Puerto Plata is part of the operational map of some of the main international hotel chains, whose arrival and stay have marked different stages of the destination's tourism development.
Puerto Plata. – The Holiday Inn Cofresí Bay Area by IHG was inaugurated yesterday with the presence of President Luis Abinader, as a new piece within the process of reconfiguration of the tourism industry of Puerto Plata, which seeks to recover its position as a high-value international destination.
This 115-room hotel, designed to the global service and comfort standards of Holiday Inn, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, was built with a private investment of $26 million and its opening represents the sustained expansion of a brand that began operations in the country in 2009, marking the brand's official entry into the Caribbean.
According to data from the chain itself, with the Cofresí Bay they now have 12 properties under their umbrella, with the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands, distributed between Santo Domingo, the East region and now Puerto Plata.
inauguration
, the Dominican president emphasized that investment in tourism is a safe bet, underscoring that the return of international hotel brands to Puerto Plata is key to repositioning the destination on the global circuit and attracting loyal travelers seeking quality experiences.
For the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, this opening is part of a broader strategy to consolidate domestic and international tourism, combining infrastructure, connectivity, and diversification of the hotel offerings. He stated that each new international brand that arrives in the country reaffirms investor confidence and strengthens the Dominican Republic as a competitive hub in the Caribbean.
From the private sector, Ricardo Felip, partner and vice president of CHC HOTELS, the management company in charge of operations, highlighted that the Holiday Inn Cofresí Bay not only expands the lodging options but also raises the level of services available in the region, with attention geared toward the international market and experiences tailored to the expectations of the modern traveler.
Abinader celebrated the return of global hotel brands, such as Holiday Inn, to Puerto Plata, a destination recovering after periods of less dynamism in hotel activity.
In addition, the president highlighted key infrastructure projects, such as the awarding of the Amber Highway, which will reduce travel times between Santiago and Puerto Plata, as well as the recovery of tourist areas such as Sosúa beach, which, he said, improves connectivity and the visitor experience.
The project
The new hotel is located in an area that connects to key attractions such as the historic center, Isabel de Torres Hill, Playa Dorada, Cabarete, and Sosúa, and is projected to generate direct and indirect jobs, reversing stagnation trends in specific tourism segments.
For residents and tourists, the presence of this new Holiday Inn in Puerto Plata means more than just a hotel; it is a sign of the sector's dynamism, the confidence of global brands in the Dominican Republic's potential, and an incentive for the "Bride of the Atlantic" to reaffirm itself as a destination suitable for family stays, business tourism, and cultural experiences with international reach.
The Holiday Inn Cofresí Bay is part of a tourism diversification strategy spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism and other public and private stakeholders, which aims to boost not only traditional sun and beach tourism, but also segments such as business, events, and cultural tourism.
Its presence in Puerto Plata adds another piece to the mosaic of globally branded accommodations in the Dominican Republic and reinforces the country's image as a destination with mature tourism infrastructure, diverse experiences, and the confidence of international investors.
A little context
Puerto Plata was the birthplace of the "all-inclusive" model in the Dominican Republic in the early 1980s, and one of the first testing grounds for this format in the Caribbean. With the development of Playa Dorada and the arrival of European chains, especially Spanish and German ones, the destination positioned itself as a gateway for mass tourism to the country, supported by its proximity to Gregorio Luperón Airport and an offering that combined beach, historic city, and excursions.
The decline began to be noticeable in the late 1990s and intensified in the following decade, when the model became obsolete in the face of the aggressive Punta Cana, which offered a larger scale, more modern resorts, and land available for megaprojects.
The decline was caused by the deterioration of aging hotels due to insufficient investment in renovations, air connectivity issues, and a promotional strategy poorly adapted to new markets. This led to the closure or conversion of several establishments and a loss of competitiveness.
Over the last decade, Puerto Plata has begun a repositioning process, focusing on diversifying its tourism offerings, revitalizing its urban attractions, and attracting new brands, in an attempt to overcome the boom-and-bust cycle that marked its history as a pioneer of all-inclusive resorts in the country.
The cool breeze came from the sea
Tourist ports have been key to Puerto Plata's resurgence, restoring a steady flow of visitors and reintegrating the destination into international tourism without relying solely on the traditional hotel model.
The sustained arrival of cruise ships began in 2015 with the opening of Amber Cove Port, developed for the cruise industry and primarily geared towards the North American market.
That milestone marked a turning point: Puerto Plata once again received thousands of weekly visitors, revitalizing commerce, excursions, tourist transportation, and the informal economy linked to tourism.
This process was consolidated starting in 2021 with the opening of the Taíno Bay port, located in the city center, which directly integrated cruise tourism with the urban center, the waterfront promenade, Victorian architecture, and local cultural offerings.
Unlike Amber Cove, Taíno Bay focused on greater interaction between the city and visitors, promoting urban renewal and consumption outside the port area.
Together, the ports transformed Puerto Plata's tourism model: it shifted from almost exclusive reliance on all-inclusive resorts to a mixed model, where cruise tourism acts as a catalyst for commerce, cultural identity, and the revitalization of the destination, laying the groundwork for its current repositioning process.
Other chains
Puerto Plata is part of the operational map of some of the main international hotel chains present in the Dominican Republic, whose arrival and permanence have marked different stages of the tourist development of the destination.
These include brands linked to InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Accor and Hyatt, groups that operate in the country under different concepts, from urban and business hotels to resorts geared towards vacation tourism.
The presence of these chains, historically concentrated in hubs like Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, has begun to expand towards the north coast as part of a territorial diversification process for tourism, in which Puerto Plata seeks to regain prominence through an offering more aligned with international standards of service, connectivity and visitor experience.
