Above: the new JW Marriott in Santo Domingo (Photo: Marriott)
By the Caribbean Journal staff
The first-ever JW Marriott in the Dominican Republic has opened its doors in Santo Domingo.
The 150-room property, which is located in the capital’s Piantini district, is located above the city’s Blue Mall within a 15-story tower that first opened in 2010.
“The inauguration of this project is a very special moment for the Dominican Republic,” Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia said. “It is a moment where we making history with the level of tourism growth.”
It was developed by Fondo de Valores Inmobilarios, led by Luis Emilio Velutini.
“We are thrilled to have partnered with Mr. Velutini on this project, and reveal our first world class JW Marriott luxury brand hotel to the Caribbean,” said Craig Smith, president of the Caribbean and Latin America at Marriott International. “This beautiful hotel brings the highest levels of accommodations and service to the Dominican Republic and is a great addition to the brand’s growing global portfolio.”
It is the first JW Marriott in the region outside of Mexico, home to the JW Marriott Cancun, but, perhaps more crucially, the property offers a series of amenities largely unprecedented for a business hotel in the Caribbean, including LCD TVs, Apple TV in every room, embedded TVs in the bathroom mirrors, Nespresso coffee machines and iPhone 5 docking stations, among others.
“The opening of this high luxury, sophisticated hotel marks an important milestone in the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry,” Velutini said. “With the thriving economy in the country and the success of the high-end Blue Mall complex, we are confident that this unique and visually stunning hotel will become a landmark in Santo Domingo attracting travelers and groups from all over the world.”
The hotel includes nine event spaces, including a 1,158-square-foot ballroom.
“Each JW Marriott delivers a warm, authentic, relaxed and elegant environment that is unique to the luxury segment, and we are thrilled to open our doors for business and receive guests to experience this incredible new hotel,” said Nigel Cook, general manager of the hotel, in a release.