Puntacana Resort & Club’s Frank and Haydee Rainieri to Receive “Bill Bissell Lifetime Achievement Award” at CHTIC 2010

It is with great pleasure that the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) will recognize the accomplishments of Frank and Haydee Rainieri of Puntacana Resort & Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with the Bill Bissell Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented on May 5 at the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC 2010) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Bill Bissell Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals who have made a difference in the industry through their actions, contributions and great lifetime accomplishments in the Caribbean and beyond.

“Frank and Haydee’s impact on Caribbean tourism – as well as their work on sustainability issues, social reform and education – is well known and is deserving of the entire region’s respect,” said Enrique De Marchena Kaluche, President of CHTA.

“As a fellow Dominican, however, I feel a special affinity for the Rainieris as they’ve played an integral role in shaping the Dominican Republic into one of the Caribbean’s premiere tourism destinations with Puntacana Resort & Club remaining one of our country’s most notable luxury resorts,” added De Marchena.

“The Caribbean owes a huge debt of gratitude to Frank Rainieri who founded the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) and served as our chairman for the first several years,” said Sir Royston O. Hopkin, KCMG, CAST’s current chairman.

“Likewise, Haydee is a distinguished ambassador of Caribbean tourism and an outspoken advocate on numerous issues central to our development and social progress,” noted Hopkin. “Working alongside the Rainieris has been a pleasure.”

Frank Rainieri is a renowned leader and visionary in the Dominican Republic and the Greater Caribbean. He is credited with pioneering the Punta Cana region’s tourism product and developing Puntacana Resort & Club from 10 small bungalows in 1971 into one of the most exclusive and elegant tourist retreats in present day Dominican Republic.

His contributions have resulted in a myriad of recognitions locally and internationally, including the high distinction of the Presidential Citation Award, presented in 1985 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan. In that same year, he was selected by the United Nations to serve as a representative for the Dominican Republic in a seminar for Young Entrepreneurs of Developing Countries. In 1999, he was distinguished as Caribbean Hotelier of the Year by CHTA.

Frank currently serves on the Board for the American Chamber of Commerce as well as ASONAHORES (Dominican Republic’s National Association of Hotels and Restaurants) and CAST (an organization he is credited with founding). He is also an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), through which he’s been extremely supportive of Haitian relief efforts.

Haydee Rainieri first arrived on the scene representing the Dominican Republic as Miss Dominican Republic at the Miss World International pageant, where she went on to receive the coveted title of Miss Americas in Argentina. Since then, she’s served as a faithful ambassador for the Dominican Republic and Caribbean tourism in general.

She received her undergraduate degree in Physics cum laude at the National University Pedro Henríquez Ureña, where she later served on the academic staff.

During her professional career, she worked as producer and anchorwoman for the television program Frente a Frente next to renowned journalist Mario Rivadulla. She also served as Director for the Public Relations Division of the National Theater of the Dominican Republic, as well as Treasurer for the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce.

Haydee was distinguished by United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees) in 1982 with the Silver Supreme Award for Outstanding Youths. In 1994, she received the Grand Award from ASONAHORES.

She is also an outspoken advocate for education as a member of EDUCA (a non-governmental organization founded by entrepreneurs committed to improving the quality of education in the Dominican Republic) since 1996. She also served as Director of APEC (Action in Favor of Education and Culture, Inc.).

In 1987, Haydee Rainieri joined Grupo Puntacana, the managing company behind Puntacana Resort & Club, where she now serves as Vice President of Hospitality and Human Resources. She is also the current President of the ASONAHORES, a role she’s held since 2008, as well as the current 4th Vice President of the CHTA Board of Directors. Frank and Haydee Rainieri married in 1973 and have three children and four grandchildren.

Taking place at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, May 4-6, 2010, CHTIC will be hosted by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association (PRHTA) and Puerto Rico Convention Bureau (PRCB).