Santo Domingo.- Frank Rainieri, founder of the Puntacana Group, and David Collado, Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, have been named among the 500 most influential people in Latin America for 2024 by Bloomberg Línea.
Rainieri is recognized for transforming Punta Cana into a premier tourist destination in the Dominican Republic and Central America through his leadership of the Puntacana Group. He stepped down as president in 2021, passing the role to his son, Frank Elías Rainieri. Early in 2024, Rainieri was honored with the “Commendatore” title from the Order of the Star of the Republic of Italy for his contributions to international relations. He continues to lead the Puntacana Group Foundation.
Collado, serving as Minister of Tourism since 2020, is praised for his role in reviving the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry post-Covid-19. Under his leadership, the country welcomed over 10 million tourists in 2023, making it the second most visited destination in Latin America. Collado has a background in tourism and administration, with additional studies in public policy and digital marketing. He previously served in Congress, as president of the Tourism Commission, and as mayor of the National District. He now chairs the Acción, Emprende y Transforma Foundation and is involved in several business ventures.
Rainieri and Collado are joined on the list by other notable Dominicans such as Felipe Vicini, Héctor José Rizek Llabaly, Ligia Bonetti Du-Breil, Manuel Alejandro Grullón Viñas, and Stephanie Cabral. The list also features influential figures from Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and Bolivia.