SANTO DOMINGO. Businessman Fernando Hazoury will receive the "Businessman of the Year" award during the 2026 edition of the National Tourism Awards, for his career and participation in projects that have contributed to the growth of tourism and real estate activity in the Dominican Republic.
Hazoury chairs the Board of Directors of Cap Cana, a project that began its development more than two decades ago under a model that integrates tourism, hotels, real estate and other services linked to destination development.
Cap Cana expands its tourism and real estate offerings
Hazoury's management has accompanied the expansion of Cap Cana as a destination for tourism and real estate investment in the eastern part of the country, where hotel and residential projects continue to be developed.
In January 2026, the businessman reported that Cap Cana managed more than 16,500 rooms, of which about 9,000 were in operation, while another 7,500 were under construction.
The growth of this infrastructure reflects the expansion of the supply that sustains the development of the destination and opens up space for new investments linked to tourism and the real estate market.
When and where will the ceremony take place?
The fifth edition of the National Tourism Award 2026 will be held on October 20th, at 6:30 pm, in the Juan Bosch Auditorium of the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National Library, in Santo Domingo.
During the ceremony, businessman Fernando Hazoury will be recognized as "Businessman of the Year," an award that highlights his career and contributions to the development of Dominican tourism.
What does the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award recognize?
The award recognizes the career, leadership and contributions of entrepreneurs who have influenced the development of the Dominican tourism industry.
The recognition also considers the ability to promote projects, attract investments and generate economic activity around tourism, one of the sectors that maintains a close relationship with the country's real estate development.
In Hazoury's case, the award is linked to his career at the helm of Cap Cana and to the evolution of a project that has integrated hotel, residential and tourism developments for more than 20 years.
Leonardo Wehe received the award in 2025
In the 2025 edition of the National Tourism Award, the "Entrepreneur of the Year" award went to Leonardo Wehe, an entrepreneur linked to the tourism and cultural development of Cabarete and the northern coast of the country.
Wehe has developed projects related to the hotel, real estate, and tourism sectors, including Eden Cabarete, Icon Cabarete, Cabarete Country Club, and Hotel Villa Taína. His experience also includes initiatives aimed at strengthening Cabarete's cultural and tourism offerings.
The award given in 2025 precedes the one that Fernando Hazoury will receive in 2026 and shows how this category has highlighted entrepreneurs whose activity is linked to the transformation and expansion of Dominican tourist destinations.
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