Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham reopens 200 rooms after Bayahibe fire

The Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, has reopened 200 rooms less than two weeks after a fire damaged part of the property, Tourism Minister David Collado announced.

According to Collado, the resort has begun a phased recovery plan and expects to restore nearly all of its rooms within 60 days, allowing the hotel to fully resume operations during one of the country’s busiest tourism periods.

The Bayahibe hotel fire, which occurred on June 19, forced the evacuation of approximately 1,690 guests. Authorities confirmed the death of a 46-year-old Italian tourist, while several other people were treated by emergency responders. Officials continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

Collado praised the coordinated efforts of hotel employees, emergency responders, and government agencies, noting that thousands of guests and staff were safely evacuated and affected visitors were relocated to nearby accommodations. He added that the Ministry of Tourism and the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores) have supported the property’s recovery and worked through international tourism promotion offices to keep key travel markets informed.

The minister also said the government and the private sector are helping compensate affected guests and replace belongings lost during the incident.

Despite the fire, Collado stressed that tourism in Bayahibe and surrounding destinations continued operating normally. He noted that the nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, part of the same resort complex, was not affected and remained open throughout the emergency.