Fishing Lodge Cap Cana to open October 1, 2011

Fishing Lodge Cap Cana to open October 1, 2011
Fishing Lodge Cap Cana, the highly anticipated luxury resort development on the Eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, is scheduled to open to guests as a Salamander Marina & Beach Resort on October 1, 2011, and begin taking reservations in July.

Fishing Lodge will include 302 spacious, Mediterranean-style villas with stunning marina views, designer furnishings and innovative architecture – 220 of which will be available to resort guests. Built on low-rise docks, they range in size from executive to three-bedroom royal suites, while many feature private infinity pools and swim-out access. Guests and owners will also enjoy a secluded beach, which is a delightful two-minute ride by private watercraft.

As the first property to open within Salamander's Grand Resorts at Cap Cana collection, Fishing Lodge is located within a masterfully designed village which surrounds the largest inland marina in the Caribbean. At the initial opening of the resort, spectacular amenities will include two restaurants and two bars, four pools, a chapel, fitness center, and boutique shops on Main Street and plaza settings. The second property, Ocean Club Cap Cana, will open in 2012 as a 92-room boutique-style hotel, romantically situated where the marina meets the Caribbean Sea.

Unlike many other Dominican destinations which are only all-inclusive, the Fishing Lodge experience will be open to all guest types and stays – from family reunions to executive group retreats – and also features a Jack Nicklaus Signature experience at the exclusive Punta Espada Golf Club, the top-ranked golf course in the Caribbean and Mexico. Guests and owners will also enjoy children's activities, boat rentals, sport fishing and nautical provisioning. Future restaurants, a nightclub, and additional shops are also planned.

“This is a different type of Dominican resort destination, one that offers numerous experiences within a Mediterranean seaside setting, an energetic centralized location and freedom from traditional boundaries,” said Sheila C. Johnson, founder and CEO of Virginia-based Salamander Hotels & Resorts, the management company selected to manage the Fishing Lodge and its village's restaurants, shops and other amenities. “Resort Owner Corporacion Hotelera Del Mar (CHM) has created an iconic destination and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to develop a long-lasting relationship with the Dominican people. Our company philosophy will be to hire from within the country – from senior management to hourly employees.”

Twice the size of Manhattan, Cap Cana is an ecologically pristine, 30,000-acre exclusive retreat featuring ocean, beach, cliffs and forest. In addition to hiking trails, an unsurpassed array of water-based options and a variety of nature-based activities, it has been hailed as the “World's Greatest New Destination.”

“The combination of Cap Cana's Fishing Lodge, Ocean Club and marina lifestyle creates a powerful new and alluring experience – both for guests and homeowners,” said Resort Owner Juan Pelayo. “Salamander Hotels & Resorts is the ideal company to fulfill our vision, and to manage this incredible new destination because of its five star experience and the vision of Founder Sheila C. Johnson.”

The resort's village-style, marina-oriented surroundings provide an array of amenities for which homeowners and residents would normally need to join several clubs to enjoy. Fishing Lodge's impeccably decorated and furnished condominiums range in size from 850 to 4,300 square feet, and, while the majority of the residences have already been purchased, there is still a premier selection of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes available. Homeowners are invited to a grand opening celebration this summer to meet the Salamander team and enjoy the spectacular new amenities.

In addition to Punta Espada Golf Club, which features more oceanfront holes than any other layout in the Western hemisphere, the area's numerous other courses – designed by such luminaries as P.B. Dye and Tom Fazio – create an unrivalled golf vacation destination. A second Jack Nicklaus Signature design, Las Iguanas, is currently under construction in Cap Cana.

Located less than 10 minutes from the modern International Punta Cana airport, which is served by more than 40 airlines offering over 100 flights from around the world, Fishing Lodge will feature an array of unique meeting and conference spaces, as well as stunning outdoor function and wedding options, including a historically designed, Mediterranean-style chapel overlooking the marina.

“The Dominican Republic is a fantastic choice for groups and meetings,” said Prem Devadas, president of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, who has personally developed and managed
four independent Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond properties. “This spectacular new resort, as well as the area's superior airlift, provides an exciting option for planners seeking an incredible destination.”

Special introductory guest rates of $129-599 per night at Fishing Lodge Cap Cana are available from October 1-December 31, 2011, ranging across all styles and sizes of accommodation options. Usual rates range from $275-725 per night.

For more information, including group bookings, visit www.FishingLodgeCapCana.com or e-mail fishinglodge@salamanderhotels.com. To call, use 1-866-855-4886 (within the US), 1-888-751-8544 (within the Dominican) or 1-540-687-3710 (other international countries). The resort will begin taking reservations in July, 2011.