Four Seasons Resort Dominican Republic at Tropicalia is intended to bring sustainable luxury and timeless, tropical design to Samaná Bay.
Beachfront location
Located on a 60-acre (24 hectare) site along the Playa Esmeralda beachfront, the project will combine the renowned hospitality and service of Four Seasons and Cisneros’ decades of business and investment in the Dominican Republic, Latin America and the United States.
With construction already underway, the project is slated to open in early 2026.
Accommodation provision
Featuring a tropical modernist design by Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, the property will include a 95-key resort and 25 private residences of three- and four-bedroom units.
Tropicalia is owned by Cisneros Real Estate, the development arm of Cisneros, a diversified business group with nearly 100 years of history in media, real estate, consumer products and social leadership. Cisneros is committed to long-term ownership of Tropicalia as a legacy project and is dedicated to the success of the new Four Seasons Resort and Residences as well as to the socioeconomic sustainability of the community, region and country.
Luxury facilities
The resort will include a spa, fitness and wellness facilities including a yoga pavilion; a variety of beach activities and watersports; racquet sports such as tennis, paddle and pickleball; a Kids For All Seasons children’s club; and event spaces.
The onsite culinary offerings will include numerous restaurants and bars including a specialty restaurant, beachside grill, poolside bar, ceviche bar, juice bar, marketplace and sundry shop, coffee shop and rum bar.
Sustainable development
The design of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Dominican Republic at Tropicalia Is slated to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, one of the world’s most respected standards for ‘green’ buildings, and the first of its kind in the Dominican Republic.
Environmental and social management systems are guiding the resort’s design, construction and operation, from biodiversity to waste and water management, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
Isay Weinfeld’s design for Tropicalia is innately low-impact and draws inspiration from the island’s native materials and colonial-era towns. Coralina limestone, brick and stucco echo the country’s history, harmonising with the surroundings and conveying a sense of authenticity. His modern design reflects a tropical touch, with a nonlinear format that encourages guests to continuously discover the resort, as the buildings integrate with the landscape to give the sense of being immersed in nature.
Blending indoors and outdoors
The project’s modernist design will transition easily from indoors to outdoors, inspiring guests to engage with the natural environment. The low-density resort will feature open spaces, passive cooling, and lush landscaping using curated, non-invasive native species.
Guest and residential buildings will be located along the beachfront of Playa Esmeralda with views of Samaná Bay. Guestrooms will be spacious and designed with private terraces and state-of-the-art technology, while green space and interior gardens will be prioritised throughout the rooms and common spaces.
Project partners
Luxury development firm Sinergo has been named project manager, international design firm Gensler as executive architect and Bouygues Construction of France is the general contractor. The project’s masterplanner and landscape architect is EDSA, which has been working closely with former Dominican botanical garden curator Ricardo Garcia, ensuring holistic development and landscaping with primary native species. These development and design experts are known for their expertise in bringing environmentally sound and sustainable luxury resort projects to life in remote locations.
IMI Worldwide Properties, a real estate firm with more than 30 years of experience, is overseeing luxury residential sales.
Market focus
Alejandro Reynal, president and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, said: “We are thrilled to expand Four Seasons’ global portfolio in the Dominican Republic, a market that we have long been focused on as a luxury travel destination.
“We are proud to bring this project to life with our partners at Cisneros, who share our values of supporting the environments and communities in which we operate, and who we deeply admire for their work with Fundación Tropicalia. Together, we will remain focused on these values as we welcome guests and residents alike in 2026 and become stewards of this beautiful destination.”
Shared vision
Adriana Cisneros, CEO of Cisneros, noted: “Tropicalia reflects our family’s cultural values. More than 10 years ago, we embarked on a journey to support social sustainability through innovative projects in agriculture, gender equality, education, environment, entrepreneurship and microfinance.
“Our goal was to create a new kind of luxury destination that is in balance both with nature and with the local community. We’re pleased that Four Seasons shares our vision, both for Tropicalia and the future of tourism.”
Integrating innovative design
William Phelan, president of Tropicalia, added: “Four Seasons will bring a new level of luxury hospitality to the Dominican Republic, a premier Caribbean destination located about four hours by plane from New York and two and a half hours from Miami.
“The Dominican Republic also has excellent airlift from Europe, Latin America and other key markets. Our resort will lead the region’s development of sustainable tourism by integrating innovative design, environmental management and community development into our business DNA.”
Americas additions
Four Seasons is planning further projects in Central and South America, including Four Seasons Resort and Residences Caye Chapel in Belize. This will transform the private island of Caye Chapel into a luxury destination for residence owners and leisure travellers, with approximately 50 private estate lots, 35 private residences, and 100 guestrooms and suites. Completion is scheduled for 2024.
Meanwhile in Colombia, Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Cartagena will revitalise and restore several culturally significant buildings dating as far back as the 16th century to become a 131-key hotel by Q4 2024.
