50 years celebration of Grupo Puntacana pioneers tourism in the Dominican Republic
The Puntacana Group is a pioneer organization in sustainable tourism, with an umbrella of 18,000 direct and indirect collaborators, making Punta Cana the leading destination of the Insular Caribbean and Central America.
Punta Cana, La Altagracia, R.D.- Grupo Puntacana began the 50th anniversary celebrations of its foundation and the birth of a leading destination in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean, with a Mass of thanksgiving.
During the event, the president and CEO of Grupo Puntacana, Frank Rainieri, recalled that upon his arrival in the region in 1969, at that time called Yauya or Punta Borrachón, the dream and vision of creating a sustainable tourist destination and a community of Real estate development has been a reality thanks to the perseverance and work of many people.
“We are eternally grateful to the thousands of people who during these long 50 years have supported us, in one way or another, starting with those who have been part of the Puntacana Family and endorsed our philosophy, allowing us to overcome difficult moments, enjoy the successes, and grow until Punta Cana became the most important destination in the entire Insular Caribbean, ”said Rainieri.
Rainieri said that in the sixties 52 families lived in the area and today more than 140,000 people reside, experiencing the largest population and economic growth in the country.
He noted that Grupo Puntacana began with 20 rooms in the former Punta Cana Club, and currently has the Four Points hotels, The Westin by Puntacana Resort & Club, and Tortuga Bay, the only 5-diamond hotel by the AAA (American Automobile Association, for its acronym in the Dominican Republic.
He also noted that since its inauguration in 1982, the Punta Cana International Airport became the first private international commercial airfield in the world, with an average traffic of 8 million passengers per year, and connecting 100 cities and 28 countries
The company is also distinguished by having the only Six Senses Spa in the Caribbean, the Oscar de la Renta Tennis Center, the Grupo Puntacana Foundation, eight residential communities, more than 14 restaurants and bars, the Galerias Puntacana and BlueMall Puntacana shopping centers, and 45 holes in world class golf courses.
The Mass was officiated by his Most Reverend Excellency, Mons. Antonio Camilo González, Bishop Emeritus of La Vega; His Most Reverend Excellency, Monsignor Gregorio Nicanor Peña, Bishop of the Diocese of Our Lady of La Altagracia; and his Most Reverend Excellency, Msgr. Santiago Rodríguez Rodríguez, in the presence of shareholders, government officials, owners and other relatives.
