PUNTA CANA — RIU Hotels has reopened Riu Palace Macao in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic following a top-to-bottom renovation.

Located within the RIU Complex, the 24-hour, all-inclusive, adults-only hotel was the first RIU Palace line property in the Americas when it first launched n 1994. It’s last remodelling took place in 2012. 

Guests can now enjoy refreshed décor, new menus and brand new offerings, most notably the Elite Club by RIU, an exclusive service featuring elevated perks and spaces. Riu Palace Macao is the first RIU hotel in the Dominican Republic to offer the new Elite Club service.

Here are additional renovation highlights:

COMMON AREAS

The property features common areas that are now more open and brighter, with natural colours and high-end materials. Two examples include the lobby and reception desk, the first spaces to welcome RIU guests with the resort’s new and elegant style. New offerings include the expansion of the bar and lounge, to which a second outdoor stage has been added for smaller performances, as well as a DJ booth and a new RIU Fit area.

CUISINE

In addition to the international buffet, guests can enjoy an Italian restaurant, Volare; a steakhouse; Kabuki, which serves Asian small plates; and a fusion restaurant called Krystal. All of these restaurants have been renovated. In addition, there’s a new Sports Bar that will serve food and drinks 24 hours a day, as well as a grill area called Pepe’s Food featuring a Burger Bar in the pool area. 

GUESTROOMS

All 476 rooms have been fully renovated with new furniture and an updated colour palette of natural wood tones, beige and green. Plant patterns can be seen on the main wall and on the glass that separates the bathroom from the bedroom. One of the biggest changes is the implementation of swim-up rooms with a private pool. These rooms are exclusively for Elite Club by RIU service guests.

THE ELITE CLUB

In addition to the 34 rooms with a private pool, The Elite Club also offers an additional 22 rooms for guests using this service. Other features include a lounge area with an exclusive bar, an exclusive restaurant offering an à la carte dinner, an à la carte breakfast at the Italian restaurant (adapted to this service every morning), and an exclusive beach with its own bar service that serves premium drinks. 

WELLNESS

RIU has built a new space dedicated to its guests’ wellness, beauty and fitness. The new centre features a large gym, a beauty salon and hairdresser, and a spa with two water areas, steam baths and up to nine massage booths. 

As part of the RIU Complex in Punta Cana, Riu Palace Macao shares the Splash Water Park, RIU Parties, the renovated Casino, Caribbean Street and Pachá nightclub with the four other hotels in the complex. In addition, all guests of RIU hotels in Punta Canada will be able to use the wellness centre, RIU’s largest to date.

Riu Palace Macao’s renovation follows the renovations of Rium Bambu in 2017 and Riu Palace Punta Cana in 2018. Up next will be the renovation of Riu Palace Bavaro, scheduled for completion in 2014, which will include an expansion of what up until now has been Hotel Naiboa.