Dominican Republic Takes Part in Incentive Travel and Meetings Fair in Chicago

The Ministry of Tourism together with a group of hotel managers, Destination Management Companies (DMC’s) and tour operators are participating in the “Incentive Travel and Meetings Exhibition” (IT&ME 2008) being held in Chicago, Illinois. The DR’s participation in the fair is aimed at promoting and positioning the Dominican Republic as an ideal destination for the segment of the market that caters to meetings, congresses and incentive trips.

“One of the most important niches of the US market is that which deals with congresses, meetings and incentive trips in that this tourism segment has enormous spending power and spends a lot of money during their stays,”

The Dominican Republic has a space at the McCormack Place Convention Center fairgrounds which houses some 180 companies from the tourism sector. They are hoping to attract up to 15,000 visitors.

According to an official press release, the representatives of the Ministry of Tourism along with Destination Management Consulting (DMC’s) and tour operators will hold different activities with some of the organizers of seminars, incentive trips and meetings.

This year the Dominican stand has a large free-standing space of about 20×50 square meters in a strategic location of the Caribbean Pavilion where the entire Dominican delegation – comprised of 10 companies – is taking the opportunity to show what the country has to offer in the Group and Incentive segments.

“One of the most important niches of the US market is that which deals with congresses, meetings and incentive trips in that this tourism segment has enormous spending power and spends a lot of money during their stays,” said Montserrat Despradel, Director of Congresses and Incentive in the Ministry of Tourism.

Despradel explained that their goal is to position the DR in this area thus guaranteeing a permanent flow of tourists from this segment of the market. She noted that this market segment is becoming more and more professional.

As such, Patricia Álvarez, Executive Director of the Association of Hotels in Santo Domingo, said the city of Santo Domingo is one of the most complete destinations for this niche because of its direct, or one-stop airline connections to 250 cities in the United States.

Álvarez spoke about the novelties of the city and the fact that it is the most cosmopolitan in the Caribbean.

The Dominican delegation was made up of the following people: Patricia Pérez, Director of the Tourism Promotion Office in Chicago; Rocio Díaz and María Rodríguez, who work in the Tourism Promotion Office in Chicago; Yaniris Felipe, of the Tourism Promotion Office of Miami; Andrea Castelao and Ema Hernández, of Amstar DMC; Benoit Sauvage, Cinthya Sauvage, Les Pye and Michelle Tessie, all from Connect Travel Services; Doina de Campos and Gaelle de Campos, from Turmaya Tours; David Krech, of Westin Roco Ki Beach & Resort; Jamil León, from Ultramar Express Dominicana; Bidia Bissumdhar and Mikael Hellstrom, of the Hotels Bed Acommodation; Grace Grillo, from the Punta Cana Resort and Club; Roberto Mejía, of Club Caribbean; Patricia Álvarez, Executive Director of the Association of Hotels in Santo Domingo; Zarina Montalvo, from Occidental El Embajador; Desirée Boumans and Marjorie Charles, of Smilo (Fortuna Tours); Lynda Santos, of Majestic Colonial Punta Cana; Belkys Pérez, of Caribbean Nexus Tours.

About the IT&ME 2008

The IT&ME 2008, taking place in the McCormack Place Convention Center in Chicago, is a fair that specializes in business, incentives, recognition programs, product promotion, destination motivation, attractions and services as well as everything related to technology. More than 180 companies participate in the fair which is attended by more than 15,000 people.