President Leonel Fernandez traveled to Macao last Thursday, 11 November for the ground-breaking ceremony of the hotel and residential complex, the Westin-operated Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort, north of the Punta Cana area. The future five-star establishment calls for an initial investment of US$122 million over a 1.2 million square meter area. A second phase will see development of two million square meters. The developers have a purchase option for another eight million meters with a potential investment of US$400 million in hotel and residential property.<\/p>\n
In its first phase, the Westin will have 296 luxury rooms, at least 40 condominiums, 115 residential units, sports facilities and a Taino Indian museum. The resort will also feature an 18-hole Nick Faldo-designed championship golf course, spa, and conference center. The vacation center will primarily target the US and Canadian luxury tourist market, including Latin expatriates.<\/p>\n
According to Chicago architect Richard Knorr, the president of the Chicago architect firm Richard Knorr International, the DR is ?essentially an untapped luxury hospitality destination relative to its potential.?<\/p>\n
Knorr first came to the DR when he was hired as the lead design architect on the construction of the Citibank Tower at the Acropolis, the tallest high-rise in the country.<\/p>\n
He says that the DR?s greatest asset is its warm, friendly people and its rich cultural heritage.<\/p>\n
Knorr said that his company has a commitment to respect the environment and the local culture. According to him, their designs strive to adapt to nature, and not to have nature adapt to the development.<\/p>\n
In addition to Knorr, also present for the groundbreaking ceremony was Eduardo Fernandez for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the owners of the Westin hotel brand.<\/p>\n
The development is the third upscale residential community that has been announced for the area, following in the footsteps of the Punta Cana Resort & Club and Cap Cana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Leonel Fernandez traveled to Macao last Thursday, 11 November for the ground-breaking ceremony of the hotel and residential complex, the Westin-operated Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort, north of the Punta Cana area. The future five-star establishment calls for an initial investment of US$122 million over a 1.2 million square meter area. A second … <\/p>\n