Grupo Puntacana has been named “Person of the Year 2026” and “Young Marketers 2026” at Cannes Lions Dominicana
The initiative aims to recognize excellence and creativity in the country’s communications, advertising, and marketing industries.
Punta Cana, La Altagracia. – Grupo Puntacana celebrates the recognition awarded to several employees from its Marketing and Public Relations departments during the 2026 edition of Cannes Dominicana, an initiative linked to the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival, which annually recognizes excellence and creativity in the country’s communications, advertising, and marketing industries.
Among those honored was Manuel Sajour, Chief Marketing Officer of Grupo Puntacana, who received the “Person of the Year 2026” award, an honor that recognizes his career, leadership, and contribution to the development of the marketing and communications industry in the Dominican Republic.
In addition, Stephanie Rodríguez, junior marketing coordinator, and Rolando Devers, junior multimedia coordinator, took second place, winning the Silver Award in the Young Marketers category. As part of the competition process, Elizabeth Dotel, Communications and Branding Coordinator; Elena Ginebra, Public Relations Coordinator; Eric Rodríguez, Graphic Designer; and Ashley Ochoa, Content Creation Coordinator, also participated, serving on the team during various stages and advancing to the semifinals.
The Young Marketers category involved developing a strategic and creative proposal in response to a brief focused on a high-impact social issue. The challenge invited participants to reflect on which human value the Dominican advertising and marketing industry should promote in 2026 to help improve situations affecting the country, such as femicide, child abuse, corruption, and social erosion.
Participants had just 48 hours to conceptualize and develop a comprehensive campaign, which was then presented to a jury of ten prominent industry professionals, including agency directors and representatives from major national companies such as Banco Popular, Banreservas, and CCN.
During the competition, Grupo Puntacana was represented by several professionals from the Marketing and Public Relations teams, thereby reaffirming its commitment to fostering young talent, creativity, and innovation within the industry.
This year’s brief highlighted the power of communication as a tool for building culture and transforming social realities, challenging participants to create honest, strategic, and actionable proposals with the potential to generate real impact on Dominican society.
With these accolades, Grupo Puntacana continues to strengthen its leadership as a driving force behind creative development, professional excellence, and innovation in communications and marketing in the Dominican Republic.
About Grupo Puntacana
Grupo Puntacana is a pioneer in tourism development in the eastern region of the Dominican Republic. For 56 years, it has promoted a model of sustainable tourism through social and environmental innovation programs that have been recognized both nationally and internationally. Its vision has fostered a thriving community by promoting local culture, environmental conservation, and the creation of economic opportunities in the area.
