Bowing to the pressure being exerted in the Dominican Republic and in Spain by Greenpeace Spain, Spanish businessman Juan Jose Hidalgo announced he would desist from his plan to build a resort on National Park of the East property. Hidalgo had sought to develop his hotel after receiving an authorization to do so by President Hipolito Mejia. The concession, however, was in violation of the law and met with vociferous opposition from local environmental, touristic and civic groups that enlisted the support of foreign embassies and international environment organizations. President Mejia modified the bill to make it more palatable to the opposing factions, but Congress approved the bill with so many errors contained in its text that President Mejia had to revise it anew and return it to Congress where it is now pending approval and continues to meet with strong local and international resistance.
Hidalgo announced he would instead build a complex in Bavaro on the East Coast.
He confirmed his acquisition of the Hotel Hispaniola, which had previously been purchased by Public Works Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado.
Hidalgo is also the chief executive of Air Europa, which benefited travelers in the DR by offering discounted fares on travel to Spain.
These would be Hidalgo?s first venture into the hotel industry.