The Dominican Republic hosted its fourth signature Trade Show in Miami last wee with more than 1,200 travel industry professionals from the U.S., Canada, and Latin America in attendance.
The event brought together tour operators, travel agencies, airlines, cruise lines, and online travel agencies creating a high-impact platform for destination promotion, direct business negotiations, and strategic partnerships that included 100 exhibitors.
The Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism David Collado emphasized the sector’s critical importance to the Caribbean country, stating “Trade Show 2026 demonstrated that the Dominican Republic not only leads in visitor arrivals but also in its ability to generate real business opportunities and sustainable development across the entire tourism value chain/”
The event reinforced the Dominican Republic’s positioning as a multi-segment, year-round destination. Programming highlighted expanded focus areas including luxury travel, cruise and nautical tourism, sports and adventure tourism, MICE and business events, gastronomy, medical tourism, and eco and cultural experiences, alongside the country’s core sun and beach appeal.
Additional priority growth destinations include Miches, Punta Bergantín, Samaná, La Romana, Bayahíbe, Santiago, La Vega, Puerto Plata, Río San Juan, and Santo Domingo.
New developments Attendees heard how the Dominican Republic continues to expand air connectivity and accelerate hotel development while diversifying tourism beyond its traditional hubs. The event previewed a forthcoming Casa de Campo expansion and highlighted new international-branded growth, including St. Regis Cap Cana, W Punta Cana (Uvero Alto), Four Seasons Miches, and ZEL by Meliá Punta Cana, reinforcing continued confidence in the destination’s high-end trajectory.
Throughout the day, attendees experienced Dominican culture through immersive programming that included a “Meet in Paradise” cultural space, tastings of cassava and mamajuana, interactive cocoa experiences where guests created their own chocolate, traditional “faceless doll” painting, and merengue and bachata dance classes.
Meanwhile, the Roadshow Dinner capped the program with a high-touch evening focused on destination awareness, relationship building and partnership development. Minister Collado delivered a moving narrative supported by an interactive presentation and videos highlighting the Dominican Republic’s emerging and diverse regions and cultural experiences.
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