DR1 Travel News - 16 May 2017

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Markham Roberts will be redecorating Tortuga Bay 
Strong first quarter in foreign tourist arrivals
New resorts for Cap Cana
Peter Cetera coming for Puerto Plata concert



Markham Roberts will be redecorating Tortuga Bay 
Known for his great eye for color, Markham Roberts will be bringing to Tortuga Bay, the boutique hotel of the Puntacana Resort & Club, the inventive combination of layered patterns and colors that have lead him to be known as a creator of "the very definition of chic."

Roger Belleti, general manager of Tortuga Bay, said during a press conference during the Dominican Annual Travel Exchange held in Punta Cana at the Barcelo Bavaro Convention Center that Roberts is working closely with property owners Haydee Rainieri and Annette de la Renta, widow of fashion designer Oscar de la Renta in the renovation of the Tortuga Bay interiors. 

Belletti said that they are updating the original vision of Oscar de la Renta for the Tortuga Bay boutique hotel. Remarking on de la Renta, Belletti explained that the goal is to preserve the great fashion designer’s “great taste, and his persistent first-rate vision for keeping the decor fresh, stylishly while exuding an ease and comfort in living spaces.” He said the plan is to carry the Oscar de la Renta vision forward and bring it to the next level of luxury and comfort. 

The hotel will close for the renovations on 15 July and reopen on 1 November, announced Alberto Abreu, general manager.


Strong first quarter in foreign tourist arrivals
The Central Bank reports that first quarter tourism arrivals reached a new record for the Dominican Republic. The total for the first quarter is 2,223,126 air arrivals, for a 6.4% increase, or 133,900 more travelers, compared to January to April in 2016. Of the total, 1,990,444 are foreigners (89.5%) and 232,682 are Dominican residents abroad (10.5%). 

The Central Bank reports that non-resident air travel to the Dominican Republic in April was up 15% compared to the same month in 2016. The Central Bank reports 557,518 foreigners and 72,722 Dominicans living abroad visited in April 2017. The Central Bank data analysis shows that non-resident foreign arrivals grew 16.8% with an additional 71,320 visitors. Non-resident Dominican arrivals increased 2.3% with 1,402 more visitors in April 2016. 

The Central Bank says that this year one has to take into account that Easter Week, the peak Dominican vacation week, happened 9-16 April 2017, affecting the number of hotel rooms allotted to foreigners this year, compared to 20-27 March 2016.  Taking this into account, the foreigner increase is even more impressive. 

The Central Bank reports there has been steady growth in travel to the Dominican Republic during April, with 502,854 tourists reported in 2015, 523,033 in 2016 and 606,325 in 2017. The 7.5% bi-annual increase has propelled the Dominican Republic to be the leader in tourist arrivals in the Caribbean. 

United States, Canada and Mexico provided 59.2% of the total tourist arrivals, 25.1% came from Europe and 11.2% from South America, 4.2% from Central America and the Caribbean. 

Most tourists (66.2%) arrived via the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), followed by 15.3% via Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo, 11.1% via Gregorio Luperon International Airport (POP) in Puerto Plata, 2.8% via the Cibao International Airport (STI) in Santiago and 2.7% via the la Romana International Airport (LRM) in La Romana. 

http://www.bancentral.gov.do/publicaciones_economicas/informe_turistico/informe_turistico2017-04.pdf


New resorts for Cap Cana
While Cap Cana initially began as a residential luxury area, it is taking off as a prime destination for resorts catering to tourists seeking rest and relaxation and slower-paced family fun, and gourmet culinary delights. Cap Cana is the beach and residential area south of Puntacana Resort & Club in Punta Cana. 

Eden Roc at Cap Cana, the boutique suites hotel, operated under the Relais & Chateaux European luxury offers guests 34 luxury villas with private pools, and new ocean front rooms at the Club de Playa Caletón beach club area. Demand has been so high that the hotel will add another 60 rooms this year. 

Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa (AmResorts), the 457-room adults only resort opened in late November 2016 right on the white sand Juanillo Beach. 

In Cap Cana, these hotels will be joined in 2018 by Playa Hotels & Resorts’ 750-room Hyatt Ziva (family)-Hyatt Zilara (adults only) also at Juanillo Beach. 

And Karisma Hotels and Resorts, that already operates the Nickelodeon Resort Punta Cana for family vacations in Uvero Alto, has plans to start construction of the 450-room adults only El Dorado Sensimar Cap Cana by Karisma with a planned 2018 opening. 


Peter Cetera coming for Puerto Plata concert
Peter Cetera will perform for the first time in the Caribbean with a show booked on 10 June 2017 at the Puerto Plata La Puntilla amphitheater. 

The legendary singer of “The Glory of Love” (Karate Kid) and “You Are My Inspiration” will entertain the audience in the new 3,000-seat Puerto Plata amphitheater at La Puntilla, with the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and the San Felipe Fort and a 500-year old lighthouse. The performance is scheduled for 10 June 2017 at 8pm. 

Cetera will perform songs from his solo career and his career with Chicago (1967-1985), including "Restless Heart", "Baby What a Big Surprise", "Stay the Night", "If You Leave Me Now", "You're the Inspiration", "Still Getting Over You", "The Next Time I Fall in Love", "No Explanation", “Wishing you Were Here”, among others.

His visit is part of his Latin American tour that recently took him to perform at Viña del Mar in Chile to an audience of 12,000. 

The event is one of the attractions of the Puerto Plata DR Open 2017, part of the Latin American golf tour organized by the PGA. 

Package deals including the show will be offered by Puerto Plata hotels for RD$10,000, RD$5,000 and RD$3,000. Tickets are for sale online at Uepa Tickets. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axSlMfTaiJQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUYxySgIqkQ