 

new Regional Museum of Archaeology with exhibits focusing 

on the native Taino tribes who once lived here, complemented 

by an exceptional Dominican fine art museum. 

For gifts, check out the lovely Batey’s shop, selling 

gorgeous, delicate handmade linens crafted by local women 

working in the outlying farms. 

Polo is known 

as the sport of 

kings. Donkey 

polo is not. 

Polo, a thrilling grass game lauded for its 

sense of decorum and propriety, celebrates 

the powerful agility of both man and mount. 

Champagne is obligatory. So are big floppy 

hats and good manners. Above all, polo 

exemplifies the Englishman’s ideal of physical 

countenance cherished by the likes of Ralph 

Lauren and the British Royal Family. 

Donkey polo is a different story. Casa de 

Campo can organize group tournaments with 

attendees astride donkeys. Volleyballs and 

broomsticks are used instead of traditional 

polo accoutrements. 

Or, planners can create VIP events 

during polo season, Nov.-April, to watch the 

spectacular scene unfold from under tented 

stands with champagne and canapes.

For meeting and incentive groups visiting the shores surrounding 

Punta Cana, Bayahibe and La Romana, there is an offshore island 

that will satisfy your attendees’ dreams of paradise... Saona. 


25

Below top: Juan Dolio 

Below bottom: La Estancia Golf Course 

LA ROMANA & SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS 

The sugarcane industry gave birth to the wealthy city of 

La Romana, but it’s also home to the largest handmade 

cigar factory in the world. Located in the heart of town, the 

Tabacalera de Garcia facility employs a staff of 3,700 people 

who roll over 300 brands of cigars, including Montecristo, 

Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann and Don Diego. 

Groups can go behind the scenes to witness the entire 

process in action, from the drying of the leaves to the final 

inspection. And you will never smoke a cigar the same way 

again after you see the care and devotion that goes into rolling a 

fine cigar. The factory just opened a new Cigar Shop & Visitors 

Center where everyone can shop and smoke stogies while 

sipping on fine rums and brandies. 

Director Ruben E. Gonzalez is also available to lead cigar, 

wine and fine liquor pairing events at the regional hotels. 

Also new in La Romana, the luxurious La Estancia 

residential community is home to P.B. Dye’s La Estancia Golf 

Course. This is a breathtaking course with 12 holes skirting the 

cliff’s edge 400 feet over the Chavon River. 


Less than a 1/2 hour drive from La Romana, the city of San 

Pedro de Macoris is the birthplace of professional Dominican 

baseball players in the American big leagues, where some of the 

world’s best players have been trained and nurtured. You know 

their names and faces: Sammy Sosa. Alex Rodriguez. Manny 

Ramírez. These professional baseball superstars in the United 

States are literally heroes here at home. San Pedro is home to 

a slew of American big league scouting camps, but anyone can 

drive up and watch literally hundreds of boys of all ages playing 

organized ball in dozens of fields. 

San Pedro also has a fun seaside boulevard with lively 

nightlife for visiting attendees who want a slice of local culture 

away from the big resorts. 

JUAN DOLIO, GUAYACANES & BOCA CHICA 

Located midway between La Romana and the capital city, 

the peaceful beach towns of Juan Dolio and neighboring 

Guayacanes are known for their communal fishing village 

vibe, quiet beaches and fresh seafood served in family-owned 

restaurants. Visiting attendees can literally buy just-caught 

dorado and snapper from local fishermen right out of their small 

boats as they motor back after a big haul. 

Before lunch, a walk along the narrow streets shopping for 

local and Haitian paintings and handicrafts, followed by a cup 

of coffee in the salty breeze while watching children play, is a 

quintessential way to spend your off hours enjoying Dominican 

Republic to its fullest. 

Many golfing groups do make the trip to Juan Dolio to test 

their skills on the Gary Player Signature course at the unique 

Guavaberry Golf & Country Club. The heavily landscaped 

fairways on this dramatic 18-hole course feature indigenous 

coral rock formations and over 400 spiky corozo palm trees. 

Boca Chica shares many of the same idyllic traits as Juan 

Dolio but it’s only minutes east of Santo Domingo so it’s a great 

escape for delegates attending city conferences. Much of life 

revolves around the beach and colorful street that runs parallel, 

Calle Duarte, where groups can sample local cuisine in shorts 

and sandals among a wide variety of laid-back beach bars. 

The serene sapphire sea in Boca Chica will take your 

breath away, as it has for generations of city dwellers, so best to 

visit during the week. 

The bay is part of the protected La Caleta National 

Underwater Park offering extraordinary snorkeling and scuba 

diving around two shipwrecks. The 135-foot Hickory sank here 

after years of trolling for Spanish treasure lost here in the 1700s. 

And the El Limon tugboat was scuttled to bolster marine life, 

including trumpetfish and blue tangs. Meanwhile, snorkelers can 

easily access some of the island’s most plentiful reefs.

CRUISE 

groups at sea 

O 

ver half a million visitors arrive on the shores of 

Dominican Republic every year aboard luxury cruise 

ships sailing the Caribbean Sea. Due to its central 

location, the island is a major stop for shipboard meetings and 

incentives. 

Attendees fl ying into Dominican Republic for landbased 

meetings can also book pre/post cruise itineraries for easy trips 

to the nearby islands thanks to the Dominican Republic’s prime 

central location in the Caribbean. 

Major cruise lines calling at Dominican Republic include: 

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival 

Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa Mediterranean 

Cruises and Princess Cruises. 

Cruise ships arrive at one of four terminals: Sans Souci 

and Don Diego in Santo Domingo; Port of La Romana on the 

southeast coast; and the Samaná Peninsula in the northeast. 

And in all three destinations, passengers are just minutes away 

from some of the most impressive cultural attractions and 

beautiful natural scenery in the Caribbean. 

