Prevue July/August 2012 - (Page 48)

Dominican Republic [ON LOCATION] MONICA VILLAR The hotel industry talks shop at the Dominican Annual Travel Exchange This spring, we made our annual pilgrimage down to the Dominican Annual Travel Exchange in Punta Cana. The event was hosted at the 1,600-room Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe and the new 309-room adults-only Barcelo Bavaro Beach Hotel, located within the larger resort. We’ve been attending for over a dozen years and we’re always amazed each time by the evolution of the hotel product. Your attendees are also going to marvel at one of the world’s top 10 beaches and the warmth of the Dominican people. “When you come to the Dominican Republic you have to divide your time into part business and part pleasure so you can truly feel like you’ve gotten to know this beautiful country,” says Francisco Javier García, minister of tourism. “Our tourism product is more consolidated, it’s stronger and it has better energy than ever before.” Fresh off a $330 million renovation project completed 18 months ago, the all-inclusive Barcelo is located 20 minutes north of Punta Cana International Airport. For years, the mega resort was configured as five properties. Now there are just the two, making it easier for planners to organize events around the standalone convention center, expanded spa, large open-air theater and varied array of restaurants and lounges. “Now, more than ever, we are your complete package in Punta Cana,” says Teresa Tejeda, director of sales. This package includes the re-imagined P.B. Dye 18-hole golf course and Hole 19 restaurant, retail shops and aquatic park. Adults staying at the Palace Deluxe also have access to the facilities at the Beach Hotel. The 80,000-sf Barcelo Bavaro Convention Center received a makeover, as well as some of the rooms at the Palace Deluxe with soothing new colors of sand and sea. We like the hot tubs on the balconies, rainshowers, plush bedding and the simply spectacular beach views. THE WESTIN PUNTA CANA The big news this year is the December 2013 grand opening of The Westin Punta Cana Resort within the grounds of the sprawling PUNTACANA Resort & Club development. There will be 204 oceanfront rooms, 16 suites, three restaurants, a cigar bar and meeting facilities. Groups booking the hotel will have access to PUNTACANA’s 45 holes of championship golf, nine restaurants, Six Senses Spa and the sprawling ecological reserve. “We’re making sure that our restaurants and public areas are designed with groups in mind,” says Juan Pedro San Martin, commercial projects manager. “Plus, it’s only a 5-minute ride from the airport and we offer pick up service for our VIPs.” Also new within the resort complex, the 122-room Four Points by Sheraton PUNTACANA Village Hotel is on track to open in October with 1,700 sf of meeting space. 48 | prevue magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July/August 2012

Planner's Pick: Washington D.C.
Fresh Meets: Loews Hotels & Resorts
Bureau Buzz: Orlando
Good Business: Hyatt Resorts
Sea Shores: Celebrity Cruises
Creative Comfort Food
Caribbean + The Bahamas
On Location: Dominican Republic
On Location: Vintage Inn, Napa
Southern Soul
Vegas Eats
Chile + Peru
On Location: IRF Conference, San Antonio
Toulouse, France
Check Out: Eilan Hotel Resort & Spa

Prevue July/August 2012