NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA – February 5, 2020 – Executives from AMResorts®, an Apple Leisure Group® (ALG) company, today celebrated the start of construction on two new all-inclusive resorts in Miches, a secluded area in the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, during a groundbreaking ceremony attended by prominent government officials and local stakeholders. Two of the 18 management deals secured by ALG in 2019, Secrets® Playa Esmeralda Punta Cana and Dreams® Playa Esmeralda Punta Cana are the first AMResorts-branded properties in this region of the country, and bring total number of properties in the Caribbean to 20. During the last decade, AMResorts has increased its branded room inventory by nearly 300% and closed 2019 with over 24,000 rooms.
“These new deals underscore ALG’s unwavering commitment to the Dominican Republic and the goal of participating in unique projects that benefit our investors as well as the surrounding communities,” said Alejandro Reynal, CEO of ALG. “We will be working closely with our partners, as well as Miches residents, to ensure we exceed the expectations of the guests, while also bringing true, long-term value to the area.”
President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina; Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier Garcia; and Javier Luque, President of Inversora Playa Esmeralda & Fuerte Group, joined ALG Executive Chairman Alex Zozaya at the groundbreaking ceremony, where plans for the new complex located on Playa Esmeralda, 45 minutes from Punta Cana airport, were unveiled. Luque noted that the development of this project represents a major growth opportunity for the Dominican Republic, especially in the tourism sector, a major driver of the country’s economy.
These two new resorts form the backbone of the $400-million Playa Esmeralda hospitality development. Once complete, Playa Esmeralda will encompass nearly 1,500 hotel units, as well as a shared promenade, where guests from all hotels can mingle and enjoy a convention center, a theatre for live entertainment, ample retail offerings, and a state-of-the-art fitness center and spa. The promenade will also serve as the property’s main culinary hub, featuring diverse gourmet restaurants and elevated buffets.
On the initial phase, the Secrets and Dreams-branded properties will each encompass 750 luxurious rooms and suites, with 250 accommodations at each resort allocated exclusively for Preferred Club guests. Additional details on each destination below:
– Secrets Playa Esmeralda Punta Cana: Designed with the adults-only concept in mind, this intimate resort will feature four distinct bar concepts, four snack bars and a private lounge for Preferred Club members.
– Dreams Playa Esmeralda Punta Cana: Catering to families, the stunning resort will offer three snack bars, four bars, as well as its own Preferred Club lounge, an Explorer’s Club for Kids with activities for children between the ages of three and 12, and a Core Zone Teen’s Club with entertainment for teenagers ages 13 to 17.
“Miches is poised to become one of the Dominican Republic’s top markets for all-inclusive resorts,” said Javier Coll, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of ALG. “This area has been largely overlooked, despite its significant attributes; however, our team’s long history and proven experience in this market has allowed us to identify and move on this opportunity.”
As part of its commitment to driving positive economic impact throughout the emerging Miches, Playa Esmeralda is expected to help create over 2,000 new jobs in the region. Additionally, the development will bring a new network of roadways to the area, which will not only provide access to goods and personnel, but also improve the quality of life for nearby residents.
About Apple Leisure Group
Apple Leisure Group® (ALG) is the leading North American travel, hospitality and leisure management group with the only vertically-integrated business model, serving travelers and destinations worldwide. ALG consistently delivers exceptional value to travelers and strong performance to resort owners and partners by strategically leveraging the power of its portfolio of brands, including: the largest seller of vacation packages and charter flights in the U.S. for travel to Mexico and the Caribbean, moving approximately 3.2 million passengers annually through the well-established vacation brands Apple Vacations ®, BeachBound®, Funway Holidays®, Travel Impressions®, CheapCaribbean.com®,, Blue Sky Tours®, Southwest Vacations®, Funjet Vacations®, and United Vacations®; brand management of 5-star and 4-star luxury resorts through AMResorts® award-winning brand portfolio including Zoëtry® Wellness & Spas Resorts, Secrets®Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Now Resorts & Spas®, Reflect Resorts & Spas®, Sunscape® Resorts & Spas and Alua® Hotels & Resorts; best-in-class destination management services provided by Amstar DMC and Worldstar®, the exclusive loyalty program Unlimited Vacation Club®; and the innovative technology solutions provider Trisept Solutions®, connecting over 88,000 travel agents with leading travel suppliers. To learn more about the Apple Leisure Group advantage, visit appleleisuregroup.com.
About AMResorts®
AMResorts® collectively provide sales, marketing and brand management services to eight individually unique resort brands including Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets®, Breathless®, Dreams®, Now®, Reflect® and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas, and Alua® Hotels & Resorts. The AMResorts® Collection of Brands is continuously raising the all-inclusive concept to a new level of luxury with its signature Endless Privileges®, Unlimited-Luxury®, and Unlimited-Fun®programs. Located throughout Mexico, Jamaica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama, and Spain, AMResorts’ 69 award-winning properties treat every guest to premium accommodations, desirable locations and extraordinary inclusions. The brands in the collection include: Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts (zoetryresorts.com; 1-888-4-ZOËTRY); Secrets Resorts & Spas (secretsresorts.com; 1-866-GO SECRETS); Breathless Resorts & Spas (breathlessresorts.com; 1-855-65-BREATHE); Dreams Resorts & Spas (dreamsresorts.com; 1-866-2-DREAMS); Now Resorts & Spas (nowresorts.com; 1-877-NOW-9953); Reflect Resorts & Spas (reflectresorts.com; 1-855-4REFLECT), Sunscape Resorts & Spas (sunscaperesorts.com; 1-866-SUNSCAPE) and Alua Hotels & Resorts (aluahotels.com). Images, logos and informational material about the AMResorts® Collection of Brands and properties are available at amresorts.com/mediasite/media.
