A new Club Med all-inclusive resort has made its debut on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. 

It’s called Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda, and its the first of the company’s luxe Exclusive Collection to open in the Americas. 

The 93-acre resort is the first major hotel to open in this corner of a country that is the Caribbean’s most popular tourism destination by volume.

The hotel is set across four “villages,” all of which are two stories or less, with a different ambience and philosophy in each village. 

That ranges from the Archipelago adults-only village, with 18 suites, to the 158-room Explorer Cove, which is focused on families and kid-friendly activities. 

The two other villages include the 111-room garden-set Caribbean Paradise, and the 48-room Emerald Jungle, part of the brand’s Zen Oasis adults-only concept. 

“The opening of Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda marks a huge milestone in Club Med’s history,” said Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO of Club Med North America. “This new resort embodies the strong trailblazing spirit at the heart of Club Med. We open our doors to travelers from all over the world in hopes that they too can experience what first drew us to Miches: the rich culture, the pristine and untouched beaches, the beautifully lush landscapes, and the welcoming, lively spirit that abounds in the Dominican Republic.”

Club Med’s Exclusive Collection is the highest tier of the company’s resort properties, “characterized by their premium accommodations, exceptional hospitality and personalized services, exclusively beautiful locations around the world, refined dining concepts and lounges, transformational experiences, and unique architecture and design elements,” according to a statement from the company. 

Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda joins just four other Exclusive Collection resorts, including outposts in Sicily, the Maldives, the French Alps and Mauritius. 

Club Med says the resort has an “eco-chic” concept, with a widespread green philosophy that has extended across the resort.

The property says it is installing a 45,000-square-foot solar panel project; an on-site nursery includes more than 30,000 new plants; there are no single-use plastics at the property and even the employee uniforms are made out of recycled plastic bottles, among other eco-friendly touches. 

The dining program, led by Executive Chef Thierry Van Rillaer, a veteran of several Michelin-starred eateries in Brussels, includes four eateries, four open-bar lounges, three wine cellars, a “locally-sourced coffee house” and what the company is calling a “Secret Chocolate Room.”

And with the brand’s longtime focus on being active, there are more than 25 sports and activities at the property, from flying trapeze and dance classes to a guided running trail and treetop yoga. 

For more, visit Club Med Miches in the Dominican Republic. 

— CJ