The new  Secrets Cap Cana is now officially open.

Transitioning from a soft opening phase, the AMResorts property celebrated its grand opening Thursday evening coinciding with the Dominican Republic’s largest tourism conference, DATE: The Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange in Punta Cana.

The Dominican Republic’s major new adults only all inclusive property held a gala celebration event opening last night that was one of the more impressive resort opening ceremonies in recent memory, including a performance by the Youth Philharmonic of the Dominican Republic.

This is the 15th property in the Secrets Resorts and Spas portfolio and, officials told Caribbean Journal, the flagship property for the company, bringing AMResorts’ total number of Caribbean and Mexico resort properties to an impressive 52.

Alex Zozaya, CEO of Apple Leisure Group, was on hand to welcome industry elite, government and airline officials as well as the media and the press.

The grand opening Thursday.

“Apple Leisure Group sees continued demand for more and new product offerings for travelers around the globe,” he told attendees.

Looking ahead, by 2020, AMResorts expects to have over 100 resorts throughout Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.

Currently, AMResorts’ portfolio spans 30 destinations in eleven countries.

Secrets Cap Cana is a luxury 457-room adults-only resort set in the exclusive enclave of Cap Cana located in the greater Punta Cana region.

Amenities include Secrets’ trademarked “unlimited luxury” service including limitless a la carte restaurants with no reservations, 24-hour room service and private dining options.

The Youth Philharmonic of the Dominican Republic.

One simple feature we love in particular is the lack of wristbands — an idea we hope catches on in all upscale all-inclusive properties.
The resort is located on the spectacular Juanillo Beach and has a mix of accommodations, including bungalow-style and swim-out suites, along with a large infinity pool, 10 restaurants and a Secrets Spa by Pevonia.

Secrets Cap Cana guests can access a host of nearby amenities, including a Jack Nicklaus-designed championship golf course, a marina, stables, an equestrian enter with polo fields, watersports and a world-class sport fishing destination.

It’s a major addition to the Caribbean hotel market.

— Guy Britton reporting from Cap Cana

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The PGA Tour is coming to the Dominican Republic.

The Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, which has been part of the Web.com Tour, will become a PGA Tour event next season, PGA officials announced.

The tournament will debut March 19-25, 2018, the same week as the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.

Grupo Puntacana will serve as host organization and the Tom Fazio-designed Corales course will remain the tournament course.

The Corales course.

“We are extremely pleased to have this unique opportunity to elevate an outstanding tournament from the Web.com Tour to the PGA TOUR,” said Andy Pazder, PGA TOUR Chief Tournament and Competitions Officer. “With the tournament structure in place and a world-class golf course and resort in the Dominican Republic, the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship presents an exciting new playing alternative for our members. We look forward to working with Grupo Puntacana toward the debut in 2018.”

The Corales course, which first opened in 2010, plays along the sea, with six holes that play along the ocean.

“Hosting the very first PGA TOUR tournament in the Dominican Republic is an honor both for Puntacana Resort and Club and for the Dominican Republic itself,” said Frank Rainieri, Chairman and Founder, Grupo Puntacana. “This is an affirmation of the exceptional golf facilities we have down here, and we are thrilled to expose the international golf community to the Dominican Republic.”

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — In order to ensure the essential services to the public, the payment of the government payroll and the suppliers, Governor Ricardo Rosselló has notified the Fiscal Oversight Board (FOB) that the government of Puerto Rico wishes to seek protection under Title III of the…

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St. Vincent’s new international airport just get a major boost.

Air Canada has announced the planned launch of the first-ever scheduled flights from North America to St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ new Argyle International Airport.

The new flights will operate from Toronto to St. Vincent weekly on Thursdays on an Airbus A319 operated by Air Canada’s Rouge brand, from Dec. 14 through April 12.

It could prove a major boon for the airport’s hopes of attracting scheduled service from U.S. carriers and for travelers looking to reach the country’s sought-after vacation spots in the Grenadines chain, including private island resorts like Palm Island and Petit St. Vincent and the newly-launched Pink Sands Club on the island of Canouan. (Domestic carrier SVG Air is your best bet).

St. Vincent.

Air Canada also announced the planned launch of weekly Friday flights from Toronto to Belize City, operating on an Airbus A319, also opreated on Rouge.

“”Air Canada is continuing its strategic, global expansion with a diverse range of exciting new non-stop routes this winter,” said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. “The addition of the first long-haul, international scheduled service to St. Vincent in the Caribbean offers new choices for travelers looking to escape Canadian winters.”

The Pink Sands Club.

St. Vincent debuted its sleek new airport in February, which had until know only received regional scheduled flights and some charter flights.

— Alexander Britell

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BAVARO — One of the Caribbean’s largest and most important annual tourism events has opened with a gala event at the Barcelo Bavaro Palace Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

This week’s DATE, the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange, is being hosted by ASONAHORES, the trade association for Dominican Republic hotels.

The event is sponsored by JetBlue Airlines, which serves five destinations in the Dominican Republic.

The beach at the Barcelo.

Since its launch in the year 2000, DATE has been a fundamental part of the Dominican Republic’s tourism development strategy.

Recently, Dominican Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia said since 2000 the growth of tourism in the country has been 101  percent.

The Dominican Republic “will close 2017 with over 80,000 hotel rooms,” he said, nothing that the destination also had an 86 percent hotel occupancy rate for the first 3 months of the year.

This year’s DATE has drawn over 800 delegates from around the world, including buyers from all major source tourism markets including the major online travel agencies and travel sellers such as Expedia, Priceline, Trip Advisor, Travel Impressions, Cheap Caribbean and Apple Vactions.

All major hotels are represented this week, as well as destination management companies, local excursions and tours,  airlines, government tourism officials, media and the press.

This year’s event includes “The MICE -A Meetings, Incentive, Conventions and Exhibit hosted in an adjacent location.

The event runs through Friday.

— Guy Britton reporting from Bavaro

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