Punta Cana — THEMAG NEXT 2025 brought together leading voices from business, finance, and tourism—both local and international—cementing its status as the region’s premier forum for investment dialogue and sustainable development in the tourism sector, according to organizers.
High-level attendance and strategic focus
The program convened banking and trust specialists, investors, executives from investment funds, developers, builders, CEOs of major hotel chains, and representatives from hotel associations across the country’s main tourism hubs. The cross‑sector mix reflected a clear priority: diversifying financing sources to accelerate tourism projects with transparency, scalability, and long‑term impact.
A structural shift in how DR finances tourism
In a keynote address, Marcelo Gustavo Ballester, General Director of Grupo de Medios Network Plus, emphasized a structural transformation underway in Dominican tourism—one increasingly powered by investment funds, trusts (fideicomisos), and public–private partnerships (PPPs).
“This new financing model is here to stay,” Ballester said. “Every day it expands, diversifying the ways tourism projects are launched and delivered. Now is the time for hoteliers, developers, and builders to tap into the available funding and take Dominican tourism to the next level.”
Three expert panels that framed the agenda
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Trusts as a development engine
Moderated by Aguie Lendor (ASONAHORES), this panel examined how public and private trusts are driving large‑scale projects, enhancing investor confidence, improving governance and transparency, and embedding sustainability into project design and execution. -
Developments and PPPs
Moderated by Marcelo Ballester, the discussion explored emerging challenges and growth opportunities for hotel and real estate initiatives, along with PPP mechanisms advancing emblematic destinations such as Cabo Rojo, Miches, and Punta Bergantín. -
Investment funds and tourism capital
Moderated by Enrique de Marchena Kaluche, this session focused on the growing role of investment funds as a primary source of capital for hotel, real estate, and infrastructure projects—key to scaling pipelines and de‑risking delivery.
Institutional backing and private-sector momentum
Organized by Grupo de Medios Network Plus under the direction of Betina Rey, the forum received strong support from public institutions and industry leaders, including Royalton Punta Cana Resort & Casino, the Ministry of Tourism, Grupo NOVAL, Meliá Hotels International, Cap Cana, Banreservas, and Arajet. Their involvement underscores a unified commitment to innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth.
Why it matters
- Capital diversification: Broadens access to funding beyond traditional credit, enabling a wider range of projects and players to participate.
- Transparency and governance: Trusts and PPP frameworks strengthen accountability, attract long‑term capital, and improve project execution.
- Strategic destinations: Advanced financing tools accelerate flagship developments in high‑potential areas, multiplying local economic impact.
- Regional leadership: With its third edition, THEMAG NEXT reinforces the Dominican Republic’s role as a Caribbean hub for tourism investment and financial innovation.
Key takeaways for stakeholders
- Developers and hoteliers should prioritize bankable structures—trusts, PPPs, and fund partnerships—to unlock scalable capital.
- Sustainability metrics and transparent governance are no longer optional—they are prerequisites for premium financing and institutional participation.
- Iconic projects in Cabo Rojo, Miches, and Punta Bergantín will serve as blueprints for replicable, investment‑ready models across the country.
With THEMAG NEXT 2025, the Dominican Republic signals a mature, forward‑looking investment ecosystem—one capable of financing the next generation of tourism infrastructure while elevating standards for sustainability, transparency, and global competitiveness.
