Thehotel boom shows no sign of letup in the Dominican Republic, as nearly 2,000rooms will be added to the island's room count beginning in late 2007.
• Mexico-based Palace Resorts will debut its1,743-room, all-inclusive Moon Palace Casino, Golf & Spa Resort in PuntaCana in two phases beginning late next year.
Theresort, which currently is under construction, marks Palace Resorts' entry intothe Dominican Republic.Rooms will feature double Jacuzzi baths, balconies, a stocked in-room liquordispenser and a mini-bar.
Facilitiesat the beachfront property will include nine pools, a casino, eightrestaurants, six bars, a theater, a spa with 54 treatment rooms and a disco.
The60,000-square-foot convention center will accommodate groups as large as 2,560people.
PalaceResorts currently has nine all-inclusive resorts Mexico in Cancun,the Riviera Maya, Nuevo Vallarta and Cozumel.For details, visit www.palaceresorts.com.
• InterContinental Hotels Group will launch itsHoliday Inn Express brand in the Dominican Republic, also in late2007, when it opens the seven-story, 145-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel &Suites Santo Domingo in the capital city.
Thehotel is the second IHG property in Santo Domingo, joining the InterContinental V CentenarioSanto Domingo and also marks the second property to be developed incollaboration with the Inverplata SA development company.
Facilitieswill include a business center, an outdoor pool, a spa and fitness center andfour meetings rooms.
InSouth America, IHG has Holiday Inn Expresshotels in Brazil,Chile,Colombiaand Ecuador;this is its first Caribbean venture. Fordetails, visit www.hiexpress.com.
To contact the reporter whowrote this article, send e-mail to Gay Nagle Myers at gmyers@travelweekly.com.