PUNTA CANA, LA ALTAGRACIA PROVINCE.- Within the framework of the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange, DATE 2024, Grupo Piñero, a leader in the tourism sector, celebrated the first edition of the "The +Ecoists Dominican Republic" awards.
This event, after two consecutive editions held in Spain, was conceived with the laudable purpose of highlighting business initiatives that contribute to environmental protection, recognizing the efforts of Grupo Piñero's national and international suppliers, collaborators, allies, and partners. The nominations were selected by a jury composed of Isabel Piñero, the group's CSO, along with members of the company's Sustainability Department.
The event was attended by David Collado, Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, Milagros Germán, Minister of Culture, Lidibert González, Director of Sustainable Production and Consumption of the Ministry of the Environment, and David Llibre, President of Asonahores, who, together with Encarna Piñero, CEO of Grupo Piñero, Lydia Piñero, President of the group's investment committee, and Isabel Piñero, CSO, were responsible for presenting the awards.
It also featured the participation of Marvin del CID, an audiovisual producer who has focused his professional career on highlighting the importance of Sustainable Tourism through images, achieving different recognitions worldwide.
During the ceremony, awards were presented to prominent organizations such as Banco Popular Dominicano, IDB Invest, the National Botanical Garden, Resicla, the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ), Suplitur, the Samaná Tourism Cluster, and Verafeca, in recognition of their efforts focused on environmental education, natural resource conservation, and waste management. These initiatives contribute to the fight against climate change, generating a positive impact on both the planet and local communities.
“The Los + Ecoístas Dominican Republic awards are a tribute to the commitment to sustainability in the country. At Grupo Piñero, we firmly believe in the transformative power of business actions that benefit the environment and communities. These awards are a well-deserved recognition of their active commitment to preserving our planet, inspiring others to follow their example and build a more sustainable future for all,” said Isabel Piñero, Chief Sustainability Officer of Grupo Piñero.
David Collado, Minister of Tourism, emphasized that Grupo Piñero is always innovating, demonstrating its commitment to the Dominican Republic. He stated that, unlike other business groups or investment funds that only seek to extract money from the country, they continue to invest and demonstrate a commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism.
On behalf of President Luis Abinader, Collado thanked the Piñero family for making these initiatives a reality, marking a long and precise path towards sustainability and safer tourism.
Finally, Encarna Piñero highlighted the commitment of the award-winning Dominican companies and entities, and the collaborative work they do to achieve the sustainable development goals set out in the United Nations Global Compact 2030 agenda.
"Their dedication to implementing initiatives that reflect their commitment to excellence and environmental responsibility makes them more than deserving of an award, as their work not only impacts the present, but also lays the foundation for a more sustainable and prosperous tourism future," concluded Encarna Piñero.
Artisan creates the statuette "The +Ecoists" Dominican Republic
As part of the recognition, Grupo Piñero, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the National Center for Handicrafts (Cenadarte), organized a competition to select the Dominican artisan responsible for designing the statuette awarded to the honorees. This competition not only promoted creativity and innovation in local artisan production but also highlighted the talent and skill of Dominican artisans
The piece titled “The Ecoists: More Hugs, Less Burns”, made with discarded mahogany scraps, a work by the young artisan Carlos Reyes Polanco, originally from Puerto Plata, was the winner.
According to the author, his proposal represents a father and son embracing a tree as a clear symbol of the energy exchange between human beings and nature, and an appreciation for life and the environment.
Reyes Polanco received recognition and financial support from Grupo Piñero to promote his profession, as well as the opportunity to exhibit and sell his works in the stores of the Bahía Príncipe hotels in the Dominican Republic for one year.
Milagros Germán, Minister of Culture, added that it is a true honor to be invited to participate in these awards, which recognize institutions that contribute to environmental protection through actions that counteract the effects of climate change. She also thanked the artisans who submitted their work for the award's design, as well as the Piñero Group for carrying out these kinds of activities that leave a lasting impact on our hearts and society.
The winner was chosen by a jury composed of Miguel Pimentel, visual artist and artisan designer, Luis Rivas, sculptor and designer of recycled art objects, Carlos Despradel, ceramist and professor of artisan design, Alex Matás, Director of the Eco Bahía Foundation, and Isabel Piñero, CSO of Grupo Piñero.
