Meliá Hotels International and Grupo Puntacana have unveiled plans for Paradisus Miches, a newly built luxury all inclusive resort on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, in a move that underscores both companies’ long term bet on sustainable high end tourism in one of the Caribbean’s fastest rising destinations.

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A strategic alliance unveiled at FITUR 2026

The announcement of Paradisus Miches was made during the 2026 edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair in Madrid, where Meliá traditionally uses the global stage to outline its growth strategy and new projects. The deal formalizes a fresh chapter in the relationship between the Spanish hotel group and Grupo Puntacana, one of the Dominican Republic’s most influential tourism developers.

Under the agreement, Meliá Hotels International will operate the property under its Paradisus brand, while Grupo Puntacana will contribute its extensive local development expertise and long standing presence on the country’s eastern coast. The resort will be developed as a ground up project in Miches, a coastal area that Dominican authorities and private investors alike have identified as the next major tourism hub after Punta Cana.

Company executives describe the alliance as a continuation of a joint venture model that has already proven successful in other Dominican destinations, including Punta Cana and the emerging Punta Bergantín project in Puerto Plata. By adding Miches to that shared portfolio, both partners are tightening their collaboration in a market they see as central to their Caribbean strategy.

Paradisus Miches: scale, concept and design

Paradisus Miches is planned as an upscale all inclusive resort with 600 rooms distributed across a range of categories intended to cater to both families and adults seeking a more exclusive experience. According to initial information released by the companies, the property will occupy a privileged oceanfront tract with more than half a kilometer of untouched beachfront, emphasizing low density planning and a strong sense of integration with the landscape.

The design brief calls for multiple pools, expansive gardens, and open air social spaces that connect directly with the surrounding tropical environment. As with other Paradisus properties, the resort will follow the brand’s Destination Inclusive concept, which seeks to move beyond traditional all inclusive formulas by incorporating local culture, gastronomy and nature into curated on and off property experiences.

Plans include a diverse culinary offering that will range from signature restaurants to more casual venues, alongside beach clubs, bar areas and late night entertainment options. A full service spa, wellness zones and dedicated areas for fitness and mindful activities are expected to be central components, reflecting the growing demand for health oriented travel within the luxury segment.

Strengthening Meliá’s Dominican footprint

With the signing of Paradisus Miches, Meliá Hotels International takes its pipeline and operating portfolio in the Dominican Republic to eleven properties, consolidating the country as one of the group’s most important markets in the Americas. The company already manages a significant cluster of hotels in Punta Cana under the Paradisus by Meliá and Meliá Hotels & Resorts brands, with more than 3,000 rooms positioned in the upper upscale and luxury segments.

Meliá’s leadership has repeatedly highlighted the Dominican Republic as a benchmark for successful public private collaboration in tourism, pointing to stable demand, supportive government policies and a clear commitment to infrastructure development. The group’s recent expansion and repositioning plans for the Caribbean place a particular focus on high value destinations where luxury and premium products can command solid rates throughout much of the year.

In this context, Miches represents both a geographic and strategic complement to existing operations in Punta Cana. By adding a differentiated product in a less developed environment, Meliá aims to broaden its appeal to travelers seeking a more nature immersive alternative while still benefiting from the connectivity and brand recognition associated with the country’s main tourism corridor.

Grupo Puntacana’s push beyond its home base

For Grupo Puntacana, the Paradisus Miches project marks another step in the company’s broader strategy to extend its influence beyond the original Punta Cana resort area it helped pioneer decades ago. Led by chief executive Frank Elías Rainieri, the group has been progressively diversifying its portfolio through partnerships in new destinations, including its involvement in the government backed Punta Bergantín initiative in Puerto Plata.

By aligning again with Meliá on a large scale luxury development, Grupo Puntacana reinforces its positioning as a key local partner for international chains seeking to expand in the Dominican Republic. The company brings deep experience in large master planned tourism projects, from environmental management and community engagement to infrastructure and destination marketing.

Executives describe Paradisus Miches as a high impact investment that is intended to raise the bar for luxury offerings on the country’s east coast while also signaling to global investors that Miches is ready to absorb higher end projects. The alliance is framed as part of a long term vision to strengthen the Dominican Republic’s competitiveness as a safe and attractive host for international capital in tourism.

Miches: the Dominican Republic’s next coastal hotspot

Located on the northeastern flank of the island, Miches has long been known domestically for its pristine beaches and dramatic natural settings but has only recently started to attract major resort projects. The area is framed by lush green mountains and white sand shorelines, with nearby natural attractions such as Playa Esmeralda, Laguna Limón, Montaña Redonda and Salto La Jalda giving it strong eco tourism credentials.

The Dominican government has identified Miches as one of the priority zones for tourism diversification, aiming to relieve some of the development pressure on Punta Cana while spreading economic benefits to new communities. Improved road connections, incentives for sustainable projects and a concerted promotional effort are all part of a broader plan to reposition the region on the international tourism map.

One of Miches’ main advantages is its proximity to Punta Cana International Airport, the country’s busiest gateway for leisure travelers. Paradisus Miches is expected to sit around a 90 minute drive from the airport, giving visitors relatively easy access to a more secluded destination without the need for additional flights or complex transfers. This combination of remoteness and accessibility is seen as a key factor in the area’s growth potential.

Focus on sustainable, high value tourism

Both Meliá Hotels International and Grupo Puntacana have publicly emphasized that Paradisus Miches will be developed under a model of responsible tourism, aligned with environmental and social criteria that go beyond minimum regulatory requirements. The project is conceived as a retreat embedded in a high value natural setting, with commitments to preserve local ecosystems and minimize the resort’s ecological footprint.

In practical terms, this focus is expected to translate into efficient building design, renewable energy and water management solutions, careful landscaping with native species and protection of coastal and marine habitats. The companies also underline their intention to work closely with local authorities and communities to ensure that employment, training and business opportunities generated by the resort contribute to inclusive development.

The Paradisus brand’s Destination Inclusive philosophy, which encourages guests to explore and engage with surrounding communities and cultural assets, could play a role in channeling visitor spending beyond the resort’s boundaries. Curated experiences that highlight local gastronomy, crafts, music and nature tours are likely to be used as a way to distribute economic benefits more broadly across the Miches area.

Part of a wider Caribbean repositioning

The Paradisus Miches announcement comes amid a broader repositioning of Meliá’s global portfolio, with a notable tilt toward luxury and premium segments in key leisure markets. Over the past few years, the group has invested heavily in upgrading and rebranding properties in destinations such as Mexico, the Canary Islands and Southeast Asia, often converting existing hotels into Paradisus or other high end flags.

Within the Caribbean and Americas region, Meliá has been actively deploying the Paradisus concept in established resort hubs like Cancún and Playa del Carmen, while also exploring new frontiers that can sustain more experiential, nature linked products. The shift reflects a wider industry trend away from volume driven, mass market all inclusive models and toward curated offerings that promise a stronger sense of place and personalization.

Industry analysts note that partnerships with local champions such as Grupo Puntacana are increasingly central to this strategy. Joint ventures and alliances allow international brands to share risk, tap into local regulatory and environmental knowledge, and align with national tourism priorities, particularly when projects involve fragile ecosystems or emerging destinations.

Outlook for timelines and market impact

While exact construction and opening dates for Paradisus Miches have not yet been publicly confirmed, the development has been framed as part of a new wave of investments responding to rising global demand for upscale all inclusive experiences. Market observers expect the resort to come online in the medium term, coinciding with a positive demand cycle for Caribbean leisure travel and continued growth in arrivals to the Dominican Republic.

In terms of market positioning, the property is likely to target a mix of North American and European travelers, alongside a growing regional clientele from Latin America seeking premium beach escapes. By combining the Paradisus brand’s emphasis on immersive, destination centric luxury with the still relatively untouched appeal of Miches, the partners aim to differentiate the resort from more densely developed competitors in Punta Cana and other mature Caribbean enclaves.

For the Dominican Republic, the project is another signal of investor confidence at a time when tourism continues to consolidate its role as a pillar of the national economy. If the development succeeds in balancing scale with sustainability, Paradisus Miches could become a reference point for how the country manages the next phase of its coastal expansion, blending high value hospitality with protection of its most distinctive natural assets.