The Pan-American Confederation of Hotel, Gastronomy and Tourism Schools (CONPEHT) awarded Frank Rainieri, founder of the Puntacana Group and vice president of the Puntacana Group Foundation, the Miguel Torruco Marqués Pan-American Gold Medal of Merit for Tourism for his great contributions and initiatives developed in favor of the tourism sector in the Dominican Republic.
Bolivar Troncoso Morales, founding member of the CONPEHT’s Honorary Council, accompanied by members of CONPEHT and executives of the Puntacana Group, presided the event that took place at La Cana Golf & Beach Club at the Puntacana Resort & Club.
Troncoso said the award celebrates Rainieri’s valuable contributions to the growth and development of sustainable tourism and his business model that combines environmental protection initiatives and social programs to the benefit of thousands of people in the province of La Altagracia and the rest of the country.
Speaking at the event, Rainieri challenged people to reinvent themselves. He said the tourism career of 10 years ago is not the same as it is today, or will be tomorrow. “The industry and the profession will continue to grow and there will be more demands for people to adjust to the new times,” said Rainieri upon receiving the medal.
“Punta Cana has been for me a life project and my great love. This has been a continuous journey of small achievements, achievements that would not be possible without the backing of my life partner, Haydée Rainieri, and the spirit of innovation of the collaborators who have made up the great Puntacana Group family. Recognitions such as these encourage us to continue working for sustainable tourism,” he said.
The visitors from the Pan-American Confederation of Hotel, Gastronomy and Tourism Schools toured the Puntacana Group Foundation’s community and environmental projects, such as the Center for the Fight Against Blindness, the Puntacana Children’s Diversity Center, the Oscar de la Renta Pediatric Care Center, the Caracolí Educational Center, Caracolí City, Punta Cana International Airport, the Sustainability Center and the Marine Innovation Center.
The Pan-American Confederation of Hotel, Gastronomy and Tourism Schools (CONPEHT) was founded in 1991 and is made up of 113 schools from the Americas, Spain, France and Switzerland. Its purpose is to contribute to the development of tourism through training, congresses, international internships, scholarships and recognition of those who contribute to its development.
The Miguel Torruco Marqués Pan-American Gold Medal of Merit for Tourism was established in honor of its founder, today Mexico’s tourism advisor to Mexican President Andres Lopez Obrador. From 2012 to 2017, Torruco Marqués was Secretary of Tourism of the Federal District.
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El Dia
8 December 2021