Grupo Puntacana, Dominican Republic

Winner Destination Stewardship Award 2009

Grupo PUNTACANA is a pioneer in sustainable tourism management with nearly three decades of innovative work in the Dominican Republic. Its vision was to create a community that respects the natural habitat of Punta Cana and supports the local people in bettering their lives. They own and operate Puntacana Resort & Club, Punta Cana International Airport, Puntacana Ecological Foundation, and Puntacana Community Foundation, among other destination attractions, real estate developments, and infrastructure.
The company developed much of the infrastructure in this region, including the Punta Cana International Airport, built using local materials and reflecting local culture. It runs two local schools, a public polytechnic institute, and provides free medical facilities to the people of the area. Grupo PUNTACANA employs over 1,700 people, 99% of who are from the Dominican region, and believes that the Punta Cana community should be a sustainable place to live, to work, and to visit.
In creating the Puntacana Ecological Foundation, they expanded their vision to include protecting and restoring the natural resources in the Punta Cana region and contributing to the sustainable development of the Dominican Republic. The foundation has created a 1500-acre private nature reserve, contributes to coral reef conservation, and supports sustainable development initiatives. Grupo PUNTACANA's destination stewardship programme models long-term commitment to the area, collaboration between the public and private sector, and integrated concern for the natural habitat, for the local people, and for the visitor experience.