Banco de Reservas inaugurated its Cultural Center, which will operate in the restored facilities of the iconic Hotel Mercedes. The ceremony was led by President Luis Abinader , who highlighted the opening of this new space dedicated to culture and art in the northern region.
The CEO of Banreservas , Leonardo Aguilera, stated that the transformation of the legendary Hotel Mercedes into the Banreservas Santiago Cultural Center demonstrates that stories do not die, but rather become "a thread that unites us, that reminds us who we are and who we can be."
He explained that in this new center, visitors will be able to enjoy art exhibitions , workshops, presentations, virtual reality rooms, conferences, and other creative activities that inspire dreaming, learning, and creating.
“Our institution has dedicated a substantial investment to this renovation; a respectable amount in financial terms, but one that pales in comparison to the magnitude of this project as a cultural landmark with unimaginable potential,” Aguilera stated.
The building was acquired by order of President Abinader and transformed by Banreservas through an investment of over 340 million pesos, in a meticulous engineering process that was highlighted by the CEO.
He argued that the renovated building is not just a physical space, but a collective dream come true: a beacon of culture and creativity that will be projected for generations in the very heart of Santiago.
He recalled that every corner of the old Hotel Mercedes holds a story. He highlighted, for example, its iconic Roof Garden, from where guests enjoyed a sweeping view of Santiago, with its lights, cars, and bohemian atmosphere; elements that will once again awaken the curiosity of present and future generations.
In recreating the history of the historic building, historian Edwing Espinal, a full member of the Dominican Academy of History, pointed out that the former Hotel Mercedes, now the Banreservas Cultural Center, reflects the spirit and thinking of Santiago and the entire Cibao region.
The opening ceremony was led by President Luis Abinader. (External source).
History of the Hotel Mercedes
The Hotel Mercedes was inaugurated on April 9, 1929. Built of reinforced concrete, it had 44 rooms distributed between the second and third floors, a dining room on the first floor, and a terrace on the fourth level, from where a privileged view of the city could be enjoyed. Among the notable events, the graduation of the then young Joaquín Balaguer with a law degree from the University of Santo Domingo was celebrated in its halls in 1929, and the dance festivals with the Hollywood orchestra in 1961 were famous.
Its rooms hosted illustrious guests, such as the American petroleum geologist Frederik Gardner Clapp (1935), the African American soprano Lillian Evanti (1939) and the renowned American journalist Page Cooper (1946).
In essence, its facilities represent a fundamental part of Santiago's social life and entertainment. Its walls witnessed events that marked an era and that are now being revived from a new cultural and artistic perspective with the opening of the Banreservas Cultural Center.
