by Eric Bowman
Last updated: 3:25 PM ET, Tue September 26, 2023
The 2023 Dominican Republic TravFORUM took place from September 18-23, with 10 elite-level travel advisors arriving in Santo Domingo for a whirlwind week of exploration in the destination while staying at luxury accommodations.
A TravFORUM event brings together vetted, top-tier quality travel advisors to review and experience a destination, hotel, resort, cruise
ship, tour itinerary, etc.
Hodelpa Nicolás de Ovando, Casa de Campo, and Eden Roc at Cap Cana were the host properties for accommodations. Additional experiences outside of the hotels and resorts included a Colonial City tour in Santo Domingo, a catamaran cruise excursion in Cap
Cana and the Coco Bongo show in Punta Cana.
Hosting this event aligns with the business strategy the Dominican Republic tourism is focused on growing.
“The Dominican Republic is very focused on fostering and having a relationship with high-end travel agents,” Jacqueline Mora, Vice Minister Tourism Dominican Republic told TravelPulse. “We really believe that that line of business and that channel for
the type of guests we want in the Dominican Republic is very important. This [event] in particular that is bringing high-value travel agents to the Dominican Republic is aligned with our strategy of diversifying and creating more value for the Dominican
Republic in tourism. These types of agents are well informed, people that love training, people that love going to the market, knowing the market and being an effective advisor to the client.”
A Focus on Luxury
The event helped change views of the Dominican Republic for the advisors in attendance.
“I have been to the Dominican Republic probably 8 to 10 different times, mostly in the Punta Cana area, but I have been blown away by seeing Santo Domingo, Casa de Campo and then being here at Eden Roc and ending in this beautiful place has really given
me an opportunity to look at the Dominican Republic in a different light,” Katie Ehlers of LuxTravel Katie said. “With my more luxury clientele, which is where my business is going, I think this is a perfect fit.”
It was the first time in the Dominican Republic though for a few of the advisors.
Did the destination meet their expectations?
“I have never been to the Dominican Republic,” said Cynthia Hayes of Hayes Executive Travel. “This has really shown me luxury on a different level, especially with the properties that we’ve seen on this trip.”
When asked what stood out the most, Hayes said she’ll take home a few things to pitch to her clients.
“7,000 acres at Casa de campo was fantastic. The service, the rooms, everything has just been amazing. I could definitely see myself proposing that to our luxury clientele. At Eden Roc, I just fell in love with the see-through walkway, the cenote, and
the food has been really excellent. I really love the rooms too, they’re beautiful."
For Michael Brooks of ProTravel International, one aspect of the luxury experience was above the rest.
“It’s the service,” Brooks said. “The high-quality service level is really what the properties are all about.”
Going beyond the all-inclusive resorts and elevating the experience was a focal point of the trip, which was a big positive for Latrise Hunter of LH Fun Travel.
“A lot of my clients do tend to want all-inclusive resorts,” said Hunter. “So being at places that are not truly catering to the all-inclusive market, it has allowed me to see and be able to sell to those clients that don't particularly care about having
food and beverages included but they do want the luxury amenities and inclusions that come with the more upscale accommodations.”
Santo Domingo Stands Out
The Colonial City of Santo Domingo was the starting point for the trip, a destination that was a first for many.
“The biggest takeaway for me has actually been going to Santo Domingo,” Hunter said. “It's the destination that I definitely was not familiar with that I've never sold but seeing it and being able to explore with the group I'm now able to sell the destination
and send clients here. This has been amazing.”
The option to package in city stays in Santo Domingo with beach resort stay jumped out to Michele Bridges of Bridges Worldwide Travel.
“Santo Domingo has never been on my radar before,” Bridges said. “But the split stay options now are just flowing through my brain because literally old world charm, jaw-dropping surprises around every corner…it was reminiscent of a mix between old San
Juan and Greece. You're walking down cobblestone streets and the history behind it, and the churches, it's a fantastic experience with the backdrop of the city and the nightlife of the city a few miles away. I was very surprised.”
Jennifer Upton of Touring Plans Travel echoed those sentiments.
“I thought it would be a great stopover for people coming in or out to get to experience the actual city outside of just a resort stay,” Upton said. “It's a great combination to have some city time and then some beach chilling out time.”
Connecting With Peers
Another aspect of the TravFORUM series is advisors connecting with fellow advisors to help make each other better.
“The group of agents that have been with us this week are all highly skilled and very experienced in what they do, so that's been fabulous to spend time with those people,” Upton said. “I think it would be a great way for suppliers to invest in agents
and giving them experiences to really bring people into the destination and to their properties.”
Hunter agreed, saying it is one way this trip stands out from any traditional FAM trip.
“The TravFORUM, with it being such a small number of agents, I feel like we're able all to just connect in general,” Hunter said. “Also, I think the quality of the agents makes a difference. So, just being here with some fellow GTM (Global Travel Marketplace)
agents I know that they're here to really and truly sell and not just coming here for the trip.”
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