Palmera de Cabarete Resort & Spa, Opening 2011 in Dominican Republic, Taps Miami's KWE group inc. for Global Marketing, PR & Sales.

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (January 28, 2009) -- Palmera de Cabarete Resort & Spa, opening in 2011 as the first luxury resort on Dominican Republic's north shore, has named KWE group, a Miami-based travel, hospitality and lifestyle marketing firm, to handle global marketing and sales.  The $200 million, 138-suite resort is located on 19.5 beachfront acres on 1,000 feet of private shoreline, part of the largest expanse of uninterrupted beach in the Caribbean. 

 
The announcement was made by Darren Law, President and Chief Executive Officer of NID Holdings LLC, developers of Palmera de Cabarete.

 
KWE group specializes in luxury lifestyle with a focus on destinations, resorts and real estate, and is recognized as a thought leader in luxury lifestyle trends.  The firm is headed by President and Chief Strategist Karen Weiner Escalera, who will be responsible for the international marketing and public relations for Palmera.  Ms. Escalera was recently named one of the "Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing" by the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). 

 
KWE group's real estate division is directed by Vice President Sandy Carrier, a top real estate sales and marketing professional in the luxury market. The firm's program for Palmera de Cabarete includes international real estate marketing and sales including analysis and planning, sales strategies, development of an elite broker network program, and hands-on involvement in the entire sales process.  Ms. Carrier is a Certified International Specialist (CIPS), a charter member of the Broward Master Broker Forum, and an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), South Florida/Caribbean Council.  Her accomplishments include marketing and sales for Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Fla., Arvida's Weston luxury home community in Weston, Fla., EarthMark Companies' Mariner's Club in Key Largo, Fla., and the DUO luxury property on the Diplomat Golf Course in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
 

 
Palmera de Cabarete's management and design team enjoy a pedigree of the world's finest resorts, from Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos to The Regent Palms in the Turks and Caicos.  Plans include 138 one- to three-bedroom suites ranging from 2,000 to more than 4,500 square feet.  Three expansive, oceanfront freshwater infinity pools provide a focal point for Palmera de Cabarete Resort & Spa, and will be ensconced in eco-friendly garden landscaping. Amenities will also include a full-service branded spa and wellness facility, tennis, gourmet dining, conference facilities, room service, 24 hour concierge, and children's activity program.

 
Palmera de Cabarete Resort & Spa will offer the first five-star luxury living experience in Cabarete, the adventure sports capital of the Caribbean, offering world-class windsurfing, kite boarding, surfing, mountain biking, hiking, canyoning, and white water rafting.

 
Luperon International Airport in Puerto Plata is a half-hour drive from Cabarete.  Non-stop flights are currently available from Miami (two hours), New York (three hours 40 minutes), with convenient connections with major U.S. and international gateways.

 
Palmera de Cabarete's pre-opening offices are located in Chicago, Illinois and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Santo Domingo. - Canada ambassador Patricia Fortier said the growth perspective in the flow of tourists and investments from her country to Dominican Republic are promissory for 2009.

The diplomat, who met with Tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia to discuss the bilateral tourism agenda, stated her country’s interest in bolstering agreements on Canadian cooperation and investments.

Fortier said there’s currently "an umbrella of concrete possibilities" to expand the cooperation with the Tourism Ministry (Sectur), given the country’s increasing importance as a tourist destination, as shown by the sharp increase in Canadian tourists in the last five years.

The ambassador said she shares Garcia’s optimism with the increase of tourists from Canada, despite the economic crisis in the international market.

Only the United States surpasses Canada in the number of tourists, and posted a 17.9% jump last year, with 561,534 at the close of November, according to recent figures of the Central Bank.

DominicanToday.com, 22 January 2009
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2009/1/22/30843/Canada-ambassador-expects-more-tourists-investments-to-Dominican-Republic
 

SANTO DOMINGO. - Dominican Republic's financial system posted after-tax gains of more than RD$12 billion, or RD$2.6 billion more than the previous year, said a Banks Superintendence report released today.

