NEWTON, Massachusetts—Sonesta International Hotels Corporation announced plans for Larimar City & Resort, a new multi-use development that marks the company’s entry into the Dominican Republic. Anchoring this development will be the new Royal Sonesta and James hotels, two of Sonesta’s luxury and lifestyle brands.
“This development leverages two of our premier brands, The Royal Sonesta and The James, to grow our footprint in Latin America and the Caribbean, which is a strategic priority for Sonesta,” said Brian Quinn, Sonesta’s chief development officer. “Sonesta’s dedicated lodging development team and enhanced regional presence will allow us to capitalize on the demand for the Caribbean market, especially among luxury travelers, as an avenue for continued growth.”
Sonesta is partnering with real estate development firm CLERHP on both hotel properties and residences with completion of the first phase of Larimar City & Resort expected in late 2025 to early 2026. This development will include several entertainment venues including a retail mall, several dining options, a fitness center, a spa, a country club with an 18-course golf course, an outdoor sports facility, and a kid-centric activity center.
Juan Andrés Romero, CEO of CLERHP, commented, “Larimar City & Resort will be a destination designed with comfort, quality, and luxury offering a unique living and travel experience and easy air access from major North American and European markets. The project has garnered support from international investors who view this mixed-use development, the first of its kind in the Dominican Republic, as a compelling investment opportunity.”
The Dominican Republic saw an 11 percent increase in visitors in Q1 2023 versus Q1 2019 according to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer released in January 2023. The island is known for its varied terrain, which features rainforest, savannah, and highlands, including Pico Duarte, the Caribbean’s tallest mountain.
The Larimar development in the Dominican Republic will be the latest addition to Sonesta’s portfolio of Latin American and Caribbean properties. Since entering the Latin American region with the establishment of Sonesta El Olivar in Lima, Peru, in 1998, Sonesta has expanded its network, adding hotels in Colombia, Ecuador, and Chile. Through a master franchise agreement with GHL Hoteles in Colombia, Sonesta introduced the Sonesta Hotel Cali in April 2022 as its 14th property in Latin America and 8th in Colombia. Additionally, in the Caribbean, Sonesta’s presence includes two all-inclusive resorts in Sint Maarten: the family-friendly Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and the adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point Resort, along with the Royal Sonesta San Juan in Puerto Rico.
The James and The Royal Sonesta brands are new additions to the Sonesta franchise portfolio in the United States and in Latin America, offering franchisees lifestyle options in urban and resort destination markets.
