Convention center could attract larger international events to the Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo.- The construction of a dedicated convention center in the Dominican Republic could help the country attract more large-scale international conferences and strengthen its position as a business tourism destination, according to Martin Boyle, executive director of the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers (IAPCO).
Boyle made the remarks during SDQ MICE 2026, where he presented data showing the Dominican Republic’s recent growth in international convention tourism.
He said major international associations typically look for large, open and flexible venues that can be adapted for different types of events. A purpose-built convention center in the Dominican Republic, he added, could help attract larger conferences and congresses.
IAPCO recommends convention center for 3,000 to 4,000 participants
Boyle said the location of the facility would be particularly important, noting that it should have easy access to the country’s main hotels and transportation routes.
He also said the Dominican Republic should plan a facility capable of meeting the needs of the international meetings and events industry for at least the next 15 years.
A convention center with capacity for between 3,000 and 4,000 participants could be an interesting option for the country, according to the IAPCO executive.
Dominican Republic hosted 31 international events in 2025
Data from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) presented at the event showed that the Dominican Republic hosted 31 international events in 2025, nine more than the 22 recorded in 2024.
The country, however, remains behind several other destinations in the region. According to the figures presented, Costa Rica hosted 44 international events, Panama 45, Colombia 158 and Mexico 191 in 2025.
The figures underscore the potential for further expansion of the Dominican Republic’s MICE tourism sector, which includes meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.
Convention center project remains pending
The Dominican government has already taken steps toward developing a convention center in Santo Domingo. In 2025, it acquired part of the property where the Hotel Santo Domingo is located for the planned project.
Tourism Minister David Collado announced in June that demolition of the existing structure was expected to begin approximately three months later. However, construction work had not yet begun at the time of the report.
The proposed convention center is expected to play a role in the country’s efforts to attract larger international events and expand its business tourism offering.
