The  Client  

Originally a family estate nestled within the quiet town of Barahona, southwest Dominican Republic, Casa Bonita is now an eco-­conscious luxury lodge set amongst a lush tropical environment looking out towards the Caribbean Sea. The hotel boasts of an organic garden, outdoor spa, and is bordered by running rivers and the only biosphere reserve in the country.

Challenge  

Casa Bonita’s natural beauty is due to its remote, off the beaten track location, which at the beginning of this project was relatively unknown to the international market. Prohotel was tasked with placing the hotel on the press radar by turning it into an alluring experience as well as creating a concept that carefully considered the surrounding natural environment. On top of a strong marketing focus, this meant implementing standout facilities that would raise the hospitality bar.

Strategy 

Our concept was to build an exclusive outdoor spa which would use the surrounding woodland and the river as a sensory experience. We incorporated natural resources, such as the rare Larimar stones, and designed treatments to be conducted within the river itself, the first treatments of their kind. We upgraded the in-room amenities, the sustainable restaurant and also streamlined operations. Together, this provided a powerful marketing hook of high-­level service in a remote natural paradise.

Result

Due to its appealing story, Casa Bonita drew both media attention and clientele from both the local and international markets. The hotel received a Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in 2014 and was also placed on The New York Times Places To Go list during the same year. Casa Bonita is now a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.