The Grupo Viaggi del Ventaglio will be investing nearly US$70 million in the expansion of the Hotel Gran Dominicus in Bayahibe, in the Southeast Coast, half an hour from La Romana. The company also has plans for the construction of a 1,000 room resort in Pedernales, on the Southwest Coast of the DR. Jaime Lladó, general manager of the Gran Dominicus hotel, said that the second phase of the hotel calls for the construction of 250 rooms and two new restaurants. Construction is slated to begin within 60 days so rooms can be fully operational by spring 2000. Bayahibe is an area that is booming. New infrastructure in the area includes a private power company that will sell energy to area hotels (one of the owners of the company is Ernest Burri, former president of Codetel in the DR), as well as the construction of a highway that will link the picturesque town of Bayahibe to the resorts. Other resorts in the area are the Club Viva Dominicus and Casa del Mar, operated by Amhsa. A second Viva resort and a Coral resort are slated to open this winter. Private investors have plans for the construction of a golf course and a casino to service Bayahibe area guests.
