On Thursday, 27 March, the Santo Domingo Sheraton reopened for business in Santo Domingo. Paula Lama, vice president for the Hoteles Nacionales that owns the property, said that the reopening is part of the transformation of the hotel industry in Santo Domingo and new initiatives for promoting the city as a prime tourism destination. She highlighted the fact that the new highways from Punta Cana and La Romana make it easier for visitors to come to the city. “The Colonial City is the big draw,” she said. “These are strategic times to position the city as a tourism destination,” she stressed.
Zenon Jimenez, sales director at the 245-room hotel, said that the city hotel is located on the Malecon and is only 25 minutes to the Las Americas International Airport, 10 minutes to the city’s business and financial district, five minutes from the historical part of the city, and five minutes from the cruise port.
Jimenez said that 83% more meeting space was added in the remodeling making the hotel a preferred location for meetings, incentives, conventions and events. The Sheraton now offers 2,200 square meters of meeting space (more than 22,000 square feet) and 13 meeting spaces, including a large area of 828 square meters, and the new Malecon Terrace (tent) for social and business receptions for up to 1,200 people. All this plus the bonus of 300 free parking spaces for activities.
With the hotel open now, works will continue throughout the rest of the year in order for the full renovation to be completed by the end of the year.