"Of the total of these gains after taxes, multiple banks made RD$10.2 billion, almost RD$2.0 billion more than 2007, and equal to a yield of 39.1% on paid capital. The savings and loans associations poster gains of RD$1.2 billion, equal to a yield of 8.3% with respect to their asset reserves," it said.

The report, Dominican Financial System During 2008, notes that the world's economy underwent "an atmosphere of great turbulences in international the financial markets, which brought about the deceleration of the majority of the developed countries, the fall of the demand for goods and services, the contraction of international credit, as well as the increase  the financing costs."

"This international financial conjuncture presented some challenges at the local level. Those challenges were faced by measures of economic policy," adds the report, released in a press conference headed by Banks Superintendent Rafael Camino.

DominicanToday.com, 22 January 2009
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2009/1/22/30841/Dominican-financial-system-posts-gains-of-more-than-RD12B

Expansion allows for upsurge in arrivals, significant increase in tourism to the region.

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) located on the popular east coast of the Dominican Republic is introducing an ambitious expansion project in January 2009, which includes additional state-of-the-art technology and enhanced facilities for visitors. With this expansion, tourism officials anticipate the creation of hundreds of new jobs in Punta Cana.

The inauguration of the expansion of Punta Cana International Airport took place on January 20, 2009, with President Leonel Fernandez Reyna in attendance along with Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier Garcia; Nicanor Pena, Bishop of La Altagracia; Minister of Public Works, Victor Diaz Rua; and various members of the Board of Directors of Grupo PUNTACANA - Frank and Haydee Rainieri, Robert Kheel, Julio Iglesias and Oscar de la Renta. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the airport, which was the first private commercial international airport in the world.

"I feel great admiration for Mr. Frank Rainieri, because he was a visionary man when the situation was completely adverse to him and his plans", said Francisco Javier Garcia, Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic at the official inauguration of the Punta Cana International Airport expansion. "The Dominican Tourism Sector grew a recorded 2% despite the worsening global economy situation."

The expansion of the Dominican Republic's busiest airport is the result of a multi-million dollar investment by Grupo PUNTACANA, the owners and operators of the airport and the PUNTACANA Resort & Club. The renovation enables Punta Cana International Airport to fortify its position as a leader in the field by providing advanced equipment such as the only Doppler weather radar system in the Dominican Republic.

A new check-in terminal with forty stations and a new baggage belt system opens this month, with additional changes scheduled to be introduced throughout this year and next, including a new, larger runway; expansion of the existing taxiways; and construction of a new taxiway and control tower.

Additionally, Punta Cana International is the first airport in the Dominican Republic to implement the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Common Use Self Support (CUSS) Kiosk system, which includes new e-ticketing machines, baggage drop areas and 2D bar coding for boarding passes and baggage tags. Passengers traveling on commercial flights are able to print their tickets online or at airport kiosks, drop their bags at the bag drop area and proceed directly to the gate, thus reducing their flight check-in time and improving their experience by allowing them more time in the duty-free, food court and lounge areas. In cooperation with the Agriculture Department of the United States, a new inspection station has also been installed, with a modern X-Ray machine, to facilitate the pre-inspection of baggage.

"We are thrilled that PUNTACANA Resort & Club is celebrating 40 years as a world-class destination," said Mr. Frank Rainieri, President and CEO of Grupo PUNTACANA. "To commemorate this important anniversary and our status as pioneers in the development of privately-owned and operated international airports, we have expanded the Punta Cana International Airport. The expansion of the airport promises to draw more visitors to this magnificent destination, create jobs and generate increased revenue for the island."

Currently, Punta Cana International Airport is the leading point of entry to the Dominican Republic and the third busiest airport in the Caribbean, welcoming approximately two million visitors per year and facilitating air travel for the region's 25,000 hotel rooms.

As a result of the expansion, Punta Cana International Airport is now the only Caribbean and Latin American airport with direct flights from Russia (five per week) a key market for the region. Punta Cana International Airport currently welcomes 80 flights daily, serviced by 55 domestic and international airlines, from Latin America, North America and Europe. US carriers to Punta Cana currently include Allegiant Air, American Airlines/American Eagle, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, and USA3000.

