In brief
- The Accor group is developing 23 hotel projects representing nearly 6,000 keys in the Dominican Republic.
- The programme includes the integration of more than 1,000 branded residences and the creation of 9,000 direct jobs.
- The agreement relies on a diverse network of brands ranging from ibis to Fairmont, covering the entire Dominican territory.
On the occasion of Dominican Republic Week in France, the Accor group formalised the development of 23 hotel projects in the country during a ceremony organised at its Parisian headquarters. This strategic expansion represents a total of nearly 6,000 keys, or approximately 6.5% of the national hotel stock, coupled with a residential component of more than 1,000 branded residences. Driven by partnerships with local investors and supported by the state bank Banreservas, this deployment is expected to generate up to 9,000 direct jobs across the Dominican territory.
This major event highlights the growing attractiveness of the Dominican Republic for major international operators. By choosing Paris for this announcement, the French group reaffirms its role as a privileged partner in the transformation of the Caribbean tourism landscape. The country, historically known for its all-inclusive seaside offering, is now embarking on a significant move upmarket. The involvement of the Dominican government and financial institutions such as Banreservas testifies to a political will to establish tourism as the sustainable engine of the national economy, while promoting the upskilling of the local workforce through the massive creation of qualified jobs.
Key development figures
Accor’s development plan in the Dominican Republic is part of an unprecedented growth dynamic for the island’s tourism sector. The scale of the project is reflected in a diversity of hotel and residential assets that will transform the service offering over the next two decades. The integration of nearly 6,000 additional keys does not just increase reception capacity; it allows for the introduction of lifestyle and luxury hotel concepts that are still little present in certain segments of the local market. At the same time, the branded residences component responds to growing demand from international investors and long-term travellers seeking to combine the comfort of a private home with the services and prestige of a world-renowned hotel brand.
A major deployment supported by local investments
This growth plan comes as the Dominican Republic anticipates the arrival of 11.6 million visitors for the year 2025. The hotel operator intends to diversify the national offering by establishing its brands in various segments, ranging from business travel to luxury seaside resorts. The strategy also aims to balance the geographical distribution of reception facilities, while the province of La Altagracia alone accounts for nearly 6,000 current keys and a large part of the country’s hotel capacity.
The crucial aspect of this deployment lies in its territorial anchoring. By moving out of traditional ultra-tourist areas, Accor is participating in regional planning and the promotion of regions that are still preserved. The support of Banreservas is decisive here. As a state financial institution, the bank plays a facilitating role for private investors, guaranteeing the financial viability of large-scale projects. This public-private collaboration makes it possible to tackle complex projects, including large-scale infrastructure that requires rigorous logistical and ecological planning, in accordance with the sustainable development ambitions carried by the Dominican government for the tourism sector.
- Number of projects: 23 signed contracts and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU)
- Total capacity: nearly 6,000 keys and more than 1,000 serviced residences
- Direct jobs: up to 9,000 job creations planned
Job creation is one of the social pillars of this announcement. These 9,000 positions do not only concern traditional hotel operations but extend to the professions of luxury residence management, events, gourmet catering and well-being. For the Dominican Republic, the arrival of international brands like Fairmont or Pullman also means the import of global training standards, promoting the professionalisation of a new generation of Dominican workers. The impact will be felt far beyond the hotel walls, irrigating the local economy through service providers, artisans and agricultural producers solicited by these new establishments.
- Financial partners: private investors and support from the state bank Banreservas
Miches and Cabo Engaño, hubs
The regions of Miches and Cabo Engaño are at the heart of this transformation. Miches, located on the north-east coast, has become in a few years the new frontier of luxury and sustainable tourism in the Dominican Republic. Unlike already very dense areas, Miches offers a landscape of lagoons and mountains that lends itself perfectly to hotel concepts more integrated with nature. Accor’s investment in this area confirms the potential of this emerging destination, which benefits from a specific government development plan aimed at making it a model for responsible tourism.
High-end and luxury projects on the Dominican coasts
Along the coast of Miches, Accor is developing a multi-brand destination on 207 hectares including a 250-key Swissôtel dedicated to well-being, a Grand Mercure Resort and a Novotel Resort of 1,000 keys each, as well as an ibis establishment. A Memorandum of Understanding provides for the addition of a 250-key Fairmont hotel with 100 branded residences. At the eastern tip of the country, the Cabo Engaño site will host a 1,000-key Mövenpick, a 150-key TRIBE with 350 TRIBE LIVING residences, and a 150-key Swissôtel with 100 private residences.
