Viva Wyndham Resorts Continues Expansion in Dominican Republic with Addition of Samana Resort

Business Wire, Dec 6, 2004

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- New Resort Marks Eighth Property in the Company's Portfolio and Fifth Property in the Dominican Republic

Viva Wyndham Resorts today announced the $20 million acquisition, remodel and expansion of a resort in Samana, Dominican Republic. The property will be renamed the Viva Wyndham Samana and marks the eighth property in the company's portfolio and its fifth in the Dominican Republic. The new property, the company's second acquisition this quarter, underscores Viva Wyndham's growth strategy to be the largest all-inclusive resort brand in the Caribbean offering customized vacation experiences to meet the diverse needs of travelers, at an exceptional value.

Located on the Dominican Republic's northeast coast in Las Terrenas on the Samana Peninsula, the 218-room Viva Wyndham Samana will open Dec. 1, 2004, following the completion of property renovations, which include the addition of a Kid's Club, a Mediterranean restaurant, discotheque and fitness center.

"The Dominican Republic is becoming one of the most sought-after Caribbean destinations and is rapidly gaining U.S. market share, thanks to its natural beauty and distinctive culture," said Ettore Colussi, president of Viva Wyndham Resorts. "The Viva Wyndham Samana, in addition to the recently acquired Viva Wyndham Playa Dorada in Puerta Plata, gives us another opportunity to bring our signature value-added, all-inclusive vacation experience to an entirely new region of the island."

Nestled on a beautiful golden sand beach, the Viva Wyndham Samana emulates the Dominican Republic with beautifully appointed exteriors and interiors of Caribbean-style architecture and design. Guest rooms provide travelers with a myriad of amenities, including satellite television and a private balcony, with garden or ocean views. Outside, guests can experience a range of activities, including cocktail preparation classes, windsurfing or just relaxing by the pool.

True to its promise of providing travelers with a signature all-inclusive experience, guests have their choice of three restaurants including an Asian restaurant, an a la carte international buffet-style eatery and a new Mediterranean a la carte restaurant. For those preferring lighter fare, the property also features a low-fat food corner.

The Samana Peninsula region is regarded as a well-kept secret in the Dominican Republic. Frequented mostly by locals, the area's diverse attractions and breathtaking beaches have remained unspoiled, making it an ideal destination for travelers. In addition to the activities offered at the Viva Wyndham Samana, guests can also experience:

--Diving - Divers can enjoy 23 named sites that range from shallow reef sites to steep cascading reef fronts reaching depths of 140 feet.

--Whale Watching - Samana Bay is internationally known for its humpback whale watching. From Jan. 1 through Mar. 30, guests can marvel at thousands of whales as they pass by the Samana Peninsula. At low tide, visitors can walk out from the sandy beach to observe sea life and coral reefs.

--Las Terrenas - This charming town, only minutes from the resort, offers local hand-made art, clothing and jewelry, as well as restaurants nestled on the beach with quaint atmospheres.

--Cascada de El Limon - The most popular way to access these magnificent waterfalls, known locally as El Salto del Limon, is via guided horseback treks. After visiting the falls, travelers can purchase hand-made crafts, as well as locally grown coffee, cocoa, and grapefruit.

--Los Haitises National Park - At the park, which is spread over 83 miles, visitors will find mangroves, a subtropical forest, sea grass beds and three cave systems, which contain drawings from the island's native Taino Indians.

Guests staying at the Viva Wyndham Samana will enjoy an all-inclusive vacation package that features accommodations; full breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks; unlimited beverages, cocktails and wine; daily activities and fitness programs; unlimited non-motorized water sports with complimentary lessons; enrollment in the Kid's Club; live nightly entertainment; and all taxes, surcharges and gratuities. Children three to 17 years of age stay, play and eat for $30 per child, per day.

Viva Wyndham guests also enjoy Wyndham ByRequest(R), the brand's guest recognition program developed by Wyndham to deliver on its brand philosophy of empowering guests to achieve a more customized hotel experience. Guests may choose items from a variety of pre-selected categories that appear on the Wyndham ByRequest profile form, such as a welcome snack or a preferred type of wine.

Since its inception in January 1997, Viva Resorts has become one of the fastest growing all-inclusive resort and management operations with eight properties in the Caribbean and Mexico. Viva entered into a strategic alliance with Dallas-based Wyndham International, Inc., the Caribbean's largest hotel brand, in December 2003, to re-brand their resort properties as Viva Wyndham Resorts. Viva Wyndham Resorts maintains its headquarters in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and U.S. and Canada sales and marketing office in Miami, represented by Caribbean Marketing Resorts. For more information, visit www.vivawyndhamresorts.com. For reservations, call 800-WYNDHAM.