Thanks to these new renovations, guests of Grupo PUNTACANA's hotel and real estate properties will have more time to experience some of the recent and upcoming enhancements at the resort, including Corales, the world-class golf course designed by Tom Fazio; and two new restaurants, all of which are set to open in early 2009.

About PUNTACANA Resort & Club

The development of Grupo PUNTACANA dates back to 1969 when Dominican businessman and hotelier Frank R. Rainieri and Theodore W. Kheel, the prominent New York attorney and labor mediator, created a partnership to construct a resort and real estate community that respects the natural habitat of Punta Cana while offering a world-class vacation experience. Maintaining a dedication to sustainable tourism, PUNTACANA Resort & Club has since grown to encompass over 26 square miles and now includes Tortuga Bay; Six Senses Spa; the PUNTACANA Ecological Foundation; four residential communities (Corales, Hacienda, Marina and Arrecife); a full-service marina; seven restaurants; a shopping village; two 18-hole golf courses (Corales, designed by Tom Fazio and La Cana, designed by P.B. Dye), with a third P.B. Dye-designed course set to open in 2009; and Punta Cana International Airport, a modern facility that incorporates innovative and eco-friendly design. In 1997, Julio Iglesias and Oscar de la Renta joined the Group as co-investors and have made PUNTACANA Resort & Club their home. Currently, Punta Cana is the most highly visited Caribbean destination and is easily accessible from all over the globe.

    For More Information Contact:
    Victoria Martinez/Louise O'Brien/Veena Raj/Daniel Hernandez Lyon
    Dan Klores Communications
    212-685-4300 

 
 
SOURCE PUNTACANA Resort & Club

Darren Law Appointed President and CEO of North Island Development, Developers of Palmera de Cabarete, Dominican Republic 138-suite Luxury Resort and Spa to Open in 2011.

Palm Beach, FL (January 7, 2009) -- Darren Law has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of North Island Development LLC, developers of Palmera de Cabarete in the Dominican Republic, a 138-suite five star beach resort and spa on 19.5 acres in Cabarete, located on the island's north shore.

 
Mr. Law brings 20 years of professional experience in hotel operations, development, and asset management to Palmera de Cabarete, opening in late 2011.  He is responsible for managing the preconstruction, construction, sales, and marketing of the resort, which is being built by a team of architects and designers whose pedigree includes some of the most renowned resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean.

 
Most recently, he was the Managing Director of The Hartling Group, Turks and Caicos' premier property development and management company, responsible for overseeing new projects and the performance of existing operations for the company's three hotels - The Regent Palms, The Shore Club on Long Bay Beach and The Sands at Grace Bay Resort.

 
Prior to joining The Hartling Group, he was General Manager for two of Conrad Hotels' five-star hotels in Egypt, the Conrad Cairo, and the Conrad Sharm el Sheikh Resort. During his tenure with Conrad Hotels, he was nominated Hotelier of the Year by the Middle East North Africa Travel Awards and Hotel Manager of the Year by the Global Hospitality Awards in Paris.  He has also held Area General Manager positions at Divi resorts in St. Maarten and  the Cayman Islands.

 
A native of Canada, Mr. Law began his career with Four Seasons Hotels. He is a graduate in hotel restaurant management from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and the University of Calgary.

 
Palmera de Cabarete offices are located in Chicago, Illinois and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  Darren Law is headquartered in the pre-opening office in Palm Beach Gardens.

La Vida Nica, the new rental and property Management Company at Gran Pacifica is really creating a buzz. "Live the life, leave the details to us." That is the slogan of La Vida Nica, the new rental management and concierge company at Gran Pacifica. Dane and Julie Thorwaldson, a couple out of Sugar Land, Texas, has begun working on site at Gran Pacifica managing the rentals of Las Perlas and the other homes that have entered the rental pool.

In addition to rental management La Vida Nica offers, with advance notice, transportation to and from the property, housekeeping services, refrigerator stocking, horseback riding, surf lessons, massage therapy, tours of Nicaraguan cities, and many other exciting opportunities for our homeowners and guests.

