By the Caribbean Journal staff

The initial phase of one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated tourism developments has officially launched.

The Puntarena development, billed as the Puntacana of the southern Dominican Republic, has unveiled its new “Casa Club Puntarena,” a luxury beach club.

The beach club is home to a restaurant, bar, kitchen and a spectacular terrace and pool with a panoramic view of the sea.

Also this week, Puntarena broke ground on the initial hotel phase of its project, a boutique beach hotel, with Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina on hand for the ceremony.

The hotel project will begin with 90 rooms.

Puntarena is the brainchild of Grupo Puntacana’s Frank Ranieri, who is also the CEO of Puntarena.