# Punta Cana Moon Palace incident, Jarabacoa ecotourism, Hola Viajes Awards and Asonahores 2026

Canonical-URL: https://turismo.news/en/digest/punta-cana-moon-palace-jarabacoa-ecotourism
Text-Version: https://turismo.news/en/digest/punta-cana-moon-palace-jarabacoa-ecotourism.txt
Markdown-Version: https://turismo.news/en/digest/punta-cana-moon-palace-jarabacoa-ecotourism.md
Language: en
Published: 2026-07-19T08:01:47.550Z
Modified: 2026-07-19T08:01:47.550Z
Author: Joan Sanz
Topics: Destinations, Hotels, Trade Shows
Summary: Mitur promotes Jarabacoa, RD wins international award, Palace Company speaks out, and Asonahores announces its 2026 Expo.

## Article

Dominican tourism is on a roll: promoting new destinations, racking up international awards, and managing a crisis at one of its iconic resorts. The sector knows how to move on all fronts. Here is my read.

## Today's brief

**RD wins Best International Destination at the Hola Viajes Awards, Mitur accelerates Jarabacoa promotion, and Asonahores gears up for 2026.** The sector runs on parallel tracks: outside recognition, interior development, and medium-term planning.

- The Dominican Republic has been awarded **Best International Destination** at the **Hola Viajes Awards**, as reported by the Ministry of Tourism. This recognition boosts the country's brand in the European market, especially among high-spending travelers who follow the Hola seal. Read the full story at [MITUR Noticias](https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/noticias/rd-obtiene-premio-como-mejor-destino-internacional-en-premios-hola-viajes/).
- Minister **David Collado** promoted the destination in **Chicago**, stating that, according to satisfaction surveys, **100% of tourists who visit RD want to return**. This data point has become a recurring sales pitch at ministry road shows. See the official note at [MITUR Noticias](https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/ministro-noticias/david-collado-promueve-a-rd-en-chicago-asegura-que-el-100-de-los-turistas-quiere-regresar/).
- **The Palace Company** has issued its first official statement after an altercation at its **Moon Palace, The Grand Punta Cana**, where a staff member was involved in a fight with guests. The chain claims it acted immediately, following security and customer service protocols. A well-handled crisis at one of the Caribbean's largest resorts. Details at [Dominican Today](https://dominicantoday.com/hotel-chain-says-it-acted-immediately-after-altercation-with-guest-in-punta-cana/).

## Hotels

**Moon Palace Punta Cana manages its first public crisis, while Santo Domingo adds a high-end dining option.**

- The incident at Moon Palace happened days ago, but **The Palace Company** has only now broken its silence. The statement says the altercation was between an employee and guests, and disciplinary measures were taken immediately. Beyond the event, what catches my attention is the **chain's response speed**: in a world where viral videos can destroy a resort's reputation in hours, speaking out with a clear message is the only smart move. Full statement at [Dominican Today](https://dominicantoday.com/hotel-chain-says-it-acted-immediately-after-altercation-with-guest-in-punta-cana/).
- Meanwhile, in Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone, **Casa de Nadie** has opened its doors. A fusion restaurant that promises to become a meeting point for locals and tourists. The capital's food scene keeps adding quality venues, which hoteliers welcome as added value for the destination. The opening is covered by [Acento](https://acento.com.do/turismo/la-ciudad-colonial-estrena-casa-de-nadie-un-nuevo-restaurante-de-cocina-fusion-9720204.html).

