Abdallah Castillo & Antonio Pendones
The D.R. party scene
Meringue dancers
The dance floor
Suzanne Christie & Abdallah Castillo
The party of the year award goes to... the Dominican Republic... at least so far in the season! They could easily hold on to the title this year since that other famous agency party with a millennium turning number and .com suffix is not likely going to happen this season.
Abdallah Castillo and his lovely Dominican Republic Tourism Board team brought all the elements of a fun and elegant celebration together in the Park Hyatt’s Roof Salon last week as invited guests danced to the beats of a top notch meringue band, enjoyed some of the pieces from artist Antonio Pendones “Faces of the Dominican” collection and dined on a sumptuous selection of island cuisine.
The D. R. seems pretty pleased with the ongoing tourist influx from Canada but feels we could still do much better. Abdallah exhorted the festive crowd to give it a bigger push in 2014 and ramp up our tally to 1 million heat and culture seeking Canucks.
The Tourism Board is going to get behind that demand for more demand with a series of commercial spots that highlight the island’s beach destinations and Santo Domingo’s vibe. They certainly hit the mark touting the island’s vacation opportunities and fun loving personality. You’ll be catching them soon over some of the major TV networks.
And, of course to accommodate the influx, new properties are opening (The Royalton); in development (Breathless) and expanding (Grand Palladium).
