Searchlights scan the dark skies above as festively dressed men on stilts amble around the parking lot, greeting well-dressed guests who are exiting chauffeured cars. Inside, champagne bubbles and tables overflow with tasty cuisine.
It’s all part of the grand opening of the Holiday Inn Santo Domingo, which debuted in late 2009 as the newest hotel in the capital of the Dominican Republic. In this EXCLUSIVE VIDEO, you’ll be a guest at the opening night gala.
As you may have already noticed, the recently revamped Holiday Inn formula — reworked at the corporate level and gradually being implemented in individual properties — is a far cry from the old roadside inns that used to attract cross-country drivers. This property is contemporary, dramatically lit, and well-located for business travelers, in the middle of the city’s important financial and commercial district — a stretch of Abraham Lincoln Avenue lined with tony restaurants and major advertising agencies.
The Style: Sleek and modern
The Best Parts: The rooftop pool is small but offers great views and a lounge-like environment. The location is convenient for business travelers, upscale dining and shopping (including the soon-to-open Ikea, the very first in Latin America). And anyone who likes minimalist contemporary design will appreciate the décor at this hotel.
The Other Stuff: If you’re making a quick leisure trip to Santo Domingo and want to be super close to the historic Zona Colonial or the waterfront Malecón, this isn’t the closest hotel — although everything is a quick taxi ride away (depending on traffic, of course).
The Price: About $127 and up