The current ACV brochure features 76 properties in the D.R.
ACV colleagues Federico Berardinucci and
Juan Contreras Aragon, Area Manager/Toronto East
Abdalah Castillo, surrounded by a bevy of young Dominican residents of Toronto who treated us to a show of typical Dominican fashion
It was a steamy night in Toronto but that was no deterrent to talking tropical for some 80 travel agents who turned up to the trendy MarchéResto to get an update on all things Dominican.
Our hosts were the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic and Air Canada Vacations, which continues to have a massive program to the country: 76 properties this past season including 51 into Punta Cana alone.
Although the winter 2018/2019 season details have yet to be announced – watch for the new brochure to be released in a few weeks – agents can expect the same scope of product and perks exclusive to ACV, along with what Federico Berardinucci, Manager/National Sales of Air Canada Vacations termed “some amazing hotels.”
As with this past winter, he anticipates the majority of service from Canada, certainly from YYZ and YUL, will be on board AC Rouge.
As Abdalah Castillo, Director/Canada for the Ministry of Tourism told me, Punta Cana continues to grow by leaps and bounds and is being discovered by a growing number of European markets. The Ministry is also investigating the possibility of welcoming Japanese visitors.
But he’s even more excited about the “new” Puerto Plata. The city, he says, has recently enjoyed some wonderful renovations, including on the seafront promenade. The cable car which travels up Mount Isabel de Torres has been renovated, and less than a year ago a lovely open-air amphitheatre opened. It is now the site of concerts and other entertainment that is proving as popular with locals as visitors.
In 2017, the D.R. hosted 837,000 Canadians, and Castillo has every confidence that figure will top 900,000 for 2018. No wonder he says, with a huge grin, “We love Canadians!”
Martha Chapman Columnist
An OJ columnist since 2006, Martha is responsible for the Biting Questions features as well as special seasonal series. A travel industry lifer known to all in the biz, she frequently covers industry events for Open Jaw.
