Phase I of the US$257 million Hotel Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino has opened in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
The resort includes a 12,120-square-foot casino, an amphitheater with room for 790 people, a nightclub, a bowling alley, swimming pools and an amusement arcade. It also has six pools, eight restaurants, four bars and two beach clubs.
Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina and Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García attended the grand opening along with Ángel Estévez, minister of the environment and natural resources; Ramón Güílamo, governor of La Altagracia; Amable Aristy Castro, senator for La Altagracia; and Karina Aristy, mayor of Higüey municipality.
“The hotel industry of the country has decided to embark on a race for quality,” said García. “If we have been successful, that means that the Dominican Republic has earned a prestige and that prestige means that we have a great reputation as a destination.”
Francisco López, CEO of resort owner Lopesan Group, said the project gave jobs to “about 1,200 new employees from almost all provinces, not counting the increase in demand for local suppliers.”
Phase II of the project will launch in 2021 and represent an investment of $224 million. When the hotel is complete, it will have a total of 2,500 rooms.
