As the tourist arrivals increase in the Dominican Republic, the accommodation offerings are also expanding. The latest hospitality news is from Hilton that announced its first Curio Collection property.
Situated within the island’s largest territory of El Cibao, Hotel Santiago, Curio Collection by Hilton will offer upscale accommodation in Santiago de Los Caballeros, one of the Dominican Republic’s main financial, agricultural and cultural districts. The new hotel, planned to be LEED certified, will feature 177 well-appointed guest rooms, a vibrant rooftop bar and signature restaurant, meeting spaces, and an outdoor pool. Set to open in late 2022, the modern hotel will form part of Santiago Center, an upscale mixed-use development offering a variety of entertainment including more than 15 dining options, a shopping mall, local artisan market and children’s play area.
“Welcoming more than 6.5 million visitors in 2018, the Dominican Republic has shown steady growth as a tourist destination in the Caribbean – with travel and tourism accounting for more than 17% of the country’s GDP,” said Juan Corvinos, vice president, development, Caribbean and Latin America, Hilton. “As we continue to expand our portfolio in the Caribbean, we are focusing on markets such as the Dominican Republic where tourism plays such an important role in the country’s economy and where we can contribute to further growth across the destination by welcoming travelers with Hilton’s 100 years of hospitality experience.”
The hotel is owned by Green Earth Investments Ltd. — a company affiliated with the renowned Agora Mall situated in Santo Domingo — and will be managed by Trust Hospitality.
“As the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic, Santiago de los Caballeros continues to drive the country’s economic and cultural development, as a leading producer of tobacco, rum and cacao,” said Miguel Barletta, owner, Green Earth Investments Ltd. “We are excited to contribute to the area’s economic growth by forming part of Curio Collection’s portfolio of distinct and independent hotels, and together with Hilton, introducing travelers to the sophisticated comfort of Hotel Santiago.”
Guests of Hotel Santiago can plan to visit local attractions such as Monumento de Santiago and Centro Cultural Eduardo León Jimenes, or spend the day admiring street art or discovering a trail at J. Armando Bermudez National Park. They can also visit Cibao Stadium to soak in the atmosphere and get to know the most promising stars of Dominican baseball.
“We are proud to be in Santiago de los Caballeros and are committed to reflecting the city and region’s splendor throughout the property,” said Alejandro Gonzalez, owner, Green Earth Investments Ltd. “With locally inspired décor, including everything from traditional woodwork reminiscent of Victorian era architecture to an impressive collection of Carnival masks capturing the spirit of the destination, we look forward to welcoming travelers to a symbol of our Caribbean culture.”
Hilton currently has a portfolio of more than 150 hotels and resorts open to welcome travelers in the Caribbean and Latin America, including more than 20 hotels in the Caribbean. In its 100th year, the company continues to pursue additional growth opportunities and currently has a robust pipeline of nearly 100 hotels throughout the region, including nearly 20 projects in the Caribbean. Of these, there are Curio Collection hotels under development in the Cayman Islands and Dominica.
“With the Caribbean’s continued tourism growth, we are focused on furthering our brand’s portfolio to meet travelers’ demands in key markets across the region, such as the Dominican Republic,” said Jenna Hackett, global head, Curio Collection by Hilton. “With the signing of Hotel Santiago, we look forward to introducing a unique hotel experience that will create memorable moments for guests while immersing them in the destination’s rich culture.”
Hotel Santiago will form part of Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 18 distinct hotel brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard WiFi. Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app.
