Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1542608
ATTENDEES IN DR ENJOY NATURAL BEAUTY AFTER MEETING DAY IS DONE By SONYA STINSON Sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, the Dominican Republic—or the DR, as it's commonly known—can claim the highest mountain and the largest lake in the Caribbean. Besides viewing (and maybe even climbing) the 10,174 ft. Pico Duarte and the 145-square-mile Lago Enriquillo, visitors to the DR will find an outsized list of options for outdoor adven- ture and sightseeing, as well as exploring the nation's history and culture. Eight international airports provide access to various destinations in the Dominican Republic, while cruise ports in five destinations can serve meeting groups and other travelers planning a gathering at sea. Visitors arriving from the United States, as well as most other coun- tries, do not need a visa to enter the DR, though a passport is required. On the southern coast, the nation's capital and largest city, Santo Domingo, boasts many international hotels with meeting and event space. It's a popular choice for international medical, legal and social science conferences. Along with its plentiful dining, cultural and nightlife attractions, the city is home to the Caribbean's largest botanical garden. A bike tour of the historic Colonial Zone, an evening of tapas, cocktails and mini plays at the Microteatro, or a karaoke night at one of the local convenience stores called colmados can be a fun way to experience some of Santo Domingo's authentic local culture. The Dominican Republic is responsible for nearly half the world's cigar produc- tion, and its second-largest city, Santiago de los Caballeros, makes 90 percent of the nation's cigars. One of Santiago's most popular attractions are the free tours of La Aurora Cigar Factory. Visitors to Santiago might also like to explore the handcrafts and traditional potions sold at the Mercado Modelo, the shops along the historic Calle del Sol or the art exhibits at the Centro León cultural center. The DR's main meeting and event ven- ues are found in the beachfront region of Punta Cana, at the country's easternmost tip. The largest facility is at the Barceló Bávaro Grand Resort, which offers more than 124,323 square feet of event space in 13 multi-purpose rooms that can accommodate up to 5,000 people. The largest hotel in the resort complex, the Barceló Bávaro Palace, contains 1,402 rooms. Meeting space at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana includes a 19,000-square-foot ballroom and 20 breakout rooms, with a capacity to hold a reception for up to 3,900. With 1,790 guest rooms, the all-inclusive resort is cur- rently the DR's largest hotel by number of rooms. Come spring 2026, the Hard Rock is expected to cede that spot to the new Moon Palace The Grand-Punta Cana, which will have a total of 2,171 rooms. This all-inclusive green-designed resort— featuring a spa, a Greg Norman golf course, and ocean or golf course views from every room—will also offer space for business meetings. Attendees looking for ways to spend their leisure time in Punta Cana can choose from an array of outdoor activities like diving, snorkeling, kayaking, parasail- ing, ziplining and taking a dip in one of the area's fresh-water pools known as ojos indígenas. They can also tour the Chocolate Museum to see the production and taste samples of the organic treats made in the country that's one of the world's leading producers of cacao. Perfect Caribbean landscape with high palm trees, Dominican Republic photo credit: Sergii Batechenkov • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Barceló Bávaro Palace 1,402 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana 1,790 Moon Palace The Grand-Punta Cana 2,171 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Barceló Bávaro Grand Resort Total Meeting Space 124,323 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 13 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Go Dominican Republic (809) 221-4660 https://www.godominicanrepublic.com B M & T ••• January/February 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 48 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AREA GUIDES