President Luis Abinader: “Miches is now a reality. What was just a dream a few years ago has become the new driving force of tourism in the East. Every opening here means jobs, development, and opportunities for thousands of families.”«.
Miches, El Seibo. – Yesterday afternoon, Montaña Redonda (Round Mountain) observed everything from a distance, its height a silent witness, alongside the tranquil murmur of the sea, to the ribbon-cutting ceremony inaugurating the Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton. This property promises a super-luxury stay and is part of the tangram of new investments in Miches, the jewel of the Emerald Coast, El Seibo.
And in that act in which President Luis Abinader cut the ribbon , surrounded by part of the Rainieri family, ministers and businessmen, lies the hope of a coastal community that is shaping its social transformation and betting on its economic development through tourism, as has been the promise of the businessmen and the government itself.
Frank Elías Rainieri (CEO of Zemi Hotels & Resorts): “Zemi is not just a hotel, it's a commitment to the future of Miches. This investment promotes infrastructure, job training, and a sustainable tourism model that prioritizes the environment.”
The new resort is the result of an estimated investment of US$225 million and opens with nearly 500 rooms , restaurants and leisure centers that aim to attract family packages and high-end segments.
Hotel management is handled by Hilton under its Curio Collection brand, which puts the project in the international spotlight and connects it with distribution and demand channels that previously did not reach Miches with the same force.
Kevin Morgan (Vice President of Development, Hilton): “Hilton is committed to expanding its presence in the Caribbean responsibly. Miches has the potential to become a benchmark for both inclusive and luxury tourism.”.
The Government and the promoters speak of thousands of jobs, both direct and indirect, related to the complex and of effects on the local production chain with the revitalization of construction, transport, food, crafts and complementary services.
In addition to complementary services, the training, demand for suppliers and pressure to improve infrastructure (roads, docks, energy and water) stand out, which, if well managed, can translate into quality of life for the population.
David Collado (Minister of Tourism): “In less than four years, Miches went from having a single project to having more than two thousand rooms under development. This signifies confidence in the country and generates wealth for the people.”.
Little by little, Miches is ceasing to be just a project: in 2025, several openings and construction projects have transformed the map into a scoreboard. In addition to Zemi (officially opened yesterday), the first half of the year saw the inauguration of Viva Miches by Wyndham, an initiative that brought another significant investment to the area. And at various stages, there are other projects totaling nearly 2,000 planned rooms for the area, a sign that this is not a fleeting change, but a systemic one.
President Luis Abinader led the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (External source).
The set of projects will generate more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, suggesting that Miches will cease to be an emerging destination and become the new tourist hub of the Dominican East, combining large-scale resorts with boutique hotels and ecological proposals.
The challenge ahead will be to maintain a balance between economic growth, environmental sustainability, and community well-being.
Miches Figures 2025-2028
| Project / Chain | Current state | Rooms (approx.) | Estimated investment (US$) | Expected date / Opening | Observations |
| Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton | Opened (October 2025) | 500 | 225 million | October 29, 2025 | Frank Elias Rainieri's project; Hilton brand; strong impact on employment and supply chain. |
| Viva Miches by Wyndham | Opened (first half of 2025) | 486 | 80 million | May 2025 | First major resort opened this year; consolidated the Viva Resorts brand in Miches. |
| La Quinta by Wyndham Miches | Under construction | 130 | 30 million | 2026 | Mid-to-high segment; civil works are progressing. |
| Downtown 7Palms Miches | Under construction | 200 (phase 1) | 50 million | 2026 | Mixed project (hotel + shops); local investment component. |
| VolaVille Hotel (aeronautical concept) | In early work | 180 | 40 million | 2027 | Airplane-shaped themed hotel; betting on experiential tourism. |
| Maralda Project / Oasis Group and Associates | In planning / initial phase | ~500–600 | 400 million (global) | 2026–2028 | Mega-development with hotels, residences and golf course; largest project in the pipeline. |
| Other smaller projects (boutique and ecolodge) | Various degrees | ~300 total | 30 million | 2025–2027 | Dominican-foreign joint investment initiatives. |
Estimated total of new rooms (2025-2028): about 2,000–2,200.
Approximate total investment: US$ 1,000 million (consolidated public-private).
Estimated jobs: more than 10,000 direct and indirect in the region.
The social challenge is as great as the economic opportunity. In the daily life of Miches, the arrival of international chains means more income, but it also requires clear policies: local technical training, land-use control, environmental protection (especially in coastal ecosystems and nearby wetlands), and mechanisms to ensure that tourism profits reach agricultural producers, fishermen, artisans, and micro-enterprises.
If the works are complemented by public investment in infrastructure and agreements that prioritize local hiring and service provision, the multiplier effect will be real; otherwise, the city could see unequal growth that increases inequality and pressure on basic resources.
The fifth poorest: El Seibo
Miches is a fishing municipality located in the province of El Seibo, in the East of the country, which ranks fifth among the provinces with the highest poverty rate, according to the report of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD) on the Poverty Map 2014, with an estimated 70.7% for the year 2010.
That's why the opening of the Zemi and the other hotel properties could signify a turning point: they place Miches on international travel routes , open new opportunities for local labor and small businesses, and force an acceleration of urban and environmental planning.
The promise is great; the challenge is to manage it so that the brilliance of the white guayaberas at the Zemí inauguration ceremony is transformed into shared well-being and sustainable employment for the people of Miches.