In Santo Domingo, at the mouth of Ozama River, the Don 

Diego Terminal was built in 2006, while Sans Souci opened in 

2009. These modern facilities border the 500 year-old walls of 

the world famous Colonial Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 

and the fi rst established city of the Americas. The wide streets 

and expansive plazas rimmed with important architectural 

landmarks make it easy to organize large group tours. The 

terminals in Santo Domingo are also only a mere 10-minute 

drive from most business hotels downtown. 

In La Romana, the mesmerizing Altos de Chavón is a 

recreated 16th century Mediterranean village built by local 

artisans. Only 15 minutes from the port, this staggering venue 

is fi lled with upscale restaurants, boutique shops, a regional 

archaeological museum and world class school of design. 

Groups can also enjoy large banquets on the plaza with 

panoramic views towering over the Chavon River. 

There are few other places in the world that surpass the 

Samaná Peninsula is terms of sheer geological beauty. The 

rugged mountains and coastline are covered in millions of palm 

trees, where groups will fi nd a variety of remote waterfalls, 

solitary beaches and quiet fi shing villages. In the middle of 

Samaná Bay, the gorgeous island of Cayo Levantado offers one 

of the country’s best beaches for day excursions. Or groups can 

see thousands of humpback whales migrate here to give birth in 

the winter—a truly unforgettable experience to witness. 


27

puerto 

plata 

adventure coast 

the northern shores of Dominican Republic are dramatically 

different, both physically and culturally, from anywhere 

else on the island. Most of the entire coastline is rimmed 

by majestic mist-swept mountains offering an entirely new 

drama and array of experience for groups away from the 

beaches. This is also where Christopher Columbus first settled 

in the New World, so there’s a very real sense of deep-rooted 

community with many layers of local culture embedded within 

the marvelous scenery. 

When people say they want an “authentic” Dominican 

experience, this is where they visit. 

The capital of the province is Puerto Plata, flanked by 

an eclectic combination of seaside communities targeting 

group business. Just east of Puerto Plata, Gregorio Luperón 

International Airport is the major gateway, with quick access 

to all of the north coast’s main attractions. 

CaBarete BaY 

Within this tableau of rugged peaks and sublime shores, the 

buzzing beach community of Cabarete is regarded as the 

“Adventure Capital of the Caribbean.” From around the world, 

a globetrotting band of thrill-seekers come here for the Western 

Hemisphere’s best windsurfing and kiteboarding, due to the 

offshore tradewinds bumping into the peaks creating a gentle 

convection air current. 

On any given day, over 100 brightly colored billowing sails 

can be seen dancing over the waters of Cabarete Bay. A batch 

of windsurfing, kitesurfing and Laser sailing championships 

have already solidified Cabarete’s standing on the world stage. 

So there are many well-established watersport schools on the 

beach to teach private groups. 

The surfer vibe extends beyond the waves. Large tiki huts 

with funky bars and fresh seafood restaurants set up shop 

all down the beach. And most interesting, they’re staffed by 

both locals and young globorati streaming in from Denmark to 


Detroit. At night, there are bonfires on 

the beach and live concerts that provide 

a free and exciting experience found 

nowhere else in the Caribbean. 

Cabarete is also base camp for 

exotic land excursions. The adventure 

outfitter Iguana Mama offers group 

packages for “canyoning” through the 

27 Waterfalls at Damajagua, where 

attendees slide down waterfalls into 

crystal mountain pools. Less extreme 

sports like mountainbiking, ATV riding 

and kayaking are also popular among 

trails winding through the coconut palm 

forests and sugarcane fields. 

In the heart of Cabarete Bay, about 

45 minutes from Puerto Plata, the allinclusive, 

221-room Viva Wyndham 

Tangerine is the largest group hotel on the beach, with a large 

open-air auditorium and 7,200 sf of meeting space. 

Just a few miles down the road, Sea Horse Ranch offers 

a world-class equestrian center with horseback rides and 

instruction, both Western and English style. Groups ride along 

empty beaches graced with million-dollar plantation homes 

available for private parties and retreats. 

plaYa DoraDa 

Located on the outskirts of Puerto Plata just minutes from the 

airport, Playa Dorada is a gated resort community featuring 

over a dozen all-inclusive resorts. Most of them feature 

expansive meeting and event space, both indoors and out, 

along with multiple onsite restaurants, lagoon pools and nightly 

dancing and entertainment. 

Further amenities that all of the hotels share include the 

most upscale casinos on the north coast, regional tour company

offices, numerous watersports outfitters, a large shopping mall 

and upscale tennis facilities. 

In the center, the 18-hole Playa Dorada Golf Course 

designed by Robert Trent Jones is completely surrounded by 

dense thickets of palm trees. And all of it’s surrounded by two 

miles of soft sandy beaches, making Playa Dorada a one-stop 

destination for meeting professionals. 

Major all-inclusive meeting and incentive hotels include the 

271-room Occidental Allegro Playa Dorada, featuring indoor 

group facilities for up to 120. The upscale 506-room VH Gran 

Ventana Beach Resort houses a 250-person conference 

center. For small groups seeking a truly luxurious European 

Plan hotel, the boutique Casa Colonial Beach & Spa Resort 

was designed to look like an elegant mansion, with a gorgeous 

rooftop pool deck and one of the best spas in Dominican 

Republic, if not the entire Caribbean. 

And just outside the Playa Dorada complex, the allinclusive, 

516-room Iberostar Costa Dorada occupies its 

Kiteboarding in Cabarete 

own beach for more groups wishing a more self-contained and 

secluded program, supported by a modern conference center 

hosting up to 800. 

SOSÚA BEACH 

Midway between Cabarete and Puerto Plata, the buzzing 

little town of Sosúa is framed on three sides by lush green 

mountains. Life revolves around Sosúa Beach and a postcardworthy 

crescent bay with some of the clearest, calmest water in 

the country. 

