Starz Resorts announced during the Dominican Annual Travel Exchange the agreement with Counterpart International for the establishment of the first coral gardens in the Dominican Republic. The program fosters the renewing of coral reefs in the area. Sosua promotes itself as a diving and snorkeling destination and coral reefs are an essential part of its product. Company spokesman, Hans Dannenberg highlighted that the program is part of the new focus of the hotel industry worldwide that gives priority to contributing to the community. Ian Schembri-Sant, company president, was on hand to announce the start of the program Fundacion Ecologica for the conservation of corals. Ian Schembri-Sant: ?We have to have our windows open to the sea, but our doors open to the community,? he said, endorsing the new philosophy adopted by several North Coast hoteliers.
Xiomara Desimone of Starz highlighted work carried out by the hotel chain to back the kiteboard, cabarete windsurf, jazz festival events in Puerto Plata. And the programs with PUCMM tourism school in Puerto Plata to offer internships that can latter turn into permanent jobs with the hotels. Sosua Bay aspires to host DATE in 2006 at the new convention cednter with capacity for 1,000 square meters and 1,000 persons theater-style that is going up in Sosua and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Starz Resorts operates the Sosua Bay and Victoria House in Sosua, and Azzurro Club in Cabarete for the young set.