The 4^th TravelMole at Casa Golf tournament, held at the Casa De Campo Resort in the Dominican Republic, finished last week with a record 40 participants from the UK travel industry. Travel industry leaders were joined by football legends Liam Brady, Ossie Ardilles and John Lacey. Sponsored by Babble.Cloud it was generally considered the biggest and the best so far. Played across three of Casa’s four Pete Dye designed courses the competitors were divided into pairs and competed under the Stableford points scoring system with a maximum handicap of 18. As usual the tournament had a very tight finish with 2023 winners the Trending Travel duo of Keith Kerman and Kieran Shew. Off the golf course, everyone was able to enjoy the resort’s comprehensive facilities including horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, and spa facilities. In addition, each evening a different restaurant across the 7,000-acre residential, villa and hotel facility hosted the golfers including the splendid SBG based within the marina. The 2023 event was accompanied by a glossy brochure developed by Magenta Creative, that detailed the pairings , the villa allocation (players stay in luxury villas), timings and an introduction from Colin Pegler of RMI and Graham McKenzie of TravelMole. Also in the printed programme were tributes to Ashley Close, a former member of the Casa group, who sadly succumbed to mental health pressures earlier this year. Chris North and Graham McKenzie both penned pieces that detailed their own recollections of Ashley and their relationship with him. An auction took place during the awards evening that raised £7,000 for Mind – the mental health charity. Plans are already under way for the 5^th edition of the tournament in November 2024.

Anticipation is high as the 4th TravelMole @ Casa golf tournament is set to tee off on 16 November. Hosted by Casa De Campo Resort & Villas through 21 November, it includes three rounds of golf for the TravelMole @ Casa tournament and one round for the Texas Scramble event. This action-packed five days at Casa De Campo includes much more than the golf. Off the fairway, the golfers, made up mostly of travel industry leaders, can go horseback riding, work out in the fitness centre or play tennis. All meals including breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner are included. Sunday is a well earned day of rest as all golfers head to Catalina Island for lunch by private catamaran. Babble is headline sponsor and the event is organised by Colin Pegler and TravelMole’s Graham McKenzie. Casa de Campo is a coveted Dominican Republic retreat featuring a five-star hotel, private villas, and 58 newly launched Premier Club suites. The Casa de Campo golf facilities are world class, designed by the renowned architect Pete Dye. It has three golf courses including the No 1 rated course in the Caribbean and Latin America. Casa de Campo also houses a Polo & Equestrian Centre offering horse riding for all skill levels, a 245-acre Clay Shooting Centre and a Tennis Centre with 13 courts. There are also high-end wellness facilities and a full-service Marina & Yacht Club.

 

New opening puts the Dominican Republic's most luxurious resort on the map as a leading wellbeing destination in the Caribbean

  After much anticipation, the doors of Casa de Campo Resort & Villas’ brand new, state-of-the-art SPA & Wellness Centre opens to guests today, 1 June 2023, propelling the first and most luxurious resort in the Dominican Republic to the forefront of wellbeing destinations in the Caribbean.   The 18,000 square foot facility offers a unique blend of prestigious services, wellness experiences, and cutting-edge technology not previously found in the Dominican Republic, under the design and careful management of Casa’s specially appointed Spa Director, Ms. Irene Campaña.   Guests will have access to an extensive, state-of-the-art hydrothermal circuit featuring sauna, steam room, a vitality pool, cold plunge, Laconium loungers, and an outdoor pool. Each of the SPA’s 12 luxuriously appointed treatment rooms will offer relaxing hands-on experiences, results-oriented therapies, and technology-supported treatments, such as:  

• HydraFacial: An invigorating, non-surgical service effective for all skin types, offering instant noticeable results with no downtime or irritation. The HydraFacial treatment removes dead skin cells and extracts impurities while simultaneously bathing the new skin with cleansing, hydrating and moisturising serums. Priced from USD$199 (30-minute Signature HydraFacial).

 

• Triple Detox Therapy on an MLX i3Dome: Guests lay on this high-tech table to experience a combination of three detox treatments in one. Far Infrared technology targets the body, using healthy rays to stimulate the metabolism; Plasma and Light Therapies target the head to provide skin rejuvenation and detoxification. Priced at USD$365 (120 minutes).

 

• Binaural Acoustic & Dynamic Stimulation on a Welnamis Table: This treatment combines audio and vibrational stimulation that sends guests into deep relaxation for 30- or 60-minute sessions. Guests are given stereo headphones that play gentle and relaxing tones while laying on a vibrating Welnamis Table that provides light or deep multi-channel vibrations for a full-body, deep relaxation experience. Priced from USD$85 (30 minutes).

 

• Casa de Campo Detox & Restore, Featuring the MLX i3DOME: this wellness journey begins with a warm cleansing shower, followed by a 30-minute detox session and scalp massage using restorative hair oil. Guests then refresh in a garden shower, followed by a full-body lymphatic massage using nourishing Moringa oil. A deep hydration facial with steam will replenish and restore the skin’s natural moisture levels. The journey concludes with refreshing coconut water and a light snack. Priced from USD$85 (30 minutes).

