Prevue January-February 2011 - (Page 19)

prevue goes to punta cana: the leadership summit THe OPUS GROUP, PRevUe MAGAziNe, PlANNeRS + SUPPlieRS TAlk SHOP AMONG A DiveRSe RANGe Of GROOvy GROUP PRODUCT [on location ] laurel herman “Huge. Humungous. Ginormous, even.” That’s how the newly branded Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic describes its 7,800-sf Hard Rock Suites. Hey, who needs conference space with a bedroom like that? Prevue arrived on the scene as the exclusive media sponsor for the 10th annual Leadership Summit here last November, organized by The Opus Group event management company. The 1,800-room Hard Rock provided the perfect backdrop for the networking and product evaluation event because it is specifically designed for conference business. There's 65,000 sf of meeting space, a dual-lobby layout divided between business/transient, 11 restaurants including a couple 500-pax beachfront venues, and outdoor stage facilities for large-scale concerts. The tropical setting and all-inclusive value are further enhanced by Hard Rock's hip decor and group theme events like the "White Night Lounge Party." Paradisus Palma Real & The Reserve hosted a special offsite event in their beachfront ballroom, fitted with wraparound windows and towering ceilings that help keep groups connected to the balmy, breezy setting. The GABI Beach Lounge is a slick South Beach-style venue with flowing white curtains and hi-tech lighting. And we love The Reserve—an exclusive hotel-withina-hotel concept for lavish VIP soirees. For more info, check out both our Planner Pick and On Location stories online. Just south of Punta Cana Int'l Airport, the newly-branded and ultra-luxe Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana opened a new 20,000-sf Secrets Spa by Pevonia. The 9-room facility celebrates the rest of the resort's affinity for natural stone and wood materials, making this a very organic, free-flowing experience. The Cap Cana resort community is a complete destination experience with two Jack Nicklaus golf courses, a full-service marina and some of the most elegant dining rooms on-island. DOMiNiCAN DMCS Amstar DMC organized a special CSR excursion to a local school for the opportunity to interact with the community and donate needed school supplies. For some, this was their first experience with such a program. "We have that tour on a regular basis," says Jose Ramon Hernandez, Groups & Incentives Manager. "It's always a very emotional time for both men and women.... The people in the group have the chance to purchase coffee, cocoa, chocolate and cigars right from the people who make them." Amstar also arranged a boat tour to Marinarium Marine Park for swimming with nurse sharks and stingrays, followed by a ride along the coastline for lunch, laughter and merengue. Connect Travel Services DMC delivered a host of highimpact activities too. For example, many of the group opted for the golf tournament at the utterly spectacular oceanfront La Cana golf course at the luxurious PUNTACANA Resort & Club. Few would argue that Punta Cana has evolved into one of the great golf destinations in the Americas. The Opus Group: theopusgrp.com Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana: hardrockhotelpuntacana.com Paradisus Palma Real: paradisuspuntacana.travel Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana: secretsresorts.com PUNTACANA Resort & Club: puntacana.com Amstar DMC: amstargroups.com Connect Travel Services: connecttravelservices.com Hard Rock Suite @ Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana ”amstar dmc organized a special csr excursion.” prevueonline.net | 19 http://www.theopusgrp.com http://www.hardrockhotelpuntacana.com http://paradisuspuntacana.travel http://www.secretsresorts.com http://www.puntacana.com http://www.amstargroups.com http://www.connecttravelservices.com http://www.prevueonline.net

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue January-February 2011

RCCL's Allure of the Seas
Marriott Los Angeles Group
Brazil's Big Reboot
Seattle, Cleveland, Boston
Grand Hyatt Atlanta
Riu Panama Plaza
Casa de Campo, Dominican Rep
Punta Cana + Leadership Summit
Gaylord Opryland, Nashville
Florida Means Business
Switzerland
Designer Districts
Hawaii: The Big Island
Norfolk
Chicago

Prevue January-February 2011