Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia was in Chicago last week for the Dominican Republic Day with the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field. The event was sponsored and hosted by Apple Vacations, the leading US tour operator.
The first 20,000 fans were presented with a commemorative poster featuring past and present White Sox players who hail from the DR. An estimated 35,000 filled the stadium. The game was won that evening by the home team, the White Sox.
Patricia Perez, director of the Chicago Tourism Promotion Office, was also on hand to receive the over 70 travel agents from the Mid West that met at the principal suite of the stadium to discuss travel to the DR with the Tourism Minister, 8 hotel partners from the DR and the top brass of Apple Vacations, including executive VP Jeff Mullen and senior VP Tim Mullen and company founder and CEO John Mullen.
One of the highlights of the night was when Javier Garcia threw out the first pitch and took a photo with pitcher John Danks.
Apple Vacations executives and officials from the Dominican Republic Office of Tourism took an on-field photo with Dominican White Sox pitcher Octavio Dotel. There was also an on-field performance by Dominican Republic Folkloric Ballet.