In this context, Travel2latam had the opportunity to speak with Yudit García, General Manager of the JW Marriott Santo Domingo and President of the Santo Domingo Hotel Association.
What is the history of this property, how did the project come about and how would you describe the present?
I have been the property's General Manager since September 2022, which means that this month I celebrate my first two years of management. The JW Marriott Santo Domingo is an icon of the city's urban development. It is currently positioned as the only brand in the liquid luxury segment within the city's existing hotel facilities with regard to the financial district.
Also from the perspective of Marriott's portfolio, it continues to be the exclusive luxury brand, because within other developments and tourist centers we have other types of properties.
The hotel opened its doors in August, 10 years ago, already located in what is known as part of the Blue Mall shopping center. Since then, not only has the shopping center expanded, but the hotel has also grown in size to accommodate events and management spaces, which has allowed it to be reborn in terms of welcoming not only that corporate client, but also groups that might be interested in managing larger and larger events, which perhaps before Santo Domingo were not so well known in this segment.
What is the layout of the hotel in terms of number of rooms?
We have 150 rooms spread over seven floors, one presidential suite, 22 connecting rooms and 20 rooms corresponding to the Junior Suite, Master Suite and Corner categories.
Our top floor has a special feature: this space can connect up to five rooms combined in a single wing of the hotel with independent access to the executive floor and for VIP travel, diplomatic or government purposes. It is generally ideal for creating a circle, a security ring with access to the general facilities of the executive floor or executive lounge, as we call it.
What gastronomic offer do you have?
In terms of food and beverages, the hotel has an à la carte restaurant called Winston, and we complement the bar service called Vertygo 101, which is located 101 meters above ground level. One of the peculiarities of this bar, on that rooftop, is that its floor is made of glass, so the experience is very unique.
Tell us about the event rooms, which is very important.
The event rooms are the third link. 30% of our total revenue is generated by the Food and Beverage division, mainly from the events and banquets area. We have two floors of event facilities. The first floor has a large main hall with capacity for 300 people and six breakout rooms that can accommodate up to 25 or 30 people, and when all five are combined, it can accommodate up to 200 people.
We own and operate a floor below on the fifth floor where we have four additional breakout rooms and a large ballroom that seats 800 people. By combining events between the two floors, you can seamlessly accommodate approximately 1,500 people at different stations and fluid movement between the two floors.
Who are the hotel's main customers at the moment?
As a North American company, the North American market obviously has a significant impact in terms of connectivity. For the Dominican Republic, one of the destinations with the best connections is usually the United States.
In addition to this segment, we have much more from Latin America and Central America, such as Mexico, Colombia, Panama and some Caribbean islands that complement the remaining 60% of international visitor movements in ethnic terms.
We also have a latent local market, especially for weekends and in the management of events and corporate accounts based in Santo Domingo. But also, due to its location, the hotel lends itself to those who visit the restaurant, the bar and even visit places like the gym.
We have an agreement with the facility where we are located in the square, where our guests, if they wish, can access our gym and the GulfStream facilities, which is next to the hotel facilities and is one of the most complete wellness facilities and sports facilities that the city has.
The magic word that brings this property together is synergies. The way in which synergies are identified in the building is extraordinary. The facilities start on the 12th floor and end on the 20th.
Below us is the extension of the shopping center with all the luxury brands that are present, not as franchises in the country, but rather that have subsidiaries based in the Dominican Republic, which from an investment point of view, indicates the potential return that these brands perceive.
Today the mall continues to expand towards some side buildings that will be inaugurated in the last week of this month under the name World Trade Center. It is basically an extension of the mall, both in terms of gastronomic and corporate offerings, as well as some temporary residence products.
How do you evaluate Santo Domingo's performance in terms of hotel and tourism demand?
From my role at the Santo Domingo Hotel Association, which I have held for the past five years as president, there have been great strategies that have been successful in the Dominican Republic in general terms. Public-private collaboration has been real, direct, active and transparent. Today we still have quality monthly meetings with the Ministry of Tourism, and not only with the associations, but even with the general managers of the properties who can attend to verify results. We are talking about a process of accountability month after month that happens consistently. And decisions regarding the terms of marketing investment and where to continue exploring emerging markets are made based on this statistical information.
From Marriott International, which is what I represent, the quality of presentation and discipline, the presentation of results and information, ultimately translates into trust. Trust for the visitor, for the investor and for the current promoter who is aware of knowing and being able to predict how the market will continue to function.
Speaking of Santo Domingo, what we are already working on is to continue maintaining active occupation strategies, we need to continue exploring other segments and that is why we are at this event today. The Santo Domingo Association has been holding, in its fourth version, an emblematic event called SDQ MICE. Reaching an agreement to host an ICCA SUMMIT within the SDQ MICE management structure.
Being able to hold both events combined, with combined audiences that mix within this entire ecosystem, is what makes us have strong and very high expectations that we will be able to generate a “top of mind” for the city, not only for that corporate segment, but also for incentives, congresses and conventions.
The Santo Domingo hotel network has more than 8,000 rooms from international entities and brands that are ready, present, renovated and active, precisely to be able to welcome this group segment that we so desperately need to continue exploring that area.
How do you envision the coming years for both JW Marriott Santo Domingo and the destination in general?
2026 will undoubtedly continue to be an interesting year. All of us, Latin Americans, Central Americans, the Americas as a whole, have had different transitions. 2024 was a year in which almost every country went through some kind of electoral process, so I would say that 2025 will be a year of some level of balance and internal adjustments in this whole new political landscape. Even so, I understand that the traveler's expectation to continue learning and exploring will remain.
I predict that Santo Domingo will continue to position itself in the coming year as not only an urban city, but also as a perfect location to base teams. The furthest point on the island by land, entering from Santo Domingo, connects you to Punta Cana by road in 2 hours, and the closest beach to Santo Domingo is 35 minutes away. You also connect to the northern zone, with Puerto Plata 2.5 hours away, and to Samaná, known as one of our greatest biodiversity hotspots.
Thus, connectivity within the city, with the airport as a connection hub for moving around and traveling to other destinations, will generate an organic movement in which you will be able to not only get to know and visit Santo Domingo, but combine it with more experiences.