Above: the new Sheraton in Santo Domingo

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The new Sheraton Santo Domingo hotel held its grand opening in the Dominican Republic’s capital on Wednesday.

Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina officially inaugurated the property, which had undergone a major renovation project.

The hotel, which has 255 rooms and suites, is located on Santo Domingo’s Avenida George Washington.

The property is being owned and operated by Hoteles Nacionales; its $12 million renovation was a joint venture between Hoteles Nacionales and Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

Dominican Republic Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia said he had great optimism for the country’s hotel sector, in part due to the “new legal framework of the sector and investments made by the government in tourist areas.”

Medina followed his ribbon cutting with a tour of the property, which had been doing business as the

The property held its soft opening in March. It had previously been doing business as the Hotel Magna 365 during the upgrade.