Sunday, April 22, 2007

The More Things Change...

...the more they stay the same. I stayed at the Coral Costa Caribe Resort the first time I travelled to the Dominican Republic. As a novice, I didn't know the hotel was NOT in Santo Domingo as the travel agent lead us to believe. It's actually in Juan Dolio, about 45 minutes outside the capitol. Never-the-less, we were very happy with the accomodations and the service was great!! The cuisine and nightly entertainment were first rate. This was all before Coral and Hilton joined hands to sing Kumbaya. So, for those wondering how things will be now that Hilton is out of the picture, don't worry. Also, the capitol city is all abuzz with activity. There is yet another player on the field, which should offer nice accomodations at reasonable rates.

Coral is no longer a HiltonCoral Hotels & Resorts
The joint venture was dissolved after a three-year relationship. Hilton president Matthew Hart described the relationship as successful. Coral by Hilton operated four all-inclusive hotels in the DR - Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, Bayahibe and Puerto Plata. DR1 sources indicate the properties have been purchased by a sister company of the Spanish airline, Air Europa. The sale of the hotels is part of the divesting the new Dominican monetary rules require of finance conglomerates. The hotels were owned by an affiliate of the BHD bank.

Modern hotel for new city center
InterContinental Hotels Group, the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, will operate the new Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Santo Domingo, slated for opening at the end of 2007. The new hotel site is on the corner of Abraham Lincoln Avenue and Rafael Augusto Sanchez Street in the bustling new commercial and residential district of Santo Domingo, yet it was lacking of a major hotel. This will be a 7-story, 145-room hotel. IHG already manages the InterContinental V Centenario on the Malecon in Santo Domingo.

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