## Destinations and promotion

**Jarabacoa positions itself as the Dominican ecotourism flagship, and RD wins an international award that strengthens its European standing.**

- The Ministry of Tourism, together with the **Jarabacoa Tourism Cluster**, has organized a familiarization trip for **journalists and travel agents** to position the La Vega municipality as the **country's leading ecotourism destination**. Jarabacoa offers rivers, mountains, coffee, and adventure experiences that are just beginning to be developed. If Mitur can connect this product with European tour operators looking for nature, it could open a high-value niche. Full story at [Suelo Caribe](https://suelocaribe.com/ecoturismo/mitur-impulsa-la-promocion-de-jarabacoa-como-principal-destino-ecoturistico-de-republica-dominicana/).
- On the other hand, the **Hola Viajes Awards** recognition puts RD on the radar of **premium Spanish and European travelers**. This award carries weight: the jury is made up of luxury and leisure professionals, and the prize translates into features, mentions, and credibility in a segment that spends more per person and stays longer. Award details at [MITUR Noticias](https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/noticias/rd-obtiene-premio-como-mejor-destino-internacional-en-premios-hola-viajes/).

## Trade shows

**Asonahores announces the 2026 Commercial Expo: the 38th edition promises new features.**

- The Hotel and Tourism Association of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores) has confirmed the date for its **2026 Commercial Expo**, the **38th edition** of the event. It is the must-attend annual gathering for the hotel sector, where contracts are signed, new products are presented, and market sentiment is gauged. As we previewed yesterday in [AILA gears up to receive delegations for the 2026 Central American Games](/en/digest/aila-juegos-centroamericanos-2026), air connectivity goes hand in hand with these events. Official note at [MITUR Noticias](https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/noticias/asonahores-anuncia-la-expo-comercial-2026-en-su-edicion-numero-38/).
- Looking ahead to the next big event, **Fitur 2027 in Madrid** (January 20-24) will be the next major international showcase for the Dominican stand. The Mitur promotion team is already working on the agenda. Unsurprisingly, RD is one of the countries that contracts the most space at Fitur year after year.

## What we are watching

- **Moon Palace crisis management**: the chain has spoken, but the impact on future bookings (especially from the US market) will play out over the next few weeks. We are tracking the resort's online reputation closely.
- **Jarabacoa's ecotourism takeoff**: the fam trip is the first step. The next is converting interest into bookings. Will local operators structure the product for international sale?
- **Asonahores Expo 2026**: while time away, preparations are already moving the sector. Watch for the exhibitor list and new technology announcements.
- **Chicago and the North American market**: David Collado's road show targets tourists from the Great Lakes region. The 100% return-intent number is powerful, now it has to translate into reservations.

**My take:** The Dominican Republic doesn't just compete on beaches, it competes on crisis management, mountain ecotourism, prestigious awards, and an association planning two years out. The Dominican tourism ecosystem is mature and knows how to play all the leagues. Keep it up.

## Sources

- Dominican Today: https://dominicantoday.com/hotel-chain-says-it-acted-immediately-after-altercation-with-guests-in-punta-cana/
- Suelo Caribe: https://suelocaribe.com/ecoturismo/mitur-impulsa-la-promocion-de-jarabacoa-como-principal-destino-ecoturistico-de-republica-dominicana/
- Acento: https://acento.com.do/turismo/la-ciudad-colonial-estrena-casa-de-nadie-un-nuevo-restaurante-de-cocina-fusion-9720204.html
- MITUR Noticias: https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/noticias/rd-obtiene-premio-como-mejor-destino-internacional-en-premios-hola-viajes/
- MITUR Noticias: https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/ministro-noticias/david-collado-promueve-a-rd-en-chicago-asegura-que-el-100-de-los-turistas-quiere-regresar/
- MITUR Noticias: https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/noticias/asonahores-anuncia-la-expo-comercial-2026-en-su-edicion-numero-38/
- Tourinews: https://www.tourinews.es/resumen-de-prensa/notas-de-prensa-marketing-turismo
- Tourinews: https://www.tourinews.es/resumen-de-prensa/notas-de-prensa-turismo-medioambiente

## Citation

Punta Cana Moon Palace incident, Jarabacoa ecotourism, Hola Viajes Awards and Asonahores 2026. Turismo News. 2026-07-19. https://turismo.news/en/digest/punta-cana-moon-palace-jarabacoa-ecotourism