Expo ASONAHORES 2026 draws over 5,000 visitors in largest edition to date

More than 5,000 people walked through 323 exhibition booths at the XXXVIII ASONAHORES Commercial Expo, held September 2–4 at BlueMall Punta Cana. The figure surpasses the roughly 4,000 visitors recorded at last year’s edition, according to data from the association itself.

The fair gathered over 200 companies that supply goods and services to hotel operations: food and beverage, technology, furniture, kitchen equipment, financial services and energy solutions. ASONAHORES estimates the tourism industry purchases around US$3 billion annually in goods and services produced in the Dominican Republic, which positions this expo as a direct contact point between local suppliers and hotel buyers.

One detail matters for anyone evaluating future participation: 85% of the exhibiting companies had already attended previous editions. That recurrence rate means booth space fills fast.

This year, organizers introduced digital tools that allowed hotels to identify suppliers before the event, review catalogs and schedule business meetings in advance. Accreditation was managed through QR codes.

AGONAHORES Executive Vice President Aguie Lendor said the expo’s growth reflects how tourism demand translates into opportunities for producers, manufacturers and service providers, according to Bávaro Digital.

The agenda included discussions on CONFOTUR, artificial intelligence applied to tourism, corporate criminal liability, the economy, private capital and investment funds. More than 10 local artisans also participated with dedicated exhibition space.

For a supplier or entrepreneur in the eastern region, the expo functions as a window into the hotel market without the need to manage individual contacts with each resort. For a purchasing manager or tour operator, it concentrates into three days a supply landscape that would otherwise require months of sourcing.

With 38 editions behind it, this was the largest ASONAHORES expo to date.