Sosúa is also a great place to shop and eat barefoot on 

the sand. Back behind the beachfront wall of tall swaying palm 

trees, dozens of shop owners sell their colorful handmade wares 

and clothing. Meanwhile, small restaurants housed in rustic tiki 

bars offer a welcome respite from the sun, where groups can 

mingle while enjoying fresh seafood caught daily. 

Overall, Sosúa is a kind of throwback to the classic 

Caribbean resort town built out of a charming fishing village 


29

Below: 

27 Waterfalls at Damajagua 

that’s getting harder and harder to find these days. Side streets 

are filled with colorful shops selling handmade gifts, and the 

town is known for its active nightlife. 

The local community is primarily made up of expatriates 

from around the world. Once an important haven for Jewish 

settlers escaping persecution in Europe during World War II, the 

beach town is home to a synagogue that welcomes all faiths— 

and that pretty much sums up life here. There’s a little bit of this 

and a little bit of that and a whole lot of harmony thanks in no 

small part to the gorgeous setting. 


Ocean World: 

World’s Largest 

Dolphin Home 

Located in quiet Cofresi just west of Puerto Plata, 

the fun Ocean World Adventure Park, Marina & 

Casino features the world’s largest man-made 

dolphin habitat in the world. Organize events to 

feed dolphins, sharks and stingrays, or wander 

among the park to see tigers and exotic aviary. 

PUERTO PLATA 

Not far from where Christopher Columbus established the first 

settlement in the New World, Puerto Plata began as a trading 

post where ships from Spain could deliver goods to all the 

Spanish colonies. 

By 1540, the first fortress of the New World was 

constructed: El Castillo de San Felipe, which buttresses the 

winding seaside promenade running along the entire span of 

the downtown corridor. Many times throughout the year, varied 

festivals can add a touch of local color to any group event. 

During the era of European colonization, sugar, leather, 

tobacco and rum were traded between sailors from the seven 

seas. Today, tourists can walk around the old city to see the 

many Victorian homes laced with delicate gingerbread trim. 

The #1 attraction in town is the Amber Museum, housed 

in a 2-story neo-classic home built in 1918. The top floor of the 

museum features a wealth of exhibits examining the history of 

exploration for the semiprecious stone, along with rare amber 

samples containing ancient fossils within the resin. On the 

museum’s ground floor, there’s a well-stocked shop selling a 

wide range of bright amber baubles in all price ranges, which is 

always popular with visiting groups. 

Just outside of town, the Teleférico (cable car) ride to 

the top of Isabel del Torres mountain offers stunning views 

of the entire town and the northern coast. At the summit, a 

Cristo Redentor (Christ the Savior) statue protects the souls 

below, much like the monolithic Christ figure overlooking Río 

de Janeiro. Another reason to make the trip are the brilliantly 

colored flowers spread throughout the botanical gardens 

covering the entire summit of the mountain. 

The venue is perfect for large groups due to the 

massive size and plenty of activities to split the group 

into. While one group scuba dives with dolphins, 

another group can sit in on the Sea Lion Show & 

Encounter. These amazing creatures, originating in 

Uruguay, do tricks and stunts in the 350-seat stadium 

for guests. Meanwhile, another group can snorkel 

in the Snorkel Reef, a coral reef aquarium filled with 

exotic fish including angelfish, puffers, butterfly fish 

and lobsters. 

The facility also features a 104-slip marina, a full 

service casino and the 102-seat Poseidon Restaurant, 

specializing in local seafood. This is a perfect spot for 

creating culinary teambuilding activities.

SAMANÁ 

big ‘wow’ factor 

t 

he Samaná Peninsula in Dominican Republic’s northeast 

coast is a stretch of unblemished, palm tree-smothered 

paradise chronicled by Christopher Columbus as “the 

fairest land on the face of the earth.” The northern coast of the 

peninsula is home to Las Terrenas, a small fi shing village set on 

virgin beaches lined with funky-colored, wooden fi shing boats 

and barefoot beach bars. 

This is the Dominican Republic of your dreams, where 

mass travel development will never occur due to the limited 

size of buildable land around Las Terrenas. And this tranquility 

radiates throughout the entire Samaná region where a tropical 

wonderland replete with lush, coconut-covered mountains 

dissolves into a crystal-clear sea. Its ocean is fi lled with thriving 

coral reef enveloped by brightly colored fi sh and one of the 

largest populations of humpback whales in the world. 

Amidst this unspoiled marvel, RockResorts unveiled the 

brand new Balcones del Atlántico. This simple yet luxurious 

resort features 86 villa-suites, one restaurant and four spa 

suites. The luxury accommodations are designed to make you 

feel like a local in your own Caribbean home. Each villa-suite 

has two or three bedrooms, a fully equipped designer kitchen, 

spacious living room, dining room and a landscaped terrace. 

The residential feel gives the entire stay a touch of comfort and 

familiarity in a new, undiscovered location that’s still a secret to 

much of the world. 


Cayo Levantado 

POSTCARD PARADISE 

An invigorating boat ride out into the Bay of Samaná, the island 

of Cayo Levantado is a tiny 6-square-mile island rimmed with 

powder soft white sand and gorgeous turquoise water. Many 

attendees visit to simply walk along the beach and suntan, while 

others venture out to the thriving reefs for snorkeling and scuba 

diving. Facilities are also on hand for catered BBQ lunches 

prepared with daily fresh seafood. 

From January to March, planners can organize group 

excursions to spot humpback whales that migrate to the area in 

the thousands for mating season. Follow that up with dinner on 

Cayo Levantado for an uncompromised view of the sun setting 

on the Atlantic’s horizon. 

Back on the peninsula, El Limon Waterfall is a stunning 

little tropical oasis where visitors can go to cool off and relax. 

