Known for its natural beauty, the Dominican Republic is an ideal Caribbean getaway for meeting and incentive groups looking to enjoy the great outdoors.
“We’re recognized for our pristine beaches, warm people and laid-back atmosphere, but the Dominican Republic is all business when it comes to quality service and extraordinary accommodations,” said Magaly Toribio, marketing advisor for the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. “Our experience hosting large-scale business events and countless group activities makes us an exceptional destination for business travel.”
The country has the largest number of rooms in the Caribbean, with over 65,000, according to the Association of Hotels and Restaurants. Ramon Rijo, regional managing director at IVI DMC2 in Punta Cana, noted the nation’s broad appeal.
“Its natural resources, diversity of fauna and flora are among the richest in the Caribbean,” he said. “Our turquoise shores and white sands, combined with sustainable development infrastructure, allows us to offer a range of activity options for incentive groups and corporate events.”
The Dominican Republic’s beaches are a natural fit for meeting and incentive groups, according to Deborah Euillot, a group planner at EITI DMC.
“Beaches are great places to organize teambuilding,” she said. “All beaches in the country are public, so there are no restrictions on setting up events.”
One of the most popular group beach activities is raft building, Euillot said.
“Teambuilding can also be paired with CSR projects; this is growing and becoming more popular,” Euillot added. “We have had CSR projects involving rebuilding a school.”
Staying In-House
Hoteliers are equally enthused about the Dominican Republic’s diverse natural offerings.
“The Dominican Republic is a popular choice in the group market for those looking to enhance their experience with outdoor activities,” said Patrick Smith, senior director of group sales at The Leading Hotels of the World, which counts Casa de Campo Resort & Villas and Tortuga Bay Hotel Puntacana Resort & Club among its member properties. “It possesses a wide variety of pursuits, from distinctive destination experiences to classic activities such as golf, tennis and sailing.”
At Leading Hotels’ Casa de Campo property, for example, meeting planners can choose from an array of outdoor group activities and venues. The Flamboyan Terrace can accommodate 250 for cocktail receptions while the open-air atmosphere of Lago Grill can host up to 200 seated for meals.
“Casa de Campo offers a taste of all the best things that the Dominican Republic has to offer,” said Andres Pichardo, president, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas. “We offer endless avenues for both work and play, including 15,000 square feet of recently renovated conference and meeting space and leisure activities that range from horseback riding along the Chavon River and polo lessons at the Equestrian and Polo Club to playing on three of the Caribbean’s top-ranked golf courses.”
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Even the biggest city, Santo Domingo, provides plenty of opportunities for groups to enjoy some fresh Caribbean air. The Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua Hotel & Casino, for example, has four outdoor event spaces: the ocean park, which offers views of the Caribbean Sea; the palm court, which is set next to the swimming pool; the waterfalls, which is graced with an attractive water feature; and the garden, which is a landscaped area that hosts a variety of events.
Elsewhere along the coast is Punta Cana, which as the Dominican Republic’s top tourism destination offers the most options for groups. Among the many all-inclusive properties is the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, with its spa and Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay open to groups.
The all-inclusive Paradisus Punta Cana organizes themed outdoor dinners, parties and cocktail hours, with personalized logos in the sand.
The property’s meetings team can also tailor its Life Enriching Experiences program, which includes activities like paddleboard fitness classes and aqua spinning, to meet the needs of groups, and organize outings like mangrove tours, biking tours and recycling workshops.
The nearby Paradisus Palma Real Golf & Spa Resort is equally adept at offering outdoor activities and venues for groups.
“We are located on one of the most beautiful beaches of the Caribbean, with miles of white sand, turquoise water and lovely palm trees that makes the destination an exciting and breathtaking location to hold events,” said Massiel Jimenez, the property’s groups and conventions director. “Guests love to enjoy the experience of something different like the sound of the ocean, fresh air and a starlit night.”
Iberostar offers a Fit & Fun program at its Bavaro Complex, with activities that include yoga classes, Aquafit pool workouts designed to relax and revive groups after long meetings, and a 60-minute “boot camp” that includes a menu of exercises.
Punta Cana’s Barcelo Bavaro Grand Resort offers scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking and windsurfing.
It’s easy to take groups off-property in Punta Cana as well. The DMC Connect Travel Services offers visits to sugar cane factories for samples of fresh produce, as well as zipline activities, all-terrain adventure vehicle rides, swimming trips to Hoyo Azul lagoon, catamaran excursions and Segway eco-tours.
IVI DMC2 organizes private group excursions aboard a “safari truck” into the countryside.
Rijo noted that the experience is immersive, allowing participants to “learn about the agricultural life of the locals, the plantations’ sugar cane, cocoa, coffee, bananas and other vegetables that make up the staples of local people. They will also visit a typical house and enjoy a succulent Creole lunch, with most of the dishes made from agricultural products harvested by the inhabitants of the area.”
For a more beach-oriented experience, IVI DMC2 can organize everything from sand-sculpture competitions to rope pulls and volleyball tournaments. In a destination as nature-based as the Dominican Republic, the options are endless.
