Four Seasons and Cisneros Real Estate have announced plans for the development of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Dominican Republic at Tropicalia, a sustainable luxury destination located along the pristine beachfront of Playa Esmeralda in northeastern Dominican Republic…
Featuring a tropical modernist design by Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Dominican Republic at Tropicalia plans to set a new standard of natural, sustainable elegance. The property will include a 95-key resort and 25 Private Residences of three- and four-bedroom units, all located steps off the beach. A site of breathtaking natural beauty, Tropicalia is the private estate of the Cisneros family, featuring a diverse ecosystem of white-sand beaches, aquamarine water and coral reefs, mountains, forests, mangroves, lagoons and rivers along with a working coconut plantation and an organic farm.
The Cisneros company’s nonprofit Fundación Tropicalia has dedicated more than a decade to the region’s well-being through an array of educational, socioeconomic and community programs. “Tropicalia reflects our family’s cultural values, stated Adriana Cisneros, Chief Executive Officer of Cisneros. “More than 10 years ago, we embarked on a journey to support social sustainability through innovative projects in agriculture, gender equality, education, environment, entrepreneurship and microfinance. Our goal was to create a new kind of luxury destination that is in balance both with nature and with the local community. We’re pleased that Four Seasons shares our vision, both for Tropicalia and the future of tourism.”
Image credit: Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
“We are thrilled to expand Four Seasons global portfolio in the Dominican Republic, a market that we have long been focused on as a luxury travel destination,” added Alejandro Reynal, President and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “We are proud to bring this project to life with our partners at Cisneros, who share our values of supporting the environments and communities in which we operate, and who we deeply admire for their work with Fundación Tropicalia. Together, we will remain focused on these values as we welcome guests and residents alike in 2026 and become stewards of this beautiful destination.”
In addition to the 95 rooms and suites, the Resort will include a spa, fitness and wellness facilities including a yoga pavilion; a variety of beach activities and watersports; racquet sports such as tennis, paddle and pickleball; a Kids For All Seasons children’s club; and event spaces. The onsite culinary offerings will include numerous restaurants and bars including a specialty restaurant, beachside grill, poolside bar, ceviche bar, juice bar, marketplace and sundry shop, coffee shop and rum bar.
The design of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Dominican Republic at Tropicalia is slated to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, one of the world’s most respected standards for ‘green’ buildings and the first of its kind in the Dominican Republic. Environmental and social management systems are guiding the Resort’s design, construction and operation, from biodiversity to waste and water management, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
Isay Weinfeld’s design for Tropicalia is innately low-impact and draws inspiration from the island’s native materials and colonial-era towns. Coralina limestone, brick and stucco echo the country’s history, harmonising with the surroundings and conveying a sense of authenticity. His timeless, sophisticated modern design reflects a tropical touch. The nonlinear format encourages guests to continuously discover the Resort, as the buildings integrate with the lush landscape to give the sense of being immersed in nature.
The project’s modernist design will transition easily from indoors to outdoors, inspiring guests to engage with the natural environment. The low-density Resort will feature open spaces, passive cooling and lush landscaping using curated, non-invasive native species. Guest and residential buildings will be located along the beachfront of Playa Esmeralda with views of Samaná Bay. Guest rooms will be spacious and designed with Four Seasons guests in mind, including private terraces and state-of-the-art technology, with green space and interior gardens prioritised throughout the rooms and common spaces.
Image credit: Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
In addition to Isay Weinfeld’s architecture and interior design, luxury development firm Sinergo has been named project manager, international design firm Gensler as executive architect and Bouygues Construction of France as general contractor. The project’s master planner and landscape architect is EDSA, who has been working closely with former Dominican botanical garden curator Ricardo Garcia, ensuring holistic development and landscaping with primary native species. These development and design experts are known for their expertise in bringing environmentally sound and sustainable luxury resort projects to life in remote locations.
With a focus on socioeconomic inclusion and sustainable development practices, Tropicalia will seek to share and inspire local cultural experiences by inviting guests and residents to participate in activities that help sustain the surrounding community and environment. They include PROTORTUGA, a sustainability initiative to care for leatherback turtles in the coastal area of Miches where guests will be able to observe and participate in habitat preservation. Tropicalia also offers a range of volunteer opportunities, such as visits to after-school programs connected to the foundation’s Soy niña, soy importante program, which is focused on gender equality and inclusion. Each of these initiatives gives visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves into the local culture and to take part in positive change.
Tropicalia’s guests and residents will also enjoy a symbiotic relationship with land and sea, working closely with the Cisneros family’s sustainable organic farm, Estancia La Querencia. The farm is certified in organic cacao production, providing local farmers with year-round food and training in organic agricultural practices as well as supplying produce to local markets and food suppliers. Estancia La Querencia offers residents unique farm-to-table experiences and an in-depth look at local ingredients and gastronomy.
Adriana Cisneros drew on the legacy of her father, Gustavo, and her mother Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, to build Tropicalia on a foundation of social responsibility and leadership. In 2008, more than a decade before the first shovels would break ground at the luxury resort, Cisneros Real Estate created the nonprofit Fundación Tropicalia to build a sustainable tourism destination in partnership with the local community of Miches.
In 2010, Tropicalia committed to the United Nations Global Compact and has aligned its business strategy with fundamental concepts of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. Accordingly, Fundación Tropicalia has invested millions of dollars and sponsored a broad range of programs promoting education and addressing hunger, climate change, diversity and gender equity.
Main image credit: Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