Groups also hike, ride horseback or take an ATV up to the 

waterfall’s ledge. Once there, try the delectable local produce 

such as cocoa, grapefruit and coconuts. This region is well 

known for its agriculture, yielding plump and sweet fruit and 

some of the best coffee in the world. 

Also for groups, there’s a wide selection of charming 

oceanfront restaurants, such as Colibar Restaurant in the 

Colibri Playa Hotel. Every day the kitchen receives locally 

caught seafood for dishes like Coda d’Agostina—delectable 

lobster served with homemade garlic sauce. 

31

santo 

domingo 

athens of the new world 


Left: Columbus Palace 

Right: Plaza de España 

with a population of more than two million people, 

the capital city of Santo Domingo sits at the 

mouth of the Ozama River where it empties into 

the Caribbean Sea. Due to its strategic location and protected 

harbor, this is the very birthplace of the Americas where 

Christopher Columbus and his family members established the 

first European city in the New World. 

Today, the bulk of international conferences in the city take 

place in and around the malecón—a broad esplanade skirting 

the sea. The major business hotels all front the long boulevard 

with panoramic views of the dark blue water, providing a 

welcome respite from typical big city congestion with open skies 

and light tropical tradewinds. 

Numerous large group venues around the city can 

accommodate groups up to 1,500 people, while an interesting 

array of historic settings and cultured hotels imbue any gala with 

colorful drama. Las Americas International Airport is the 

gateway into the capital city, located on the eastern outskirts 

about 30 minutes from the business district. 

LA ZONA COLONIAL 

Only 15 minutes from the conference hotels, the magisterial 

16 th century Colonial Zone is without a doubt the most 

powerful cultural destination in the Caribbean Basin. 

Situated behind 15-ft thick stone walls towering up from 

the Ozama River, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is the pride 

of Dominican people. It was here where Columbus’ son Don 

Diego and the Spanish Admiralty oversaw the conquest of the 

Caribbean and Spanish Main for over a century. An elegant 

array of architectural landmarks and important artwork remains 

in place from the 1500s as a testament to the age of European 

expansion. So, a must for any group is a grand tour of the 

unforgettable structures lining the cobblestone streets. 

Start with the Alcázar de Colón (Columbus Palace) where 

Don Diego lived with his wife Doña María de Toledo. This huge 

residence (originally containing 55 rooms, of which 22 remain) 

was built in 1515 with an Andalusian palette of Moorish, Gothic 

and Isabelline styles. Inside, a priceless collection of period art 

and furnishings include both original pieces and donations from 

the University of Madrid. 

Directly in front of the palace, the Plaza de España is a 

wonderful venue for outdoor evening gatherings when the 

palace is lit up at night. Across the plaza, the Museum of Royal 

Houses is situated within two adjacent 16 th -century palaces 

encompassing the city’s original Governor’s residence, the Hall 

of Justice and the Viceroy’s throne. This is worth a visit just to 

see the comprehensive exhibits of military hardware ranging 

from medieval crossbows to lady daggers. 

From there, a breezy walk up Calle de las Damas (Street 

of the Ladies) leads to dramatic attractions highlighted by the 

Santa María de la Encarnación Cathedral located in Parque 

Colón (Columbus Park). Completed in 1540, the cathedral is 

the oldest church in the Western Hemisphere, where priests still 

use the original 464-year-old keys to lock the original mahogany 

doors. Inside, stop to admire the stained glass by Dominican 

artist Rincón Mora. 

Also be sure to walk up into the Torre de Homenaje (Tower 

of Homage) with its crenellated roof, where guards once stood 

sentinel over the harbor to warn of enemy barquentines. 

Another good way to see the city, the Colonial Chu Chu 

is a new train that makes a 45-minute tour every hour in the 

historic city, with audio guides in English, Spanish, Italian, 

French and Russian. The train accommodates groups of 64. 

COLUMBUS LIGHTHOUSE 

The most venerable site in Dominican Republic lies just across 

the Ozama River. Opened in 1992 to celebrate the 500th 

anniversary of Columbus’ arrival, the Faro a Colón (Columbus 

Lighthouse) is a massive $100 million structure spanning over 

three city blocks. Here, the First Admiral of the West Indies 

purportedly rests in a dignified Baroque mausoleum guarded by 

ceremonial militia. 


33

Opposite: InterContinental V Centenario Santo Domingo 

Below right: Ristorante Fellini 

MEETINGS IN THE PARK 

Available for private rental, the National Botanical Gardens 

& Parks is the largest of its kind in the Caribbean. Its displays 

include tropical palms, 48 pools with more than 40 species of 

aquatic plants, a pavilion, and an arboretum with approximately 

1,500 trees, most of which are native. Popular onsite attractions 

include the Japanese Garden and colorful orchid pavilion, with 

more than 300 orchid species. 

Take a couple hours to stroll the cage-less national zoo, 

Parque Zoologico Nacional. More than 200 different species, 

including native Dominican and migratory animals, live here 

in areas closely resembling their natural habitats. Stop by the 

newly remodeled Serpent Area, including an anaconda, albino 

python from India, and the Hispaniola and Green Snake from 

Dominican Republic. 

Located on the Ozama River are two parks worth a visit. 

The National Aquarium gives attendees a glimpse into the 

world of the Caribbean with over 3,000 marine animals. A 

highlight is a walk below the undersea Plexiglas tunnels. 


