Escarrer: “We will make the Meliá Punta Bergantín a real success”

Puerto Plata, DR.- The first hotel to be built in the Punta Bergantín project, the Meliá Bergantín Beach, marks a before and after in the Dominican Republic’s hotel industry, not only for the Puerto Plata destination, but also for the chain that supports it: Meliá Hotels International, as it is now expanding to the country’s northern coast.

And with almost 40 years in the Dominican Republic and five hotels in Punta Cana, Meliá is leaping, together with the Rainieri family, to open a state-of-the-art, 400-room hotel in the northern region, reaffirming its commitment and investment in tourism in the Caribbean destination.

Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Meliá Hotels International, said that throughout the chain’s years of operation, it has always been a pioneer in tourist destinations worldwide, and that the Dominican Republic, which continues to grow in tourism, would be no exception.

“Meliá was founded in 1986, and we’ll soon be celebrating its 75th anniversary. Over the years, we’ve been a pioneer in tourism destinations worldwide. We’re 40 years old in the Dominican Republic, and we’re committed to Puerto Plata with a project pioneering the active transformation of what is the destination’s second chance,” he said.

The executive explained to arecoa.com that the hotel project represents a challenge for Meliá, which holds a 20% stake in the total investment, as it is shared with the Rainieri and Brugal families, with support from Banreservas and Banco Popular.

“Being the first represents a very important challenge, but working hand in hand with the Rainieri and Brugal families , it is also an honor to have their support, as well as that of the Government, Banreservas, Banco Popular, and everyone else. I am convinced that this project has everything it needs to become our benchmark and turn Punta Bengantín into a high-quality destination, where the commitment to sustainability and social inclusion will be the focus of attention in all the country’s tourist destinations,” he stated.

Escarrer praised the synergy among the hotel families in creating the hotel in Puerto Plata, the second destination in the Dominican Republic where the hotel chain will operate, marking the return of the Rainieris to the North. “The Rainieris have been friends of the Escarrer family since the beginning of our establishments in the Dominican Republic. It’s a family we admire and share values: people, sustainability, excellence, doing things right, and preserving our legacy for multiple generations.”

He also stated that being the first hotel in the project carries a great responsibility, because not only does it do things very well, but it also sets very high standards and a high bar, and “we cannot allow the Meliá Punta Bergantín to fail to be a true success, and I assure you that you have my commitment, and I will do my utmost to ensure that it is a stylish hotel that attracts more investment, becoming a project that drives the positioning of Puerto Plata.”

Escarrer reiterated that the property will be a state-of-the-art hotel that will maximize environmental conservation; it will be sustainable, and its construction will generate significant economic benefits for the country, as very little will need to be imported, “because we are sourcing the vast majority of the materials from local suppliers.”