Two major Dominican Republic tourism assets have earned the industry’s highest recognition, taking home gold awards from the 2026 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for outstanding work in travel marketing and hospitality.
The country’s Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) walked away with two gold honors for its groundbreaking “Subway to Paradise” outreach initiative, winning in both the Live Marketing Program and Tourist Destinations – Marketing – Live Events categories. The award-winning campaign, rolled out across New York City’s sprawling subway network between December 2025 and January 2026, was designed to do double duty: position the Dominican Republic as a top global travel getaway while building stronger ties with the large Dominican diaspora based in the United States. Roughly one-third of all Dominicans residing outside their home country live in New York, a demographic that made the city an unmissable strategic hub for the targeted campaign. As a centerpiece of the project, entire subway cars were covered in vibrant, panoramic imagery of the Dominican Republic’s most stunning natural landscapes, paired with the warm, inviting tagline “Dominicana smiles at you.”
Joining MITUR in the gold winner’s circle is Zel Punta Cana, the all-inclusive Caribbean resort operated by global hospitality giant Meliá Hotels International. The property took top gold in the competitive Hospitality – Resort/All-inclusive Hotel category. Developed in collaboration with legendary tennis champion Rafael Nadal, Zel Punta Cana marks the first outpost of the co-created Zel brand in the Caribbean. The resort blends luxury with nature-focused design, offering 190 guest accommodations rooted in the surrounding tropical environment, including premium suites that grant visitors direct private access to on-site swimming pools.
Now in its multi-year run celebrating travel industry excellence, the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honors standout achievement across every corner of the global travel sector, from destination marketing and property design to hospitality and guest service. All submissions are reviewed and scored by a panel of seasoned tourism industry professionals, judged against strict quality standards set by leading travel publication Travel Weekly.