The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences has honored Frank Rainieri, President and CEO of Grupo Puntacana, with their prestigious Personal Achievement Award. The award recognizes his work as a pioneer and leader in the development of Sustainable Tourism in the Dominican Republic.

Owners and operators of the Puntacana Resort & Club, Grupo Puntacana was established in 1969 by Mr. Rainieri and New York attorney Ted Kheel. Over the past 40 years, Mr. Rainieri and his family have provided inspiration, leadership and enthusiasm for sustainable development that has made Punta Cana one of the most successful and popular resort destinations in the world.

“We are sincerely honored to be recognized by AAHS for our work in this field”, said Mr. Rainieri. “When we began to develop the Puntacana Resort & Club over 40 years ago, the concept of “Sustainable Tourism” did not exist; our decisions were based on commonsense, our limited resources, and a deep respect for the Dominican Republic, its people, and incredible natural resources. We are very proud to now be considered leaders in this field and look forward to their continued implementation at PCRC.”

"Frank is a true visionary and one of the notable pioneers of sustainable tourism. As a developer, he has brought the beauty of the Dominican Republic to its present International acclaim. In addition, The Academy applauds his dedication to going green,” said Joseph Cinque, President/CEO, The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.

Sustainable tourism practices in Puntacana Resort & Club encompass both cultural and environmental programs and have, to date, included the creation of a school, clinic, a polytechnic university as well as the establishment of an eco reserve, eco foundation, water recycling programs, solid waste management initiatives and Voluntourism packages for guests.

Mr. Rainieri has received several awards for his contributions to the Dominican Republic including the Presidential Citation award presented to him by Ronald Regan in 1985 and the "Hotelier of the Year" award by the Caribbean Hotel Association in 1998. In September 2009, Puntacana Resort & Club was also awarded the Conde Nast Traveler World Savers Award in the Education Programs category for its contributions to education in the community, including the development of local public and private schools to accommodate the resorts’ employees and their children.

The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences is the premiere organization for awarding excellence in travel, cuisine, luxury products and services. It is most known for its Five Star Diamond Award, given to establishments that are deemed to be of pinnacle quality. The award was presented at a ceremony hosted by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association in December in San Juan, Puerto Rico.