Former Hotel Santo Domingo site declared public use for new convention center project

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican government has declared the site of the former Hotel Santo Domingo as land of public utility, paving the way for its demolition and future transformation. The once-iconic hotel, closed since 2013 and now in a state of decay, will be torn down in the coming weeks to make room for the construction of the new Santo Domingo Convention Center.

According to Decree 214-24, the land—currently owned by Costasur Dominicana, a subsidiary of Central Romana Corporation—will host a key tourism and events project for the capital, with guidance from IFEMA, Spain’s leading events institution. The site spans roughly 67,000 square meters at the intersection of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln Avenues, though the government intends to use about 34,000 square meters.

The project replaces an earlier plan to build the center on the site of the former Hotel Hispaniola, which was abandoned due to legal issues. By relocating the project to this strategic location on the Malecón, the government aims to revitalize the area with a high-profile development. The demolition also marks the end of an era for a building that once symbolized the elegance and ambition of Dominican tourism.