Grupo Puntacana, leader in implementing strategies to combat sargassum

The Barna Management School Sustainability Research Center and Grupo Puntacana made known for the first time the research case “Fight against sargassum in Punta Cana”, where it was explained how in 2018 the Grupo Puntacana Foundation faced the massive arrival of seaweed to its beaches, joining forces with the technical departments of the business group to combat the plague, experimenting with different models of barriers in the sea and finally obtaining an effective prototype in containment tests that continue to improve continuously.

Jake Kheel, VP of Fundación Grupo Puntacana, assured that Grupo Puntacana has been a leader in experimentation in various strategies for the management of sargassum and recounted the ups and downs they have had as a destination to find lasting solutions.

“What is valuable is not solving the sargassum problem, but determining how we can manage it in the face of the environment, society and the tourism industry. Our philosophy has always been to share the experience, since we understand that through collaboration we advance in solutions, not only for the benefit of the destination of Punta Cana, but as a country ”, he indicated.

In this sense, Fernando Barrero, academic and research vice-rector of Barna Management School, gave an introduction to the case, pointing out the challenges that the Dominican Republic will face in the next period in the face of the sargassum problem and how Barna uses its Center for Sustainability Research to the analysis of scourges that affect the development of the nation to drive the business community towards an inclusive and sustainable economic model.

The event also featured a panel of experts moderated by Eric Moreno, a professor at Barna, and made up of the aforementioned Jake Kheel; Rosa Rijo, Sustainable Development advisor to the Ministry of the Presidency and expert in sustainability and corporate social responsibility; and Claudio Natella, general manager of Viva Wyndham Dominicus Resorts, who exchanged impressions on the origin, evolution and impact of sargassum on tourism in the DR, as well as possible solutions that exist to achieve sustainable development in the current business models of the sector.

As a representative of the Puntacana Group, was present Paola Rainieri, senior vice president of Public Relations, Communications and Marketing of the entity.

Rijo assured that the key to the fight against sargassum is to achieve public-private alliances in order to develop a platform where different actors are given the opportunity for dialogue, since joining forces would be the ideal setting to develop effective alternatives.

In the same vein, Natella expressed the need for tourism groups to join forces in the search for long-term sustainable options for sargassum.