When it comes to incentives, which nationalities are on your top list?
Andres Serrato - It's quite simple. Year in, year out, 70 % of our customers come from the United States and Canada, 15 % from South America and 10 % from Europe, among which the French figure prominently. In general, Americans stay for four or five days, while Europeans stay for a week because of the distance. Today, we receive around 300 groups a year.
And how big are these groups?
A. S. - The range is wide, from 20 to 2,000 people.
Is the infrastructure sufficient to accommodate groups of this size?
A. S. - Of course, especially when it comes to hotels. We are in business with at least a dozen hotels that can accommodate groups of this size. As a result, we don't have to spread the groups across different establishments, which is a very positive point for incentive clients.
What is the typical programme?
A. S. - All water sports, of course, but also mini cruises with whale watching in season or to swim with the dolphins. We also offer tours by helicopter, open bus, buggy, mini Cooper and even segway for eco-friendly treasure hunts. We're also active in the ecological field, offering to replant coral, and in the humanitarian field, with donations to schools. In terms of culture, of course, we have the old town of Santo Domingo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, but also Altos de Chavon and the Basilica of Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia...
What are the island's strengths?
A. S. - The safety, the landscapes, the beaches and the sea, but also, and I would say above all, the people. The Dominican Republic is certainly the liveliest island in the Caribbean.