 

• Organic Garden-to-Table Glow: The ideal journey for purists and nature lovers alike, this treatment uses local, all-natural and preservative-free ingredients. Includes a scalp treatment, full-body exfoliation, refreshing cleanse in a tranquil garden shower, followed by a massage and nourishing facial to leave guests glowing from tip-to-toe. The journey concludes with an energising Moringa wellness shot and light snack. Priced at USD$365 (120 minutes).

  “We are pleased to welcome Irene Campana to our team as our new SPA & Wellness Director,” said Andres Pichardo Rosenberg, President of Casa de Campo Resort and Villas. “Irene has an extensive background working with some of the best luxury, five-star resorts and spas in the world and will help us continue to take Casa de Campo to new heights. The addition of the SPA at Casa de Campo will provide our guests and homeowners alike with one-of-a-kind health and wellness experiences and a true destination spa facility for all to enjoy.”   Ms. Campaña is a well-established and respected Spa Director in Mexico and Caribbean region, having accrued extensive experience in the international wellness industry over her 26-year career at the forefront of SPA and cosmetology. She joins Casa de Campo from the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal (Mexico), where she was Spa Director for almost four years, during which time she was acknowledged for the integral role she played in maintaining the luxury hotel’s five-star Forbes rating. Ms. Campaña has also held Spa Director positions at other large Caribbean hotels of note, including the emblematic Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana, Cuba; and the Chablé Maroma in Mexico, where she both opened and successfully ran the property’s Spa. She has also held Spa Manager positions in the cruise industry, where she first began her career and passionate immersion into hospitality’s wellness industry.   For further information about Ms. Campaña, the new SPA & Wellness Centre, and Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, please visit www.casadecampo.com.do.   Casa de Campo’s full SPA & Wellness Centre treatment menu can be viewed here.   Book it: Stays at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas can be booked through most leading tour operators. BA Holidays offers seven nights at Casa de Campo from £2,130 per person, all inclusive. The price includes return flights from London Gatwick and is based on a 19 August departure with two adults sharing a Superior Casitas Gardens room. www.baholidays.com.

 

CASA ALBA

VACATION LIKE THE RICH AND FAMOUS AT CASA DE CAMPO

 

When it comes to true Caribbean luxury, Casa Alba never fails to impress. Designed with clean lines and a modern aesthetic, this three-story oceanfront villa features six bedrooms that can accommodate up to 12 people, nine bathrooms spread all around the house, an elevator for ease of transport from one floor to another, large dining areas, to lounge and watch TV while hanging out with friends.

   

CAME FOR THE BEACH, STAYED FOR THE VIEW

 

The main attraction that sets Casa Alba apart is its rooftop terrace, equipped with a bar, a living and dining area, and a pool that overlooks the patio, the Teeth of the Dog® golf course, and the Caribbean Sea. Step outside to enjoy the picturesque views while taking a dip in the pool, having lunch at the outdoor dining area, or relaxing at one of the 4 terraces. If you’re looking to enjoy the company of your loved ones, Casa Alba offers the perfect setting for a large family’s vacation.

    Additionally, you will enjoy our welcome bar and refreshment center, daily maid and butler service with breakfast prepared in the comfort of your home, and your very own dedicated villa concierge that you can call 24 / 7 to assist with anything.   From confirming reservations for the spa, restaurants, excursions, special requests and arranging private VIP access to all the activities we offer throughout the 7,000 acre resort. And of course, every villa includes golf carts to explore the resort surroundings. Come discover your new home away from home at Casa de Campo!

Dominican Republic resort Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, unveiled designs for its Spa & Wellness Centre. The facility opens in spring 2023. It will position Casa de Campo as a leading wellbeing destination in the Caribbean. It offers 18,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor facilities. Guests can experience a hydrothermal circuit, with sauna, steam, and vitality pool. There are13 treatment rooms and a private garden and outdoor rain shower. Dominican Republic resort Casa de Campo will also offer a discreet ‘spa within a spa’, perfect for VIPs, groups and a Bridal Suite. It has a private entrance, lounge, treatment area, and a private bar and refreshment area. Next year also sees he opening of the new Premier Club at Casa de Campo. It comprises 58 new suites and a private concierge.

  34 Travel Industry execs and 2 ex pro footballers incl World Cup Winner Ossie Ardilles.  

  Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, the first and most luxurious resort in the Dominican Republic, will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Amphitheatre at Altos de Chavón in October and November, with special concert performances and a nostalgic art exhibition. The 5,000-seat outdoor theatre, located within the property’s 16th century Mediterranean-style village, has welcomed more than 200 shows and more than 500 artists and performers over the last 40 years.   The Amphitheatre was inaugurated by Frank Sinatra in 1982 when Casa de Campo hosted HBO’s ‘Concert for the Americas’ special, headlined by ‘Ol Blue Eyes himself. Two days later, the Amphitheatre welcomed Carlos Santana and the band Heart, and three years later, in 1985, Wilfrido Vargas became the first Dominican artist to perform at the Amphitheatre, to a sold-out concert. In the years that followed, the Amphitheatre has hosted star-studded performances from the likes of Elton John, Gloria Estefan, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, and many more.   To celebrate the exciting milestone, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas will be putting on a series of free events that honour the Amphitheatre’s illustrious past:  

• From 21 October until 21 November, the Altos de Chavón Art Gallery will be hosting ‘40 Laps Around the Sun’, an art exhibition of original and one-of-a-kind posters from past performances at the Amphitheatre over the last four decades. These include the concert artwork from iconic artists such as Frank Sinatra, Sting, Heart, Depeche Mode, and many more. Visitors will also get to see archive photography from the events, and a film screening of Frank Sinatra’s concert at Casa de Campo. The exhibition will open with a special free cocktail reception for guests and residents of Casa de Campo on 21 October.