Please look forward to much more exciting news from this dynamic team in the future. We welcome La Vida Nica to the Gran Pacifica family, and we're excited about the fantastic value they add to the project.

SANTO DOMINGO. - With the presence of distinguished personalities of the local and international tourism industry, president Leonel Fernandez cut the ribbon of the new Sans Souci terminal at a cost of US$55 million , with the arrival of the Royal Caribbean cruise ship "Vision of the Seas," that will use Santo Domingo as its hope port home during the current cruise season.

In his keynote speech Sans Souci Ports president Lisandro Macarrulla cited the project’s benefits for the country. "Faced with the world’s economic situation and its possible impact on the country, it becomes essential that a project of that nature continues its development process within the established program. The operation of the new terminal and Don Diego port will create about 4,500 direct and indirect jobs."

He said the project’s first stage includes the construction of two terminals capable of docking three ships at once and after five years, a third and larger terminal will be built, to receive ships of up to 5,000 passengers.

So far the investment in the terminal, built on around 11,000 square meters, is 55 million dollars, Macarrulla said, but placed the final figure at around US$900 million.

In its different stages the project includes construction of high rise apartments, hotels and convention centers that will be built on lands of the Navy base, which will be transferred shortly to the community Boca Chica.

DominicanToday.com, 19 January 2009
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/tourism/2009/1/19/30798/Dominican-capital-has-a-new-US55M-cruise-ship-port

In a letter sent to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Dominican government says that the stress test carried out by the Superintendent of Banks "suggests that the banking sector can resist the current global financial conditions without any great problems."
 

"The banks are well capitalized, are earning money and are blessed with sufficient liquidity and solvency," says the policy letter that the government sent to the IMF as a prerequisite for a monitoring agreement, post-Stand-by.

The policy letter is a kind of letter of intent that is sent when an amplified agreement is being negotiated. The letter is published in several dailies today.

The Central Bank said that following instructions from President Leonel Fernandez, on 7 January the government's economic team presented the policy letter that will be read by the IMF Board of Directors for a monitoring agreement.

In the letter, signed by the Minister for Economy, Planning and Development Temistocles Montas, the Minister of Hacienda Vicente Bengoa, and Central Bank governor Hector Valdez Albizu, the economic team points out the maintenance of macro-economic stability, in spite of the upsets caused by the international economic crisis.

The letter details the actions taken to slow down credit by increasing interest rates three times during 2008, which helped to stem inflationary tendencies and maintain a relatively stable exchange rate.

The letter also admits to the need to implement a realistic fiscal program while at the same time ensuring that the combination of macro-economic policies promotes moderate growth with stability.

Managua, Jan 14 (Prensa Latina)Canadian Minister of State for Foreign Relations, Peter Kent, confirmed today his country´s will to maintain its support to the Nicaraguan government and people.

Kemt, who concluded Wednesday a visit to Managua, as part of a tour through Central America, met with President Daniel Ortega, foreign minister Samuel Santos and Canadian investors.

The official indicated that despite concern over the results of municipal elections held last November, his government would maintain cooperation with this nation. Canada and Nicaragua, he said, have had diplomatic, trade and cooperation relations for many years now, even during the hardest periods for the Central American region.

We, said Kent, maintain our commitment to work with the government of Nicaragua and the rest of the donor countries to support the country and guarantee a better future for Nicaraguans.

Prensa Latina, January 14, 2009
http://www.plenglish.com/Article.asp?ID={883AD90D-D0CE-4A3E-9B8C-141F02DE7738}&language=EN

SANTO DOMINGO.- The government expects around US$2.4 billion in foreign investments this year, announced several officials in the National Palace last night. They include housing, with participation of entrepreneurs form Spain, United States and the country, according to the officials.

Construction on some of those housing projects is set to begin in the next few days, they said.

Tourism, free zones, mining, agribusiness, biofuels, renewable energy are among the proposed projects, standing out the construction  5,000 houses for people of low income.

The officials said the houses are the first of 100,000 that Spanish, American and Dominican companies plan to build in a period of five years, to meet the existing deficit.

DominicanToday.com, 8 January 2009

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