Business and Leisure Travel

The Dominican Republic is larger than The Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands combined, and has the breathtaking scenery associated with these other popular island destinations.

The country offers around 1,000 miles of unspoiled beaches, as well as four mountain ranges. The country’s Pico Duarte is the tallest mountain in the Caribbean, at 10,700 feet above sea level.

Ramón Alfredo Bordas, Former Secretary of State for Tourism, says that while the sun and beaches are a big draw, eco-tourism and golfing holidays are becoming more popular. “We are now working very hard to increase our tourism, and we are going to spend USD 38 million in total to promote our tourism sector,” he says. “We would like to attract more tourists from North America.”

Bordas says that the country has much to offer the cultural tourist. The capital Santo Domingo is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the Americas, with the first-ever cathedral and the first court of law. It has excellent shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Santiago is the second-largest city, situated in the mountainous area to the north, and this is the capital of the cigar industry.

Centenario Inter-Continental Santo Domingo

“I guarantee we will give our best.”

Opening in 1994, the Centenario Inter-Continental, a member of the Bass group of hotels and resorts, has experienced tremendous growth and success. Its 200 air-conditioned, ocean-view rooms include 29 luxury suites and the elegant “Presidential” and “Jarabacoa” suites. With a full array of modern conveniences in each room, the Centenario affords an enjoyable experience to those on business or travelers coming to experience the wonder of Santo Domingo.

General Manager Jose Manuel Lovaton further elaborates on why visitors should choose the Centenario. “We give our best to exceed the needs of our customers and help them in every way to enjoy a pleasant stay,” he points out. With two restaurants, three bars, live music, a casino, Jacuzzi, land and water sports facilities and a pool, the hotel has everything for the perfect leisure vacation. “We also have a shopping arcade, car-rental agency and bank,” say Lovaton. “Our business center is fully equipped, and we can arrange everything for business presentations.”

With special programs like “business options” and the “2001 miles”, the Centenario offers even more advantages to its guests. And with the Dominican Republic’s growing economy and attractiveness to business, Lovaton believes the future is bright for both the country and the Centenario. “Already, 80 percent of our clientele are businesspersons. Our country is like one of the Asian tigers, and its greatest asset is its people. With our excellent facilities and superb staff, we intend to play a major part in the country’s economic success,” he concludes.

Apart-Hotel Plaza Florida

“At Plaza Florida, we treat our guests as family.

Pedro Elmúdesi’s father first came across the apart-hotel concept on a trip to Miami in the 1970s, and was convinced it would work in the Dominican Republic. When he opened the Apart-Hotel Plaza Florida with his cousin in 1979, it was the first-ever apart-hotel in Santo Domingo. Elmúdesi now runs the business with his cousin Laura Porcella de Aybar, making it a second-generation family concern.
According to Elmúdesi, “The concept was to have a small boutique hotel, not as expensive as a hotel, but with the same quality services offered at the major hotels. We continue working on the same concept on which this hotel was established.”

The Apart-Hotel Plaza Florida has 32 rooms in four categories: standard, special, suite and super suite. Each has a living room, dining space, fully equipped kitchen, central air conditioning, telephone, cable television, laundry service and safe boxes. As part of its expansion program, the apart-hotel is adding Internet connections, conference facilities and a café.

The hotel has always been a popular destination for long-stay business travelers, especially as it has a prime location in the city center, between the major roads linking the downtown area with the country. “We want all of our guests, corporate and personal, to feel like they are at home when they stay with us,” explains Elmúdesi. “This is very much a family business, and we are personally involved in the hotel. At Plaza Florida, we treat our clients as family, and it is our commitment to provide the best service and facilitate all of their needs,” he concludes.

Meliá Santo Domingo Hotel and Casino

“Everybody should know this paradise.”

The Meliá Santo Domingo Hotel and Casino has two goals, according to General Manager Antonio de la Calle. “We want to be known everywhere as one of the world’s most luxurious hotels, and we want to make the Meliá Santo Domingo a center for businesses and decision makers from the United States, Europe and the rest of the world,” he says.

