The president said at the event that foreign investment is projected to reach $4.4 billion this year, noting that last year it was $4.1 billion and this year it is at $4.3 billion, so it is predicted that it will end up at $4.4 billion.
Although it has been in operation for four months, yesterday the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, officially inaugurated Cayo Levantado Resort, in Samaná, a commitment to wellness tourism, a trend that is growing in the world and whose scholars project that it will generate 7.9 billion dollars in 2025 globally.
The president said at the event that foreign investment is projected to reach $4.4 billion this year, noting that last year foreign investment was $4.1 billion and this year it is at $4.3 billion, so it is predicted that it will end up at $4.4 billion.
The sustainable hotel complex belongs to the Piñero Group and has 218 rooms. It was built with an investment of over 50 million euros. It aims to position itself as a benchmark for luxury tourism in the Caribbean region, emphasizing three fundamental pillars of sustainability: well-being, promotion of local culture, and preservation of the natural environment.
During the opening ceremony, the authorities toured the facilities, where they were able to explore up close the exclusive amenities offered by the resort, among which "Yubarta" stands out, a personal development space that arises with the intention of redefining the concept of wellness in the hospitality industry whose name pays homage to the native humpback whales of Samaná.
Yubarta was chosen as the place to officially inaugurate the hotel with the release of butterflies native to the Samaná ecosystem, a symbolic act that represents the hotel's connection with its natural environment.
President Luis Abinader with executives from the Piñero Group. (External source).
Encarna Piñero, CEO of Grupo Piñero, explained that tourism companies work with people's happiness "and that motivates us to continue innovating without losing our originality and a close and personalized service, something that in the case of Cayo Levantado Resort is possible thanks to the commitment and genuine kindness of our collaborators, most of them from Samaná, who also believe in the value of this project.".
The executive explained that during its first months of operation, the accommodation has not only received national and foreign tourists, but has also become a generator of jobs for the province and surrounding areas, creating around 500 direct jobs, of which 96% are Dominican, and 76% are from Samaná, contributing to the economic and social growth of the entire region.
Value proposition
With its innovative wellness program, the hotel stands out as one of the most novel offerings in the region, and boasts the Caribbean's first self-discovery center, Yubarta. This experience gives guests the opportunity, in just a few days, to access a comprehensive and holistic approach to well-being, encompassing the harmony of body, mind, and spirit through four distinct paths.
“One of the great strengths of Cayo Levantado Resort is the integration of local culture in every aspect, from its construction to its operation. During the renovation process, local designers, interior designers, and architects worked to capture Dominican authenticity in every detail,” said Piñero.
This project respects the conservation of the natural environment, implementing actions to minimize the ecological impact of its operations and protect the ecosystem. These achievements are due to the robust conservation measures implemented, in partnership with the Eco Bahia Foundation, during the first months of operation, carrying out research programs, environmental education initiatives, and protecting the delicate ecosystem—fauna, flora, marine resources, and protected areas—of the Cayo.
The project representatives explained that, with a view to finding clean energy sources, the hotel has photovoltaic panels and will recently install a waste biodigestion system, which generates energy for the hotel from the gas produced by the fermentation of the waste.
These initiatives cover a variety of aspects, from landscaping and revegetation work on the island to the implementation of a paperless check-in and a policy of eliminating single-use plastics in the hotel.
The main objective is to guide guests, through the activities of the Eco Bahia Foundation, towards a greater awareness of the importance of preserving the environment, offering them an experience that allows them to fully connect with the natural environment.