Large City 

Conferences 

with a Taste 

for the Arts 

Santo Domingo offers several air-conditioned 

auditoriums for group events: Casa San Pablo 

(1,200 pax), Banco Central (723) and Universidad 

Pedro Henriquez Ureña (700) 

Throughout the city, there is also a diverse 

collection of cultural venues available for group 

events, including: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Teatro Nacional (1,500) 

Museo de Historia y Geografía (500) 

Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes (555) 

Conservatorio Nacional de Música (400) 

Instituto Cultural Dominico Americano (300) 

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la 

Escuela de Diplomacia (250) 

Auditorio Fundación Global Democracia y 

Desarrollo (250) 

Plaza de España en la Ciudad Colonial, 

Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO (1,200) 

THE DINING/NIGHTLIFE SCENE 

From regional Dominican dishes to flavorful international cuisine, 

Santo Domingo’s dining scene appeals to the international 

passions of any guest. Restaurants worthy of a group’s 

patronage are clustered around the city, including the Colonial 

Zone, Gazcue, the malecon and uptown. 

Here are some of the highlights: 

Imagine taking your attendees to an underground cave, 

where centuries ago pirates were hidden in this limestone 

hideaway. Descend narrow stairs 40 feet to feast down-under 

amongst the stalactites and stalagmites at Mesón de la Cava. 

Or for the cave-phobics, choose seating upstairs in the restored 

colonial home with a view of the city. The restaurant has been 

a long time favorite for celebrities and dignitaries, from Francois 

Mitterand to Francis Ford Coppola. 

The menu consists of modern Spanish with French 

influences, such as: shrimp in cilantro cream, conch gratine, 

gazpacho and grilled Caribbean rock lobster. Merengue, Latin 

jazz, blues and salsa add to the ambiance for a truly unique 

dining experience. 

El Conuco has long been a favorite for groups with 

arguably the best local authentic food for visitors in the city. The 

restaurant is decorated like a country house with colorful fabrics, 

wicker embellishments, pots and pans strewn about, and long 

buffet tables heaping with freshly prepared food. The best part 

might be the dance performances where professionals perform 

beautiful merengue moves in traditional dress. 

Ristorante Fellini is consistently regarded among the top 

three restaurants in the city, serving fine-dining Italian food such

as shrimp carpaccio and risotto with beet and squid ink. There 

are 300 wines on the menu and a chic upscale outdoor terrace 

for pre-dinner cocktails. 

In the Colonial Zone, La Taberna Vasca creates 

astonishingly good Caribbean/French cuisine. Try the Basque 

Tapas Tastings combo with a variety of different delectable 

fish drizzled in deftly prepared Creole sauces. Meanwhile, the 

desserts are considered among the best in the country. 

With one of the best locations in the city at the entrance to 

Plaza of Spain facing Columbus Palace, Pat’e Palo European 

Brasserie is sometimes called “the first restaurant in the 

Americas.” It’s housed inside a naval officer’s home built on 

this spot in 1505. The arched ceilings, exposed brick walls and 

polished hardwoods offer a nice counterpoint to the white linens 

and soft, live guitar music. And there’s the food, earning it the 

reputation as the one must-see restaurant for visitors in town. 

Try the Angus steak marinated in curry and honey with green 

chile/lime sauce; homemade ravioli with lobster mousse; and 

porcini mushroom risotto with Serrano ham. 

The nightlife in Santo Domingo is just as exciting as 

the cuisine, and many of the nightclubs cater well to foreign 

groups. Two of the most outstanding are: Casa de Teatro 

in the Colonial Zone, where you can enjoy live music and 

performances by local artists, and contemporary art. Also, 

Guacara Taina is a 3-level dance club memorable not only for 

its music, but for its location inside an enormous cavern. 

GROUP HOTELS 

The large conference hotels are all lined up on George 

Washington Avenue facing the Caribbean Sea, so it’s easy for 

groups to have dinner at one, visit the casinos at another and 

finish up with dancing and drinks at a third. All of them feature 

considerable meeting space because the city is so well situated 

for Pan-American conventions. 

The 228-room Hilton Santo Domingo is the newest 

group property and it boasts the largest casino on-island. The 

hotel was specifically designed for the modern business person. 

The 300-room Renaissance Jaragua Hotel & Casino is 

an excellent value, with 26,000 sf of meeting space. 

Hotel V Centenario InterContinental Santo Domingo 

features 196 rooms, 34 suites and a contemporary, worldly 

ambiance with a fun pool area for outdoor events. 

The 224-room Hotel Meliá Santo Domingo offers a 

compelling Spanish flavor in its design and menus. The property 

is known for its warm hospitality. 

The 278-room Occidental El Embajador is consistently 

ranked among the best business hotels in the city, with a 

luxurious Old World elegance. 

And in the Colonial Zone, the 104-room Hostal Nicolas 

de Ovando is a chic designer property built within three historic 

residences dating back to the early 1500s. The inner courtyard 

surrounded by arched terraces and the large lobby lounge are 

two of the city’s most charming venues. 


35

central 

the dominican alps 

a 

bout an hour south of Puerto Plata, the abundantly 

fertile heartland of Dominican Republic unfolds before 

you. The Cordillera Central mountain region and Cibao 

Valley together create some of the most dramatic geography 

and ecological diversity in the Caribbean Basin. It’s called the 

“Land of Eternal Spring,” where lush alluvial plains undulate 

below the tallest mountain in the West Indies, Pico Duarte. Bring 

your group here to get lost in Mother Earth. For instance, a total 

of 18 waterfalls cascade over chasms cutting deep into this 

rugged land. 

The region is home to Dominican Republic’s most 

prolific coffee and cigar plantations, owned by families that for 

generations have produced these two key Dominican exports. 

The topsoil here is said to be among the deepest in the world, 

and farmlands thriving with strawberries, coffee and cacao 

contribute to the island’s reputation as the “Breadbasket of the 

Caribbean” for groups interested in agricultural tourism and 

sustainability. 

The hub destination in the valley is Santiago, the second 

largest city in DR, accessed via Cibao International Airport, 

or 90 minutes south from Puerto Plata or two hours north of 

Santo Domingo. Surrounding Santiago, two charming mountain 

towns are within an hour’s drive. 

