500 Room Zemí Resort To Open In Miches, Dominican Republic

Last Updated 1 year ago

Grupo Puntacana, one of the country’s leading hospitality firms, has announced an ambitious plan to build a 500-room resort in Miches, a growing ecotourism destination in northeastern Dominican Republic. The announcement is a huge achievement for the area, which is seeing more brands invest in new hotels, including Mexico’s Original Group, which is launching two new adults-only Temptation resorts there this month.

Set to be built in Miches, a trendy ecotourism region that offers unspoiled nature and miles-long white-sand beaches near Samaná, analysts say the new resort will help the area to attract more visitors. The new resort, called Zemí Hotels, will be large by Miches standards, adding some 500 rooms to the area’s inventory. There are currently only a few resorts in the lush region, but more are on the way.

New resorts require a massive investment, and Zemí Hotels is no different. Costing upwards of $150 million dollars, the new property is already attracting plenty of attention from investors and potential visitors. The new property will come with the usual amenities, including outdoor pools, lavish rooms that take advantage of Miches’ stunning tropical views, and plenty of fine-dining options.

Grupo Puntacana executives say the new resort’s goal is to offer visitors a unique experience that blends Dominican culture, including its Tainan roots and culinary arts, with local nature. Frank Elías Raineri, Grupo Puntacana’s magnate and mastermind behind the new project, revealed new details about the upscale resort, which he says could open towards the end of next year.

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In a Twitter post, the CEO published several renderings of the new massive resort, saying, “Zemí Hotels is a new accommodation concept in Miches (…) Coming soon!” The new property is a fresh start for the hospitality firm, which is looking to create something new in an effort to attract more clients and offer an original experience for visitors who are increasingly seeking options beyond Punta Cana and other packed resort destinations.

So far, Miches, located some 100 kilometers west of Punta Cana, has shown great potential as a new tourism hotspot. Situated along a pristine stretch of the Caribbean coastline, officials say Miches could see between 60 and 70 thousand new hotel rooms in the long-term future, although more than 3000 rooms are expected to be made available in the next year.

Grupo Puntacana is far from the only hotel firm in the industry to see potential in Miches. Original Group, a renowned Mexican hotel chain, is launching two new Temptation resorts in the destination this October. The new adults-only properties each come with over 200 rooms and reached an occupancy rate of over 70% even before opening. Temptation Miches Resort and Temptation Grand Miches Resort are all-inclusive resorts that offer visitors a chance to enjoy each other surrounded by pure tropical nature.

Meanwhile, Club Med, a French travel and tourism operator, was the first major international brand to set its sights on Miches. In 2019, the company launched Michès Playa Esmeralda, a resort offering 150 eco-certified rooms and suites, helping launch the location’s international appeal.

Temptation Miches pool area — Image courtesy of: Temptation Miches

Grupo Puntacana’s new resort announcement coincides with a sharp increase in tourism to the Dominican Republic, which is reporting back-to-back records for international arrivals. The tropical island is one of the fastest growing destinations in the Caribbean, and authorities in the sunny island are finalizing a new open skies agreement with the United States that is poised to make air travel more affordable.

Despite the yet-to-be-signed agreement, several U.S and Canadian airlines have announced new flights to the Dominican Republic this winter, including Toronto-based low-cost Sunwing Airlines.