The multinational company CLERHP has signed a commercial agreement with the eighth hotel group in the world, Sonesta International Hotels (Sonesta), through which the Larimar City & Resort real estate development (Punta Cana – Dominican Republic) will have two luxury hotels of the North American company: The Royal Sonesta and The James. Sonesta’s decision responds to its “strategic priority of increasing our presence in Latin America and the Caribbean,” explains Sonesta’s development director, Brian Quinn. To this end, they have found in Larimar City the most suitable project for the expansion of the brand in the Caribbean market, especially among luxury travelers.
The information provided highlights that the first phase of Larimar City & Resort is expected to be completed between late 2025 and early 2026. This development will include several entertainment venues, a shopping center, several dining options, gyms, spas, clubhouse with an 18-hole golf course, outdoor sports facilities and a child-focused activity center.
Juan Andrés Romero, CEO of CLERHP, explains that “Larimar City & Resort is a destination designed to offer innovation, quality of life and luxury, which will offer a unique living experience and easy air access from the main markets in North America and Europe. The project has obtained the support of the Dominican government, as well as different groups of international investors, who see this mixed-use development – the first of its kind in the Dominican Republic – as an attractive investment opportunity.
The Dominican Republic saw an 11% increase in visitors in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2019, according to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer published in January 2023. The island is famous for its varied terrain that includes rainforest, savanna and highlands, including Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean. Visitors to the island can visit spectacular beaches and waterfalls, watch whales, and explore the cultural attractions of Santo Domingo.