Travel Agent - April 28, 2008 - (Page 66)

DESTINATIONS CARIBBEAN & THE BAHAMAS Wrapping Up DATE Travel Agent sums up the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange BY JOE PIKE opened in 1985. “But to say we would stop at $100 million or even $200 million would be wrong. Whatever it takes, we will do.” D.R. on the Rise Joe Pike and Dominican Republic Minister of Tourism Felix Jimenez TRAVEL AGENT RECENTLY RETURNED from the Barcelo Bavaro Convention Center where we covered the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE). The conference took place April 1-3 and we’ve brought back some notable news. Big News A marathon of press conferences for DATE kicked off on the morning of the event’s second day with possibly the biggest news to come out of the show. Barcelo Bavaro Beach Hotels & Resorts (www.barcelo.com) announced plans for complete 66 | TravelAgent April 28, 2008 refurbishments of all five of its properties in Punta Cana, beginning with the Bavaro Beach Resort, which will have all of its 600 rooms upgraded to Junior Suites. The five-hotel complex will then add a new golf course, casino, disco and theater within the next two to four years. Preliminary work on what has been described as “a project with no budget limit” began earlier this year as rooms were assessed. “Of course, we always have a budget, but this is something that will not have a limit,” says Juan Marques, director general of the Bavaro Beach Resort, which first The always-personable Felix Jimenez, minister of tourism for the Dominican Republic, began his press conference at DATE by announcing an 8.6 percent increase in tourism to the Dominican Republic for the first half of March, compared to the first half of March 2007. (Numbers for the remainder of March Sol Meliá Growing haven’t been tabulated yet.) For Perhaps the biggest news January and February combined, from the last day of DATE the country saw a 9.14 percent came from Sol Meliá (www. increase compared to last year. paradisusresorts.travel), which Jimenez says 3,027 hotels with owns a chain of hotels in a total of 63,000 rooms were Mexico and the Caribbean. The added in 2007. He also notes that company announced that its the government has spent $400 Paradisus Punta Cana property million to date in infrastructure recently began work to add 200 improvements and plans to spend rooms, which may be ready as another $1 billion before the end early as December. (We think of 2012. And the investment has that time frame is a bit too been paying off as the country optimistic for a project of this took in more than $4 billion in magnitude.) The smallest of the tourism alone in 2007, putting it rooms will be 75 square feet and ahead of oil as the country’s main about 30 of these rooms will resource. have swim-up access from the The opening reception of pool. I DATE drew nearly 60 buyer companies and CONNECTING YOU about 200 individual Care to see what else is happening in the Caribbean? buyers. It took Visit www.travelagentcentral.com/caribbean place on the same evening as the opening night of the all-inclusive Edenh Real Arena (www.edenh-realarena. com), which is where DATE’s reception was held. Travel Agent was impressed with this property after a site inspection of its more than 600 rooms. Particularly impressive was the Master Suite, which has two separate rooms, an open bar and—perhaps the room’s best feature—an outdoor bath. The room rate is $450 per person. http://www.edenh-realarena.coms http://www.edenh-realarena.coms http://www.paradisusresorts.travel http://www.paradisusresorts.travel http://www.barcelo.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/caribbean

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - April 28, 2008

Travel Agent - April 28, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor Africa: Where to Stay in the Gateway to Southern Africa South Pacific/Australia: Luxury Lodges in Queensland and Tasmania Pacific/Asia: Shanghai, China’s Cosmopolitan Powerhouse, Sees New Hotel and Cruise Development Canada: Downtown Calgary is Easy to Get Around and Filled with Historic and Cultural Attractions California: Laguna Beach Blends Culture with Coastal Beauty Florida: Golf, History, Food and Fun Defined Our Stay at the Renaissance Resort in St. Augustine Las Vegas: Vegas Hotels Gamble on the Allure of Men’s Grooming Pacific Northwest: Washington Inns Emphasize Local Charm Mexico: Tulum Comes Into its Own as a Luxury Destination Europe: Cruising the Mosel and Rhine Rivers with Amadeus Waterways Rudi Schreiner, President of Amadeus Waterways, Talks about River Cruises Caribbean: Travel Agent Reports From the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange The Slot Spot: Gaming at the Casino Dominicus Cruise: Suppliers and Businesses Use Ships as Springboards to Satisfy Enthusiasts’ Hobbies and Passions Key Legal Decisions Will Affect the Future of Alaska’s Cruise Industry Cover Story: Exclusive Beach Destinations Hotels: The Girlfriend Getaway is an Exploding Market Agent Profile: Sabine Harris’ Personal Touch Provides a Memorable Experience Virtual Tourism: New Websites Give a New View of Tourist Destinations Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Anguilla’s Cap Juluca Sold Aloha Airlines is Grounded Exorbitant Hotel Rates Make Alternatives More Appealing Koepf takes Helm at NACTA, Plans to Expand Membership In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - April 28, 2008

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