July August 2014 Media Memo - FINAL

 Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism July / August 2014 Media Memo News: • Southwest Airlines Announces New Flights to Punta Cana • United Airlines Launches New Route Between Houston and Punta Cana • Hit Romance Series The Bachelorette Films Season Finale in Dominican Republic • Sheraton Santo Domingo Now Open • United Airlines Re-­‐launches Flights Between New Jersey and Santiago • JetBlue Launches Weekly Flights Between Boston and Puerto Plata • Dominican Republic Well Represented in TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards 2014 • Caribbean Journal Lists Casas del XVI and Sublime Samaná Among Caribbean’s Best Boutique Hotels • Two Dominican Hotels and Attraction Awarded TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence • Blue Diamond Hotels Opens New Upscale Adults-­‐Only Resort in Punta Cana • Dominican Republic Promoted as Filming Destination at Cannes • USA Today Names Casa De Campo Among Best Beach Resorts for Foodies • Embassy Suites Opens in Santo Domingo • First Dominican Golf Travel Exchange in September • Iberostar Hotels & Resorts Receive Recognition for Environmental Initiatives • Dominican Republic Sees Continued Growth in Tourism Numbers • First Dominican IMAX Theater Opens in Santo Domingo • Two Dominican Beaches Make Caribbean Journal’s List of Best Beaches for Everything • Damajagua Falls Sees Growth in Popularity • Iberostar Grand Bávaro Beach Resort & Club Receives Cristal International Standards 2013 Award • Tortuga Bay Property and Restaurant Receive High AAA Ratings • New Maimon-­‐Luperón Highway Begins Construction • Punta Cana to Host Caribbean Hospitality Investment Conference and Operations Summit (CHICOS) Southwest Airlines Announces New Flights to Punta Cana Southwest Airlines has announced its expansion into the international market, with flights to Punta Cana among the first routes to launch. The airline will offer daily flights from Hartsfield-­‐Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Baltimore-­‐
Washington International Airport (BWI), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) beginning Nov. 2. www.Southwest.com United Airlines Launches New Route Between Houston and Punta Cana Beginning Dec. 20, United Airlines will provide service between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). The year-­‐round service will operate on Saturdays, with some service on Sundays during times of increased demand. www.United.com Hit Romance Series The Bachelorette Films Season Finale in Dominican Republic Dominican Republic’s coastline and rich culture set the stage for romance in the two-­‐part season finale of ABC’s romance reality series The Bachelorette. The country’s stunning destinations of Punta Cana and La Romana served as the backdrop for the Bachelorette, Andi Dorfman, and her final suitors as their journey came to an end. www.ABC.Go.com Sheraton Santo Domingo Now Open The Sheraton Santo Domingo held its grand opening in late May, welcoming guests to enjoy their stay in the country’s capital. This newest addition to Dominican hospitality options is located on bustling Avenida George Washington near the historic Colonial Zone. With 245 rooms and suites, 13 function rooms, a casino, nightclub and much more, the Sheraton is positioned to host guests traveling on both business and pleasure. www.StarwoodHotels.com United Airlines Re-­‐launches Flights Between New Jersey and Santiago United Airlines has resumed service between New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Santiago’s Cibao International Airport (STI). Daily flights depart EWR at 9:00 a.m. and arrive at STI at 12:55 p.m. Returning flights depart STI at 1:50 p.m. and arrive at EWR at 5:55 p.m. This route is timed to provide round-­‐trip connectivity with Washington, D.C. and Chicago. The airline offers a total of 26 flights to Dominican Republic, with service to Santiago, Punta Cana, Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata. www.United.com JetBlue Launches Weekly Flights Between Boston and Puerto Plata JetBlue announced the addition of weekly flights between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP) in Puerto Plata. Effective Nov. 1, the airline will offer flights on Saturdays only, departing BOS at 10:30 a.m., with the return flight departing POP at 4:20 p.m. JetBlue also offers service to Punta Cana, Santiago and Santo Domingo from various U.S. airports. www.JetBlue.com Dominican Republic Well Represented in TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards 2014 Dominican Republic’s hospitality offerings were well