For the first time in the Dominican Republic's history, a consortium of hotel ownership and management groups representing more than 50 properties and resorts in Punta Cana have come together to reaffirm their commitment to a set of security standards and safety guidelines.
The commitment to safety follows a turbulent year for Dominican Republic tourism. At least six tourists have died in the destination under similar circumstances and Major League Baseball player David Ortiz was shot (not fatally) in his hometown of Santo Domingo. Recently, however, the FBI found no wrongdoing in two American deaths, saying the deaths were correctly attributed to natural causes.
The Punta Cana Promise points:
- OUR properties are self-contained and provide 24-hour security and medical
assistance - OUR food and beverage offerings come only from reputable, trusted vendor partners and are all carefully checked and inspected before being served at any property in accordance with global food safety management standards
- OUR employees all undergo rigorous background checks, screening and training
- OUR high staff-to-guest ratios ensure that every guest receives the attention, service, and security they expect and deserve
- OUR properties not only meet but also exceed tourism and hospitality regulations and guidelines
- OUR hotel-affiliated vacation activities and excursions are provided exclusively by reputable partners who are all licensed and insured
- OUR properties are each united in the oversight and delivery of the Punta Cana Promise
- OUR hotels will provide safety information and phone numbers to all guests upon check in
Each of the eight points seeks to answer specific questions and to reaffirm traveler confidence following recent media coverage of events on the island. While the policies outlined in the Punta Cana Promise are certainly not new to the hotels – the safety guidelines outlined above have been in place for years, according to the Consortium of Punta Cana Hotels – the creation of the Promise marks the first time these hotels have worked together to create such a comprehensive resource in one easy-to-access format.
In addition, Dominican Republic Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia said earlier this year that the country was in the process of updating and reinforcing its tourist safety measures.
Participating hotels, all of which are listed on www.puntacanapromise.com, will display the Punta Cana Promise seal on their properties and their websites, indicating their participation and commitment to the Promise.
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