 

• On 22 October the Amphitheatre will host a ‘Sinatra, El Tributo’ concert. This tribute to the legendary Frank Sinatra, who inaugurated the Amphitheatre 40 years ago, will be performed by the Santo Domingo Pops, a big band orchestra under the direction of Amaury Sanchez, a Dominican producer.

 

• On 4 November, Wilfrido Vargas will return to Casa de Campo to play a special anniversary concert, bringing his repertoire of energetic Merengue music back to the Amphitheatre at Altos de Chavón, 37 years after his original performance. Wilfrido Vargas is one of the most celebrated Dominican Merengue musicians and was instrumental in making the Merengue style a world phenomenon.

  “We are honoured to be able to celebrate the past 40 years of historic concerts and performances in our iconic and one-of-a-kind Amphitheatre,” said Casa de Campo’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Jason Kycek.   “Over the last four decades, the legendary Amphitheatre of Chavón has become such a pivotal part of the Casa de Campo experience, and we are elated to commemorate the past performers, artists and guests who have experienced the magic of the Amphitheatre in the 40 years since it was opened.   "The wider resort is also turning 50 next year, and these celebrations are a fantastic opportunity for agents to showcase the history, the expertise and the fun that is on offer to their clients when they book a stay at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas through our many tour operator partners."   Departing on 17 October 2022, Tui (www.tui.co.uk) offers seven nights at the five-star Casa de Campo Resort & Villas from £1,502 per person. The price includes return flights and is based on two adults sharing a Superior Casitas Double Room on an all-inclusive basis*.

Dominican Republic resort Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, has unveiled its new Premier Club at Casa de Campo. The Premier Club offers an exclusive sanctuary for discerning guests, with  Premier Junior Suites (King Sized Beds), Premier Junior Suites, Premier One Bedroom Suites, and a Premier Presidential Suite. “The Premier Club at Casa de Campo will create an unprecedented level of privacy and exclusivity for our guests to enjoy,” said Jason Kycek, Senior Vice President at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas. Each suite will offer dedicaed amenities, such as an exclusive Premier Club golf cart for traveling throughout the 7,000-acre resort, private concierge service and nightly turndown service. Bookings for The Premier Club at Casa de Campo are now open, with guests able to enjoy the new facilities from December 2022. Casa de Campo is sold through most trade-facing tour operators.

Dominican Republic resort Casa de Campo Resort & Villas announced a partnership with hotel marketing and reservation platform Pinktada. The innovative partnership allows Casa de Campo’s guests to reserve rooms with transferrable room-night tokens (RNTs) on Pinktada’s platform, using the latest blockchain tech. Guests booking a stay through Pinktada get access to competitive, discounted room rates for Superior Casitas and Elite Rooms. It the flexibility to sell back or swap reservation tokens if a change in plans arises. The 3D proprietary user interface on Pinktada allows guests to search for the exact room amenities and features they are looking for. Guests can also virtually tour all of Casa de Campo’s restaurants and pools on property, as well as Casa de Campo’s golf courses, shooting ranges, and equestrian centres. Upon completion of a stay at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, Pinktada users will receive a custom, commemorative NFT customised with memories of their stay. “Blockchain and NFTs are changing the hotel industry as we know it, and we are thrilled to be a part of this change through this pioneering partnership with Pinktada,” said Jason Kycek, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Casa de Campo. “Pinktada has created a visionary booking model that allows for both price optimisation and flexibility at the same time.”

Following 2014's successful inaugural event, the Golf Travel Exchange for Dominican Republic will again be bringing together golf tourism leaders in the Caribbean. The 2015 event is slated for September 5-10 and will again take place at the upscale Casa de Campo Resort in La Romana. The resort features luxury accommodations and three championship courses. Golf tour operators, sports media, golf course directors, hoteliers, and DMC's will have the opportunity to network and do business. "Based on the overwhelming positive response and attendance of the 2014 Golf Travel Exchange, we are thrilled to be able to bring it back for a second year and continue to promote our world-class courses like Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore, Punta Espada and more," said Teddy De Lara, director of the DR Golf Travel Exchange. Attendees will also be able to participate in a golf tournament at the on-site Dye Fore golf course. The Travel Exchange is again endorsed by Dominican Republic's Ministry of Tourism, the National Association of Hotels & Restaurants and the London based International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO). IAGTO president Peter Walton is also expected to attend again this year.