Pictured from Left to Right: Jordan Samuda, Chief Administrative Officer, Sandals Resorts International; Biviana Riveiro, Executive Director, ProDominicana; Her Excellency Angie Shakira Martinez Tejera, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Jamaica; Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman, Sandals Resorts International; His Excellency Mr. Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, President of the Dominican Republic; Gebhard Rainer, Chief Executive Officer, Sandals Resorts International; Ramel Sobrino, General Manager, Sandals Resorts; Nicholas Feanny, Project Manager, Sandals Resorts International
Sandals’ senior executives have visited the Dominican Republic to scope out potential tourism opportunities.
The trip is the first official visit by the Jamaica-based luxury all-inclusive resort company to the destination.
Executive chairman Adam Stewart and chief executive Gebhard Rainer, both members of the Sandals Resorts International executive committee, toured the country and met with government officials, including the president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona.
The exploratory two-day trip followed a personal invitation by the ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Jamaica, Angie Shakira Martinez Tejera.
The tour included visits to Punta Cana, Miches and Las Terrenas. The itinerary was organised by the ambassador in conjunction with the ministry of foreign affairs and Biviana Riveiro, executive director of ProDominicana, and designed to showcase different parts of the Dominican Republic and explore tourism investment opportunities.
Stewart said: “We thoroughly enjoyed our brief but fruitful time in the Dominican Republic and wish to thank our hosts, especially president Abinader. When leadership at the highest levels makes time to discuss the power of tourism and investment opportunities that expand its reach, we know we’ve found a like-minded partner.”
Tejera said: “Like Jamaica, where Sandals hails from, the Dominican Republic is a revered Caribbean tourism destination and the [tourism] industry is critically important to our economy.
“It is a dream of ours to have the very prestigious Sandals brand present here. We are honoured by the visit and excited by the possibility of our island nation becoming the first Spanish Caribbean territory to welcome the Sandals organisation.”
