TTG – Features – The best hotel for celebrity spotting in the Dominican Republic

20 Aug 2024by Katherine Masters

A Casa de Campo getaway has even been offered in celebrity gift bags at the Oscars – we catch up with senior vice-president of sales and marketing, Jason Kycek, to understand its A-list appeal

Katherine Masters

Features editor

Katherine Masters

Features editor

Teeth of the Dog is Casa de Campo’s oceanside golf course

How has Casa de Campo made its mark over the years?

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas is located in La Romana region on the south-eastern coast of the Dominican Republic. Spanning 7,000 acres, our resort has been synonymous with luxury, exclusivity and world-class amenities since opening in 1974. Guests can choose from one of our private villas, five-star hotel accommodations, or one of 58 new Premier Club Suites, which offer even higher levels of luxury. The island’s first and most luxurious resort, Casa has been key to the elevated perception shift the Dominican Republic is currently seeing in the UK.

Casa de Campo turns 50 this year – tell us about some of the famous faces who have stayed at the resort in the past five decades.

Over the years, Casa has been a haven for A-listers because of the privacy and exclusivity we offer. Frank Sinatra, who inaugurated our amphitheatre 40 years ago, and other legends like Michael Douglas, Henry Kissinger and Joe DiMaggio, jetted into our private airstrip in the 1970s. Since then, royalty, heads of state, music and sport icons, and Hollywood’s finest have chosen to holiday at Casa, or live as a part of our residential community of 2,600 villa homes. Other illustrious guests include Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Taron Egerton, the Kardashians, and the Clintons, to name a few.

Senior vice-president of sales and marketing, Jason Kycek

How is Casa de Campo preparing to welcome holidaymakers for another 50 years?

We celebrate our 50th anniversary with a campaign of investment, to meet the evolving needs of our guests and ensure that our facilities remain world-leading for the next 50 years. We recently opened a state-of-the-art, 18,000-square-foot Spa & Wellness Centre, allowing us to rival the best wellbeing destinations in the world; and our next phase of enhancements to facilities and restaurants is under way. We will soon be able to share details of an exciting programme of celebratory events over the next 12 months. These will include a special 50th anniversary package, and the return of our sell-out Food & Wine Festival in October.

With its many on-screen appearances, Casa de Campo is ideal for set-jetting travellers. How can agents use this hook to sell the resort?

Casa de Campo has served as a picturesque backdrop for various films and TV shows, including Sandra Bullock’s 2022 blockbuster, The Lost City and, most recently, the Road House reboot. We advise agents to leverage Casa’s cinematic connections in their marketing efforts, inviting potential “set-jetters” to follow in the stars’ footsteps and experience the magic of their favourite films first-hand. Highlighting that actors including Jake Gyllenhaal, Channing Tatum and Daniel Radcliffe chose Casa de Campo as their base throughout filming is a great way to demonstrate the quality of the resort’s accommodation, facilities and dining to customers.

Agents can use this endorsement from cinema’s biggest names as a benchmark of quality and a great tool for closing sales.

Altos de Chavon is a recreation of 16th century style Mediterranean village

Sporty guests are one of your target markets – why is this so?

Casa de Campo is a paradise for active travellers. Our resort boasts three world-renowned golf courses designed by Pete Dye, including the Caribbean & Latin America’s number one course, Teeth of the Dog. We also offer world-class tennis, padel, horse riding, polo, clay shooting and water sports facilities. Agents can emphasise these features to attract sporty clients, suggesting tailored itineraries that include golf tournaments, tennis clinics, or deep-sea fishing excursions to showcase the diverse activities available at the resort.

Where do you love to spend time in the resort and why?

My favourite spot at Casa de Campo is Altos de Chavón, a replica 16th-century Mediterranean village. This cultural gem and popular wedding location offers breathtaking views of the Chavón River and is home to artists’ studios, galleries, and our amphitheatre where world-class musical artists like Elton John, Sting and Rod Stewart have performed. It is also home to our Archaeological Museum, which houses one of the world’s most important collections of Taino artifacts and offers engaging workshops to immerse guests of all ages into the rich Indigenous history of the island. This combination of history, culture, and natural beauty makes Altos de Chavón a truly special place to visit.

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