2008 Travel News Archive – Page 7

Few know that Frank Rainieri, the man that created the Punta Cana destination in the East, is related to the founders of the first tourism hotel in the Dominican Republic. Rainieri’s grandparents, Isidoro Rainieri and Bianca Franceschini, originally from Italy, migrated to Puerto Plata in 1898, and early on noticed there was a need for …

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Jasmine Spa opened in November last year and is probably the DR’s only mountaintop spa. Located on grounds that span 40 acres along the Carretera Turistica in the mountains near Puerto Plata, the spa is a four-room retreat surrounded by the organic food the clinic uses in its own menu and its spa treatment. Owners …

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Haydee Kuret de Rainieri was confirmed on Wednesday, 20 August as the new president of the National Hotel & Restaurant Association. She will preside the leading tourism organization from 1 September 2008 through 30 August 2010. As is the tradition in Asonahores, she was chosen by a consensus of member organizations — Playa Dorada (Roberto …

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The 3rd Punta Cana-Bavaro Jazz Festival will be held this coming Friday, 29 August and Saturday, 30 August at the Imagine night spot. Ernesto Veloz, president of the La Altagracia Tourism Cluster that is sponsoring the event, said Nestor Torres was coming for the event. Also, the Cuarteto Ritmico from Caracas, Venezuela, Rafelito Mirabal & …

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JetBlue has announced it will be flying non-stop to San Juan from Santo Domingo beginning 18 December 2008. This marks the first intra-Caribbean service of the airline. JetBlue fills the void left by American Airlines and American Eagle that announced flight cancellations on the highly profitable route. JetBlue announces that its fares will range from …

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The DR has started to be considered for fly-ins after the Airport Department and Institute of Civil Aviation convinced President Leonel Fernandez to pass Decree 169-08 that exempts pilots of small airplanes (up to 30,000 lbs and max of 12 passengers) from paying airport charges. At the same time, the government also allowed for minimum …

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JetBlue announces it will offer service this winter holiday season to Boston from Santo Domingo. This route is subject to government approval. The airline has also said it will add more flights on existing routes from New York to Puerto Plata, Santiago and Santo Domingo, again filling in for AA that is suffering from high …

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In its 22nd year, the National Hotel & Restaurant Association (Asonahores) annual trade exhibition opens Wednesday, 27 August at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel. The event continues through Saturday, 30 August. This is the largest Dominican tourism industry trade exhibition. It is open to the trade and also to the general public. Participants are companies that …

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The start of a Caribe Tours bus on the Santiago – Dajabon – Cap-Haitien route opens up the Citadelle Haitian monument as a new attraction for visitors to the Dominican Republic. The schedule, does not permit a one-day trip, however, as it is about a seven-hour bus ride. Thus, tourists going that way would have …

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Cabarete, Puerto Plata is proving itself as a leading worldwide laser sailing destination. Two months into the Olympics, several of the finalists came to train. As of Sunday, 17 August, one week into the sailing competition, and with only one race left, the top three leading men in the Laser class and the top woman …

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