In 1981, the JackTar Village hotel was born in Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata, one of the pioneers to be built in the bride of the Atlantic to house the first tourists who would come to explore the Dominican Republic as one of the new tourist destinations in the Caribbean.
271 villas built of one and two levels of concrete, on a plot of 99,000 square meters surrounded by beach and lush trees, gave life to the first hotel establishment in the country to debut the "all inclusive" concept, a modality on the rise in the Caribbean area.
Mileyka Brugal, marketing director of what is now called Blue JackTar, explains that the land that houses the infrastructure at that time belonged to the sugar mill and some lots were designated to be exploited for tourism.
In that first stage, the transfer of tourists to the hotel was included, thus giving birth to the tour operator system, with the person selected for the transportation of the tourists being her father Pablo T. Brugal, giving rise to the company Apolo Tours, the executive recounts.
More than 40 years later, the iconic hotel, now owned by the Brugal family, retains many areas of its original structure, adding modern elements, such as the restaurant, formerly a villa, now transformed into a modern space for guests to enjoy.
“The hotel part still retains the preserved facade of JackTar Village, since when we bought it 13 years ago the hotel name didn't exist, but rather Allegro Resorts, who were the owners. However, we wanted to bring back the original name because of its history, because it was a pioneering hotel and because it was always considered a quality product in the Puerto Plata area,” Brugal points out.
Mileyka Brugal, marketing director of BlueJactar. (Fidel Pérez/El Inmobiliario).
Upon acquiring the property, the Brugal family divided the concept into two parts: a hotel and a real estate development, creating the first five-story building in Puerto Plata and contributing to the area's vertical growth. Currently, there are two complexes, with a third planned.
The main reception area is another space that the Blue JackTar continues to operate. The vacation club, considered a premium area of the resort, is located there.
Of the original number of rooms, 85 have been renovated, with the wood paneling replaced by white furnishings. The hotel maintains an average annual occupancy rate of 70%, attracting business travelers during the week and families on weekends. It is also a popular venue for weddings and birthday celebrations.
With the transformation process it has undergone, the JackTar does not include the all-inclusive option in its current offering, and although the Brugal family acquired the land for real estate development, they decided to leave a piece of nostalgia, maintaining access for the public who wish to experience it from one of the emblematic spaces of the birth of tourism in Puerto Plata.
“We want to maintain the nostalgia of a Puerto Plata from the 80s, wanting it to be more like the open product it is today. Here we give beach access to anyone who wants to come and they only consume what they like.”.
Originally published in the print edition of El Inmobiliario .