The Miches project stands out for its monumental dimension. With 1,000 keys for the Grand Mercure and Novotel brands, the group is targeting a high-end family and leisure clientele. The arrival of the Fairmont brand, one of the flagships of luxury within the Accor portfolio, marks a turning point for the region. This type of establishment attracts an international clientele with high purchasing power, accustomed to standards of excellence in terms of gastronomy, spa and concierge services. In Cabo Engaño, the approach is complementary with the introduction of the TRIBE brand, which targets a younger, urban and connected clientele, looking for contemporary design and convivial living spaces, breaking with the traditional codes of the seaside resort.
Locations from Samaná to Juan Dolio
On the north-east coast, the Handwritten Collection Miches will offer 350 keys facing Samaná Bay at the heart of a 36-hectare project including 400 residences. On the cliffs of the north coast, the Handwritten Collection Cabrera will open its 95 keys in 2028. Further south, the business segment will be reinforced by the Pullman Juan Dolio, a 400-key establishment directly connected to a 4,000-seat convention centre located near Las Américas International Airport.
The Handwritten Collection brand illustrates Accor’s desire to offer establishments with a strong personality, often described as “collection hotels” that respect the identity and soul of their location. The Cabrera project, with its 95 keys, is positioned in a niche market, more intimate, taking advantage of the spectacular topography of the northern cliffs. Conversely, the Pullman Juan Dolio responds to a critical need in Dominican infrastructure: business and convention tourism (MICE). The proximity of Las Américas International Airport and the integration of a large-scale convention centre will allow the Dominican Republic to compete with other regional capitals for hosting international trade fairs, diplomatic summits and corporate conventions.
An integrated residential and tourist ecosystem
One of the strengths of this strategy lies in the mix of uses. By integrating more than 1,000 branded residences into its hotel projects, Accor is not just building places to pass through, but real living neighbourhoods. These residences benefit from full hotel management, which ensures total peace of mind for owners and privileged access to all the leisure facilities of the adjacent hotel. This hybrid model has become a standard in the luxury sector, allowing for faster financing of common infrastructure while creating a stable community around the hotel establishment.
The group’s commitment also extends to connectivity. By placing establishments near major transport hubs and in secondary cities, Accor facilitates the traveller’s journey. This holistic approach allows for the capture of different flows: the tourist arriving for a seaside stay, the business traveller in transit, or the local resident looking for a high-end living environment with integrated services.
The urban network in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo
Development of the urban network and business brands
The urban offering is expanding in Punta Cana with the scheduled arrival of the Novotel Punta Cana in 2027 (102 keys), followed by the Novotel Punta Cana Downtown (137 keys) and the ibis Styles Punta Cana (90 keys) planned for 2030. In the capital, the Swissôtel Santo Domingo will offer 75 keys and 180 residences for long-term stays. Finally, two exclusive development agreements will allow the national deployment of the ibis (550 keys) and ibis budget (700 keys) networks, particularly near airport zones and in secondary cities such as Santiago, Puerto Plata, Las Terrenas and Higüey.
The development in Santo Domingo and in urban centres like Santiago or Puerto Plata shows that Accor is not only betting on the coastline. The capital will benefit with the Swissôtel from an offering adapted to extended stays, a segment in full growth with the rise of digital nomadism and international professional missions. The massive deployment of economy brands like ibis and ibis budget is equally strategic. These brands offer a reliable, standardised and affordable housing solution for domestic travellers, technicians on the move or budget-conscious tourists. By covering cities like Higüey, the group ensures a presence at the heart of life and pilgrimage centres, strengthening the visibility of its brands among all strata of the population.
Accor’s presence in strategic airport zones also responds to an optimisation of travel logistics. Whether in Santo Domingo or Punta Cana, having quality hotels in the immediate vicinity of the terminals is essential to support the growth in air traffic planned for 2025. This strategy of a tight network, combining luxury, mid-range and economy, allows the French group to position itself as the most complete player in the Dominican hotel market for the decade to come.