represented in TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards 2014. Properties and destinations in Punta Cana, Bávaro, La Romana, Santo Domingo, Samaná, Sosúa and Cabarete were lauded in the following categories this year: Top 25 Luxury Hotels – Caribbean, Top 25 Hotels – Caribbean, Top 25 Small Hotels – Caribbean, Top 10 Hotels for Families – Caribbean, Top 25 Bargain Hotels – Caribbean, Top 10 Destinations – Caribbean and Top 25 Beaches – Caribbean. www.TripAdvisor.com Caribbean Journal Lists Casas del XVI and Sublime Samaná Among Caribbean’s Best Boutique Hotels Two Dominican boutique hotels, Casas del XVI and Sublime Samaná, were named among the best in the Caribbean by Caribbean Journal. Casas del XVI, located in Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, offers unique accommodations spread across restored 16th-­‐century houses, each with a distinct flair. Sublime Samaná boasts both mountain and beach views and a contemporary property designed to complement the lush natural surroundings. www.CaribbeanJournal.com Two Dominican Hotels and Attraction Awarded TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence The Quality Hotel Real Aeropuerto Santo Domingo and Xeliter Vista Mare properties and the Puerto Plata Cable Car each received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award 2014. The award recognizes excellence in hospitality and service and is awarded to properties that receive exceptional reviews from travelers on the TripAdvisor platform. Only 10 percent of properties listed receive the certificate. www.TripAdvisor.com Blue Diamond Hotels Opens New Upscale Adults-­‐Only Resort in Punta Cana Blue Diamond Hotels announced the opening of CHIC by Royalton, a 323-­‐suite all-­‐inclusive adults-­‐only resort in Punta Cana. Amenities include six restaurants, a spa, fitness center and free WiFi resort-­‐wide. The property is also home to CHIC Mansion, a luxurious 3,505 square foot, six-­‐room private residence available for booking. Guests who become members of the CHIC Diamond Club have access to a private lounge, which boasts a business center, exclusive beach area, butler service and more. www.BlueDiamondResorts.com Dominican Republic Promoted as Filming Destination at Cannes Representatives from Dominican Republic Film Commission were present at this year’s Cannes Film Festival to promote the destination to filmmakers, screening a detailed video overview of the country’s professional and location offerings. The country offers filmmakers modern studio opportunities and access to experienced local crews. With architecture ranging from rustic to modern and landscapes from mountains to beach, Dominican Republic has flexible locations suitable to films set in any time period. www.DGCine.gob.do USA Today Names Casa De Campo Among Best Beach Resorts for Foodies USA Today recognized La Romana’s Casa de Campo on its list of Best Beach Resorts for Foodies. The 7,000-­‐acre resort’s 13 restaurants offer diverse gastronomy inspired by a variety of cultures, such as Mediterranean, Italian, Dominican and Asian. Options range from casual dining to upscale cuisine, each perfectly complementing Casa de Campo’s luxurious amenities and activities. www.USAToday.com Embassy Suites Opens in Santo Domingo Hilton announced the opening of its new Embassy Suites property in Santo Domingo, the second of the Hilton Worldwide brand to open in the capital city. The 150-­‐suite hotel is located within the Silver Sun Gallery complex, Santo Domingo’s tallest commercial building, and offers sweeping views of the surrounding metropolitan area that complement the two-­‐room suites, modern restaurant and bar, 4,300-­‐square-­‐foot event space, up-­‐to-­‐date fitness center, outdoor pool and more. www.Hilton.com First Dominican Golf Travel Exchange in September The first Dominican Republic Golf Travel Exchange will take place September 1-­‐6 at La Romana’s Casa de Campo resort. Created to raise awareness of the country’s world-­‐class golf offerings, the event will serve as a place for golf tour operators, agents, course directors and hoteliers to network with one another while learning about what consistently makes Dominican Republic the top Caribbean golf destination. All attendees will have access to VIP tee times at designer courses such as Teeth of the Dog, Punta Espada Golf Course and The Lakes. www.DRGolfTravel.com Iberostar Hotels & Resorts Receive Recognition for Environmental Initiatives Six Iberostar properties in Dominican Republic recently received a Green Key award for outstanding sustainable management of water, waste, energy, personnel