JaraBacOa 

Streaming down from the high peaks, the Yaque del Norte and 

Jimenoa rivers intersect outside the rustic town of Jarabacoa— 

a Taino word meaning “place where the water flees.” Up here 

in the higher altitudes, the air is ripe with the scent of pine trees 

and cooling mountain breezes, where the temperature rarely 

climbs above 72 degrees. 

For groups, the 27-room, lodge-style Rancho Baiguate 

is your base camp for adventure, teeming with young and 

old adrenaline seekers from around the world. From here, 

innumerable tours venture into the country for whitewater river 

rafting, canoeing, horseback riding, 4-wheel ATVs, serious 

canyon rappelling and mountain biking. 


Opposite, clockwise from top right: 

Santiago, Jarabacoa, Constanza 

By far, whitewater river rafting is the #1 group event 

throughout the entire central region, and planners can’t miss 

creating a spectacular event due to both the scenery and 

adventure. During the 3.5-hour ride, you’ll pass through Class 

II-IV rapids including the 12-foot “Mike Tyson” vertical drop and 

the “Cemetery,” where boulders stand straight up in the air. This 

is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many groups, with an 

inherent teambuilding aspect due to everyone’s need to make 

sure the person next to him or her remains in the raft. 

For those groups seeking a little more peaceful of a 

program, the Armando Bermudez and Jose Carmen Ramírez 

National Parks in the western part of the country offer a 

bewildering mix of flora and fauna highlighted by the many 

varieties of orchids and bromeliads. More than 250 different bird 

species have been spotted in Hispaniola, more than half of them 

can be seen in these two parks, including chicui, zumbador de 

las montañas, papagayo, and cotorra. 

Also be sure to check out Salto Baiguate waterfall with 

a towering drop into a pool of water where visitors can swim in 

the warmer months. Just getting there is part of the attraction 

along the edge of a ravine with spectacular views. 

Rancho Baiguate is part of the Grupo Baiguate collection, 

including the 43-room Hotel Pinar Dorado, with modern 

conference space for 350 persons. 

cOnStanZa 

The closest city to the base of Pico Duarte Mountain, the 

city of Constanza is the highest in the country so it’s best 

to dress warm, especially in the winter. Groups come here 

for an authentic and relaxing look at local Dominican culture, 

unfettered with the mass transportation and hustle of the larger 

tourism destinations. 

The city has seen a rise in popularity with the evolution 

of the farm-to-table trend around the world. Long tables can 

be set up outdoors at a collection of small inns and hotels like 

Rancho Guaraguao, where everyone can sit down for leisurely 

meals in the fresh misty air.


37

Below: 

Centro Leon Cultural Center 


Santiago: 

Cigar & Rum 

Tours in the 

Dominican 

Heartland 

Santiago, the second largest city in the country, 

is located in the heart of the Cordillera Central 

Mountain range on the highway between Santo 

Domingo on the south coast and Puerto Plata 

on the north. And much like Santo Domingo, 

it has a small and energetic cultural area in the 

downtown business corridor with a vibrant 

lineup of museums, boutiques, restaurants and 

nightclubs. 

Nearby, the town of La Vega is the home of 

the country’s Carnaval. The most extravagant 

celebrations take place in Santo Domingo, but 

many of the costumes and masks are created by 

the talented artists in this small town. Each week, 

parades show off their latest creations. 

Many times, the produce and poultry used for the 

lunches and dinners are grown right on site, as Constanza 

is situated in one of the most popular farming districts in 

the country. 

Planners should consider setting up cooking classes 

or even events where attendees actually harvest their own 

fruits and vegetables before joining together to prepare a 

meal for the entire group. 

The rest of the time, just stop and smell the juniper. 

The Cibao Valley is Mother Nature’s finest hour. Smoke a 

big Dominican cigar on a mountaintop. Enjoy a fresh cup 

of local java in the mild air, or go for a group horseback ride 

up through the hills amid the verdant forests. 

After days of meetings in the big cities, Constanza 

rewards delegates with a long, healthy and deep breath of 

fresh mountain majesty. 

The Cigar Industry 

Over the last few decades, the cigar industry in 

Dominican Republic has evolved into a worthy 

competitor against the best brands in Cuba. The 

richly fertile fields around Santiago produce the bulk 

of tobacco, and groups are invited to visit some of 

the plantations on a series of well organized tours, 

that include trips to coffee and rum plantations, 

the beaches on the north coast and adventurous 

mountain activities outside Jarabacoa. 

In Santiago, the Museo del Tabaco is a popular 

tour to learn about the history of the industry and the 

cigar-making process. For special cultural events, the 

Centro Leon Cultural Center is a beautiful modern 

structure filled with contemporary art, developed 

by the E Leon Jiménes Tobacco Company—the most 

renowned cigar manufacturer in the country. They 

offer tours both inside the large city factory and to the 

smaller “rolling farms” in the country. 

Another highly respected cigar maker, the familyrun 

Tabaquería Carbonell was established in 1897, 

and today it is still run as a family company. Visit the 

factories where experts sit diligently rolling Palmas, 

Coronas, Churchills and others. The distinctive earthy 

scent intensifies in the adjoining room where the 

finished cigars mature during their reposo (rest).

food & music 

around Dominicana 

d 

ue to the vast natural resources around Dominican 

Republic, there’s plenty of fresh food everywhere, 

ranging from strawberries grown in the mountainous 

Cibao Valley to lobster, mahi-mahi and swordfish found in the 

Caribbean Sea. 

Comida criolla (Dominican cuisine) resembles Creole 

cooking due to the wide range of cooking methods handed 

down over generations from the various Spanish, African and 

Taino cultures who lived here. 

