MIAMI (October 2, 2017) – The grand dame of the Dominican Republic’s luxury hotel world has been given a new lease on life by the Barceló Hotel Group, with a two-year, $40 million renovation that includes state-of-the-art enhancements and renovations. Now under the Royal Hideaway Luxury Hotels & Resorts banner, El Embajador, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, retains its old school Santo Domingo glamor, seamlessly blending past and present for guests to immerse themselves in.

A Rich History

Opened in 1956, El Embajador quickly became the place to see and be seen in the Dominican Republic, attracting famed personalities from the worlds of film, music, culture and politics. Its Embassy Club hosted the best musical performances in the nation; the facilities were used as the set of great films, such as Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II and The Lost City among others. In 1965, it even hosted an assembly of the Organization of American States (OEA), which was attended by dozens of heads of state.

Celebrities adored El Embajador. Renowned guests such as Errol Flynn, Rock Hudson and Mario Moreno “Cantinflas,” to name just a few, attended the glitzy parties in the almost 125,000-square-foot tropical gardens. The ballrooms were decked out to welcome fashion icons such as Óscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Jean Paul Gautier and Elie Saab, who chose El Embajador to present their new creations to Latin America’s jet-set crowd.

A Bright Future

With this rich history and exquisite hilltop location in the exclusive Bellavista neighborhood, with the Caribbean Sea providing a spectacular backdrop, El Embajador, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, is shining once again. Its resurgence is thanks to the Barceló Hotel Group, which acquired it in 2015, and to the exclusive Royal Hideaway Luxury Hotels & Resorts brand, which has made the property its top urban icon.

  • El Embajador’s luxurious suites have been rejuvenated, often highlighted by stunning views of the Caribbean. The suites boast exceptional spaciousness, ranging from 440 square feet in the smaller rooms to more than 5,000 square feet in the Presidential Suite.
  • The prestigious El Jardín and Los Porches restaurants continue to create culinary marvels under the guidance of the acclaimed chef José Soto.
  • A new Wellness & Spa, featuring a private pool, gym and four treatment rooms, provides the perfect dose of peace and tranquility.
  • The property has added more than 10,000 square feet of ballrooms, including the Protocolo and Diplomatic event rooms, as well as the exceptional Signature Venue Embassy Garden.

The hotel has set aside 40 percent of its 28,000 square feet for business travelers in a space featuring a sophisticated 800-foot glass enclosure