training and the environmental education of guests. The Green Key program is committed to conservation efforts and the promotion of sustainable tourism. Dominican Republic’s program branch is coordinated by the Instituto de Derecho Ambiental de la República Dominicana (IDARD). www.GreenKeyGlobal.com Dominican Republic Sees Continued Growth in Tourism Numbers Dominican Republic reported a growth rate of 18.4 percent in the arrival of foreign visitors in May 2014 as compared to May’s numbers in the previous year. The continued increase in traffic is a sign of healthy tourism in the country – international visitors flock to enjoy top-­‐notch Dominican hospitality options, pristine beaches, lush natural attractions and much more. First Dominican IMAX Theater Opens in Santo Domingo Palacio del Cine Blue Mall in Santo Domingo opened the country’s first IMAX theater, screening “Transformers 4: Age of Extinction.” Located at Av. Gustavo Mejia Ricart and Av. Winston Churchill, Blue Mall is proud to add this attraction to its offerings. Additional movies arriving soon include “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Ninja Turtles,” “Interstellar,” and “The Hobbit: Departure and Return.” The theater is also expected to appeal to guests of the JW Marriott hotel scheduled to open at Blue Mall in September. www.BlueMall.com.do Two Dominican Beaches Make Caribbean Journal’s List of Best Beaches for Everything Dominican Republic’s Cabarete and Bavaro beaches were featured on Caribbean Journal’s list of Best Beaches for Everything. The outlet recognized Cabarete’s aptly named Kite Beach for ideal kitesurfing conditions, citing it as a must-­‐
visit destination for the sport. Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana was named the best beach for jogging, due to its long stretch of sparkling white sands. www.CaribJournal.com Damajagua Falls Sees Growth in Popularity Puerto Plata’s Damajagua Falls has seen an increase in visitor numbers for the fourth consecutive year. Between January and June 2014, there was a reported 14 percent increase in visitors to the natural attraction compared to the same period in 2013. Dominican Republic works to facilitate sustainable tourism efforts that simultaneously allow visitors to both explore the country’s lush beauty and support the initiatives that maintain it. Iberostar Grand Bávaro Beach Resort & Club Receives Cristal International Standards 2013 Award Cristal International Standards – an international standard and safety inspection company – has named Iberostar Grand Bávaro Resort & Club as having the region’s highest standards in quality, hygiene and safety in food handling. The five-­‐
star resort is located just over 12 miles from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) in the popular Playa Bávaro, offering both families and adults an ideal vacation playground. www.Iberostar.com Tortuga Bay Property and Restaurant Receive High AAA Ratings The American Automobile Association (AAA) has given Tortuga Bay its highest 5-­‐Diamond rating for the third time. This rating recognizes properties with only the highest standards of excellence in service. AAA also recognized Tortuga Bay’s Bamboo restaurant, giving it a 4-­‐Diamond rating for food quality and service. The Oscar de la Renta-­‐designed property offers stunning views and ecologically responsible luxury. www.PuntaCana.com New Maimon-­‐Luperón Highway Begins Construction The construction of the country’s newest highway is underway to facilitate easier travel for both tourists and locals. The Maimon-­‐Luperón-­‐Puerto Plata road will link Dominican Republic’s Atlantic coast and most notably connect two large bays, making it simple for passengers arriving via cruise ships to Puerto Plata to explore the rest of the country. Punta Cana to Host Caribbean Hospitality Investment Conference and Operations Summit (CHICOS) On November 13-­‐14, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana will host CHICOS 2014. The 4th annual leadership meeting will be co-­‐hosted by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and HVS, a leading global hospitality consulting firm. The conference will feature panels led by leading investors, with other top developers and brands in attendance. www.HVSChicos.com News releases, images and the press kit also can be accessed from the official DR Ministry of Tourism website: www.GoDominicanRepublic.com. For additional photos, b-­‐roll and more specific needs, please contact Annie Holschuh (aholschuh@bvk.com) or AJ Trela (atrela@bvk.com), BVK Word for the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. ###