PUNTA BERGANTIN, Puerto Plata. January 24, 2024. The largest Spanish hotel group, Meliá Hotels International, and the Puntacana Group of the Dominican Republic signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bergantín Trust for the construction of the third hotel in the tourism project being developed in Puerto Plata. This establishes the intention that the hotel operation of the complex will be carried out by Meliá Hotels International, with one of its distinguished brands as its flagship. ​Grupo Puntacana, a pioneer and promoter of tourism in Punta Cana, and Melia Hotels International, with significant investments in the destination where it already operates six hotels, agreed to develop 300 hotel rooms and manage approximately 100 branded residences. ​ The estimated initial investment among all project partners would exceed $70 million, and construction is expected to begin as soon as possible once the final fit of the project has been determined. ​Melia Hotels International is one of the leading hotel chains in the world, with more than 400 hotels open or in the process of opening in more than 40 countries. Specifically in Punta Cana, the hotel company has a solid hotel offering through its Paradisus by Meliá and Meliá Hotels & Resorts brands, offering luxury and premium hotels in the destination, totaling more than 3,000 rooms in operation. Bergantín is a government initiative promoted by Banco de Reservas, several of its subsidiaries, and the Ministry of Tourism to develop a tourist complex in Puerto Plata, the country's leading tourist region. As part of this joint effort, a comprehensive development has been scheduled for the destination: at least 4,500 new hotel rooms, 2,000 residential and mixed-use tourist units, in addition to an additional 2,500, a golf club, public beach clubs, and the creation of a unique themed village in the region. Film studios managed by actor and producer Vin Diesel will also be established, as well as an innovation center that will turn the destination into a benchmark not only in tourism, but also in innovation and entrepreneurship, creating a "“silicon beach”  unique in the world. www.meliahotelsinternational.com About Meliá Hotels International Founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International has more than 400 hotels open or in the process of opening in more than 40 countries and a portfolio of nine brands: Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ME by Meliá, The Meliá Collection, Paradisus by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ZEL, INNSiDE by Meliá, Sol by Meliá and Affiliated by Meliá. The Company is one of the world's leading hotel chains in the holiday hotel segment and its experience in this field has allowed it to establish itself in the growing market for leisure-inspired urban hotels. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led it to be recognised as the most sustainable hotel chain in the world in 2022 according to the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, as well as being a “Top Employer 2023” brand in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Italy, Germany, France and Vietnam. Meliá Hotels International is also part of the IBEX 35. For more information, visit www.meliahotelsinternational.com About Banreservas Banreservas is a Dominican bank, with 82 years in the market, it has set an exemplary precedent as a successful bank in the commercial field, surpassing private banks in the Dominican Republic and the region. It is positioned as the largest bank in terms of assets, reaching USD$20 billion, and a portfolio of more than 3 million clients. Banreservas is in the process of international expansion, opening three representative offices last year, located in Spain, New York and Miami, to offer, as the only Dominican bank in those places, its services to the diaspora.