This may seem ambitious, but de la Calle is confident about both the hotel and its ideal location. “This is the best country in the world, for business, for holiday, for living, for everything. More American firms are coming here, and we are positioning ourselves as the best hotel in the city. Already, we are the choice among crews from American airlines,” he says.

The Meliá, formerly a Sheraton for 20 years, was renovated to meet the high expectations of the contemporary business and leisure traveler. “All the rooms have a sea view,” notes de la Calle, adding, “We have 24-hour room service, our restaurant is always open, our spa should be finished in July, and we have a shopping center at the entrance of the hotel.”

For the business traveler, the Meliá offers a complete business center, as well as conference rooms and lounges which can accommodate from 20 to 700 people. “All the rooms have Internet connections, and our staff is there to assist with every need,” says de la Calle, adding, “Come to Santo Domingo, and let us personally introduce you to this paradise.”

Mercure Comercial Hotel

“We believe we offer excellent value.”

The brand-new Mercure Comercial Hotel was established in Santo Domingo in June 2000 and belongs to the Accor Hotels group, which owns 3,500 hotels around the world. This hotel has 96 rooms – two suites and 94 standard rooms — all with amenities such as air conditioning, cable TV, safes, direct telephone lines, and minibars.

The Mercure is situated in the center of the city, in the heart of Santo Domingo’s colonial zone, which is one of the city’s most picturesque areas, containing a number of historic monuments and buildings. The hotel’s location right in the middle of El Conde Street is ideal for dining and shopping. For those who prefer to dine in the hotel, the restaurant in the lobby serves quality local and international food, including French dishes, at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel can provide access to the local golf course, casinos and nightclubs. For business travelers, all basic necessities – such as fax services and direct phone lines – are provided.

Michel Asmar, General Director of the Mercure, feels that his hotel’s competitive advantage lies in its location and “French” style of service. The Mercure’s staff receives very good training and is multilingual. “We want to provide the greatest satisfaction to our customers. Overall, if you combine the quality of our staff, the comfort of our rooms, our key location and our prices, we believe we offer excellent value,” he says.

Business and Leisure in Mauritius

Le Prince Maurice

“We believe in excellence.”

Le Prince Maurice’s stunning entrance, with a teak bridge crossing two Moorish-style ponds, never fails to impress guests. Designed by the Mauritian architect Jean-Marc Eynaud, the resort-hotel’s pure and understated beauty has made it the island’s best-known luxury property.

“Every one of our guests says ‘oooh’ in his or her own language when they first enter the hotel,” says Patrice Binet-Decamps, Managing Director of the Hotels Constance group, which owns the Prince Maurice and others top-class Indian Ocean properties (Belle Mare Playa in Mauritius and Lemuria on the Seychelles).

The Prince Maurice, surrounded by its own extensive grounds, is located on the island’s northeast coast, just 28 miles from the airport and 22 miles from Port Louis. It offers 88 deluxe suites including 78 junior suites, some overlooking a white-sand beach, others nestled in lush tropical flora, and others on stilts above a pond. All suites have private balconies or terraces as well as Jacuzzis and other sophisticated amenities. The senior suites have private courtyards and their own swimming pools.

“We have three excellent restaurants and three bars, a library, a Guerlain beauty center, a state-of-the-art health and fitness center, a diving center, and a range of water-sports facilities,” says Jennyfer Marot, Communications Manager. A business center, three boutiques, and a children’s center round out the hotel’s offerings.

Their sister hotel Belle Mare Plage also has an 18-hole professional golf course, and the hotel is in the process of building another 18-hole course to cater to American golfers, which will open in early 2002.
The Prince Maurice was awarded the prestigious purple rating by the Relais et Chateaux luxury hotels organization last year. “Only a few hotels in the world achieve this award,” says Binet-Decamps. “We believe in excellence,” Marot adds.