The 17th Edition of The Opus Group’s Leadership Summit took place earlier this month at AMResorts’ new Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa in the Dominican Republic.
Many of the roughly 60 meeting planners and hosted buyers in attendance hadn’t been to the Dominican Republic in years (if at all) and were excited to see what the country had to offer groups. And there was plenty: golfing; horseback riding and kayaking at Casa de Campo; zip lining at Scape Park; a glass-bottom boat cruise; and, a Queen cover band (with a Freddie Mercury impersonator) at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana.
Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa, which debuted last November, was a testament to the kinds of developments happening in the Dominican Republic. The 457-room, adults-only resort, located in the exclusive gated community of Cap Cana, brought a luxury-meets-all-inclusive experience to the group from the very start with a glass of champagne upon arrival. Exploring the property, the expansive infinity pool, eight gourmet restaurants, and private cabanas and hammocks dotting the expansive beach only added to the lavishness.
“We have a long and successful relationship with AMResorts,” says Lisa Cherry, vice president, partner at The Opus Group. “Secrets Cap Cana’s location in the exclusive community of Cap Cana sets it apart from other resorts in Punta Cana area, and the beach is one of the finest in any location we’ve previously held our programs.”
One night of the Leadership Summit also coincided with the a night of the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) conference (happening nearby), so the hotel hosted a hotel-opening gala to show off its event-planning capabilities. Passed appetizers, cooking stations and fruity martinis balanced out the live entertainment, which started with a singer welcoming guests from a stage set up in the middle of the pool. Costumed actors and acrobats in cages were scattered throughout the pool area as guests made their way to the beach, where a full-on orchestra was playing in the sand.
This gala was just one example of how the resort’s event spaces fit the Leadership Summit group well. One-on-one appointments between the buyers and suppliers occurred at tables in the Bordeaux restaurant, and a closing-night gala in the property’s ballroom concluded the Leadership Summit with a seated dinner and performances by local musicians and dancers on stilts.
Stay tuned for on-location details from the Leadership Summit to be published in the July/August issue of Prevue magazine.
