Hotel glut in Dominican Republic´s capital worries hoteliers

Santo Domingo.- The SantoDomingo Hotel Association is pleased with the announced new hotel in Dominican Republic´scapital by the Hard Rock chain, but its executives also question the city´spreparedness for more lodging offers and more tourists.

"We have a seriousproblem with respecting traffic laws since the city is not a friendly city; youcannot walk on a sidewalk here, they are broken, dirty, dark, " said Associationpresident Roberto Henriquez quoted by diariolibre.com.

On Tuesday the NationalPalace said president Danilo Medina met with several tour operators of the HardRock chain who announced the construction of a 40-story hotel.

The information didn’tspecify the project´s cost and the number of rooms wasn’t initially disclosed.It was announced that construction will start in April, built on the corner of Lincolnand Aybar avenues, in the upscale Piantini sector.

The hotel would be the chain´ssecond in the country, the first Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opened in PuntaCana in February 2011.

"I worry about thelack of planning by the authorities in the sense that it increases more trafficand no parking," said Henriquez, also the general manager of the RadissonHotel.

In nearby Churchill Av.the Poma Group builds the Real Intercontinental Hotel, slated to open mid-year,and there are other projects in that same sector.

The National District’smore than 26 major hotels some 30 smaller ones account for around 5,000 rooms,while six new properties would increase the figure by 30%.