Cesar José de los Santos, director of Tourism for the North Coast announced that Riu Hotels will build a new hotel in Puerto Plata. The Spanish hotel chain already operates two hotels in the Maimón, Puerto Plata area (Bambú and Merengue) where the new 500-room resort will go up. Riu also operates three hotels in the East Coast (Palace, Naiboa and Taino). Likewise, Coral Hotels, a Dominican hotel chain, will be building another 500 hotel in the Costa Dorada, Puerto Plata area that is next door to the Playa Dorada resort complex. The Coral hotel would be the second in the area. Iberostar operates the Costa Dorada Iberostar. Coral has properties in Boca Chica, Juan Dolio and Dominicus beach areas. (5 July 2000)