The national dish is Sancocho with various meats and 

vegetables in stew often containing pork, seafood, sweet 

potatoes and cassava. Sancocho prieto is a dark, almost black 

stew made with seven different kinds of meats. Another typical 

dish, La Bandera (the flag) consists of the colors of the flag: 

white rice, red beans, and tostones (fried green plantains), along 

with stewed meats and salad. 

Also popular, asopao is a flavorful soup full of meat, rice 

and vegetables. And no self-respecting local restaurant in 

Dominican Republic would serve a menu without a good arroz 

con pollo (chicken mixed with rice). That’s the Dominican way. 

From the best restaurants in the city and resorts to the 

smallest beach shack, fresh lobster is high in demand from 

foreign visitors. There are few better ways to network with 

El Conuco, Santo Domingo 

colleagues and clients than slathering hot butter over a giant 

lobster cooked on the beach, while everyone relaxes in shorts 

and bare feet. 

While you’re at it, order up a combo seafood platter with 

a few local Presidente beers. Island fare consists of mero (sea 

bass), chillo (red snapper), carite (kingfish), lambí (conch), 

camarones (shrimp) and the always delicious pulpo (octopus). 

merengue, day & night 

There are few places you can venture to in Dominican Republic 

without the sounds of merengue, salsa and the gentler bachata 

music playing in the background. From babies, local children are 

raised to music, including in school where they’re sometimes 

taught lessons through song lyrics. 

When they’re teenagers, boys become excellent dancers 

to attract the attention of their female schoolmates. And at 

nightclubs throughout the island, throngs of locals dancing the 

merengue expertly will enthrall many visitors with the grace, style 

and passion of their seemingly choreographed movement. 

One sure way to get attendees to relax with colleagues is 

by organizing a group merengue dance class. Any large space 

will do. Oftentimes you’ll see multiple instructors leading classes 

everywhere from an exhibit hall to a palm-fringed beach. 


39

destination 

management 

AMSTAR DMC 

Carretera Bávaro km 2 1/2 

Punta Cana 

Tel: 809-221-6626; Fax: 809-455-1490 

amstardmc.com 

amstargroups.com 

ARBAJE TOURS 

Calle Pedro A Bobea No. 2, 

casi esq. Ave. Sarasota, 

Ensanche Bella Vista, Santo Domingo 

Tel: 809-535-4941; Fax: 809-535-6000 

arbajetours@claro.net.do 

arbajetours.com 

CONNECT TRAVEL SERVICES 

101 Boulevard 1ro de Noviembre 

Punta Cana 

Tel: 809-959-0505 

info@ctsdr.com; ctsdr.com 

CARIBBEAN NEXUS TOURS 

Puerto Plata: 

Plaza Playa Dorada 2º Floor 2-b-b 

Tel: 809-320-1515/1666/1777 

Fax: 809-320-1444 

Punta Cana: 

Carretera Verom Bávaro 

Edif. Metro 2º Floor, Bávaro, Higuey 

Tel: 809-552-0943/0792 

Fax: 809-552-0658 

mrosset@nexustours.com 

nexustours.com 

COLONIAL TOURS 

Arzobispo Meriño 209 Zona Colonial 

Santo Domingo 

Tel: 809-688-5285 ext. 107 

Cell: 809-861-9030; Fax: 809-682-0964 

grupos@colonialtourincoming.com 


D.S. VOYAGES 

Plaza Fernández II Local 15-B 

Av. Winston Churchill 

Tel: 809-472-6589; Fax: 809-541-8095 

d.s@codetel.net.do; ds-voyages.fr 

EL CABALLO TOURS ECT 

El Paseo de la Costa 2da Planta 

Las Terrenas, Samaná 

Tel: 809-240-6249, Fax: 809-240-6270 

info@elcaballotours.com 

elcaballotours.com 

EDECANES TOURS 

Av. Núñez de Cáceres, Plaza Saint Michell, 

#24 El Millón, Santo Domingo 

Tel: 809-549-3555, Fax: 809-549-3510 

edecanes@codetel.net.do 

edecanestours.com 

HOLA TOURS 

Plaza Mariel 2 Carretera Friusa-Riu 

Punta Cana 

Tel: 809-552-1775; Fax: 809-552-1223 

agoffaux@holatours.com; holatours.com 

K&M DESTINOS 

Calle Eugenio Deschamps 5, 

La Castellana, Santo Domingo 

Tel: 809-334-1910; Fax: 809-334-1913 

kiseyda.fermin@kmdestinos.com 

magaly.diaz@kmdestinos.com 

kmdestinos.com 

PRIETO TOURS 

Avenida Francia #125 Gazcue 

Santo Domingo 

Tel: 809-685-0102/Fax: 809-685-0457 

prietotours@prietotours.com.do 

prietotours.com.do 

TRAVEL IN STYLE 

Av. Los Próceres no. 10 

Diamond Mall, local 45-A 

Santo Domingo 

Tel: 809-616-3000 

Fax: 809-549-6112 

dominicantravel.com 

sven@dominicantravel.com 

TRAVEL SERVICES RUSIA 

Carretera Bávaro, km 0 Plaza Costa 

Bávaro, local 102B Bávaro 

Tel: 809-552-6220 

Fax: 809-552-6334 

info@travelservise.com.do 

TURENLACES 

Calle “C” - #32 Reparto Esteva (Piantini) 

Santo Domingo 

Tel: 809-565-3500 

Fax: 809-565-1221 

turenlaces.com 

VIP TRAVEL SERVICES 

Plaza Cueva Taina Local D1 

Punta Cana 

Tel: 809-466-1101 

Cell: 809 284-9379 

Fax: 809-466-1010 

jgans@viptravelservices.com 

viptravelservices.com 

VIAJES BOHIO 

Benito Moncion No. 161 

Santo Domingo 

Tel: 809-686-2992 

Fax: 809-687-1912 

Boni Canto Rondon 

b.canto@viajesbohio.com 

viajesbohio.com

Many DMCs in 


can organize 

group side trips 

throughout the 

entire country. 


41

CONTACT: 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 

MINISTRY OF TOURISM 

Calle Cayetano Germosén, esquina 

avenida Gregorio Luperón 

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 

Phone: 809-221-4660 

info@godominicanrepublic.com 

NORTH AMERICA 

& THE CARIBBEAN 

NEW YORK 

136 E. 57 St. Suite 805 

New York, NY 10022, USA 

Phone: 212-588-1012/ 14 

Toll Free: 1-888-374-6361 

newyork@godominicanrepublic.com 

MIAMI 

848 Brickell Ave. Suite 747 

Miami, FL 33131, USA 

Phone: 305-358-2899 

Toll Free: 1-888-358-9594 

miami@godominicanrepublic.com 

CHICAGO 

180 North La Salle Street, Suite #3757, 

37th oor, Chicago, IL 60601, USA 

Phone: 773-529-1336/ 37 

Toll Free: 1-888-303-1336 

chicago@godominicanrepublic.com 

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO 

890 Ashford Ave. Suite C-3 Condado 

San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907 

Phone: 787-722-0881 

puertorico@godominicanrepublic.com 

MONTREAL, QUEBEC 

2055 Peel Street, Suite 550 

Montreal, Quebec H3A 1V5, Canada 

Phone: 514-499-1918 

Toll Free: 1-800-563-1611 

montreal@godominicanrepublic.com 

TORONTO, ONTARIO 

26 Wellington Street East Suite 201 

Toronto, Ontario M5E-1S2, Canada 

Phone: 416-361-2126/27 

Toll Free: 1-888-494-5050 

toronto@godominicanrepublic.com 


EUROPE 

PARIS, FRANCE 

22, Rue du 4 September 

75002 Paris, France 

Phone: 33-1-4312-9191 

france@godominicanrepublic.com 

FRANKFURT, GERMANY 

Hochstrasse 54 

60313 Frankfurt, Germany 

Phone: 49-69-9139-7878 

germany@godominicanrepublic.com 

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN 

Kungsgatan 37 

111 56 Stockholm, Sweden 

Phone: 46-8-120-205-37 

scandinavia@godominicanrepublic.com 

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM 

18-21 Hand Court 

London WC1V 6JF 

United Kingdom 

Phone: 44-20 72427778/ 

44-20 74054202 

uk@godominicanrepublic.com 

MADRID, SPAIN 

Calle General Yagüe #4 

Puerta 12, 28020 

Madrid, Spain 

Phone: 34-91-417-7375 

espana@godominicanrepublic.com 

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 

Ave. Louise 271 Louizalaan 

Bruxelles 1050, Belgium 

Phone: 32-2-646-1300 

benelux@godominicanrepublic.com 

MILAN, ITALY 

25 Piazza Castello 

20121 Milano, Italy 

Phone: 39-02-805-7781 

enteturismo.repdom@gmail.com 

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA 

C. Shpalernaya, 54, Of. A12 

191015 St. Petersburg, Russia 

Phone: +7 921 77 85 234 

russia@godominicanrepublic.com 

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC 

Stepanska 611/14. CZ-110 00 Praha 1 

Czech Republc 

Phone: 420-222-231-078 

prague@godominicanrepublic.com 

SOUTH AMERICA 

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA 

Calle San Martin 1143, 1er piso 

Buenos Aires, Argentina 

Phone: 54-114-312-2203 

argentina@godominicanrepublic.com 

SANTIAGO, CHILE 

Augusto Leguia Sur 79 

O cina 1105, Las Condes 

Santiago de Chile, Chile 

Phone: 56-2-952-0540 

chile@godominicanrepublic.com 

SAO PAULO, BRASIL 

Ave. São Luis No. 50 

Conjunto 91E-9 Andar 

Edif. Italia / Centro 

Cep 01046-926 São Paulo / SP, Brazil 

Phone: 55-11-2189-2403 

brasil@godominicanrepublic.com 

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA 

O cina 513 de la Torre A 

Edif. Teleport Business Park, 

Calle 114 No. 9-01, Santa Fe de Bogota, 

Colombia 

Phone: 57-1-629-1818/1841 

colombia@godominicanrepublic.com 

CARACAS, VENEZUELA 

Calle Villa or con Ave. Casanova, 

Edif. Of maker piso 1, O cina 1-3 

Sabana Grande, Caracas, Venezuela 

Phone: 58-212-761-1956 

venezuela@godominicanrepublic.com

Escape to Where 

it All 

Nothing says recreation, corporate 

getaways, or unique events like the 

sophisticated tropical luxury of all new 

Casa de Campo. Lobby spaces 

captivate. The new pool area dazzles. 

Restaurants like The Beach Club by Le 

Cirque and La Caña by Il Circo delight 

the senses. Polo, golf, sporting clays, 

spa days, nightlife, horseback riding, 

enhanced Elite rooms with updated 

design … this is the grandest chapter 

for an exceptional Caribbean program. 

Your story begins 

w w w.c a s a d e c a m p o.co m . d o 

For additional information, contact 

Group Sales at 800.336.5520 

305.856.7083 or direct at 809.523.8733

Escape to Where 

it All 

Nothing says recreation, corporate 

getaways, or unique events like the 

sophisticated tropical luxury of all new 

Casa de Campo. Lobby spaces 

captivate. The new pool area dazzles. 

Restaurants like The Beach Club by Le 

Cirque and La Caña by Il Circo delight 

the senses. Polo, golf, sporting clays, 

spa days, nightlife, horseback riding, 

enhanced Elite rooms with updated 

design … this is the grandest chapter 

for an exceptional Caribbean program. 

Your story begins 

w w w.c a s a d e c a m p o.co m . d o 

For additional information, contact 

Group Sales at 800.336.5520 

305.856.7083 or direct at 809.523.8733

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