In a formal ceremony held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, a landmark transition for public education and tourism development has been completed: the National Institute of Technical and Professional Training (Infotep) has formally taken ownership of the former Legislators’ Club, a property that will be redeveloped into a cutting-edge vocational training center focused exclusively on the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The handover ceremony was co-led by two key Dominican government bodies: the General Directorate of National Assets and the Chamber of Deputies. Rafael Burgos Gómez, head of the National Assets Directorate, officially handed over the property deed to Luis Manuel Rodríguez, Infotep’s Deputy Director General, who attended the event on behalf of Infotep Director General Maira Morla Pineda.
This property transfer is not an ad-hoc arrangement; it is rooted in formal legal authorization. The move was greenlit by Resolution No. 670, which was passed by relevant authorities in July 2024, alongside two existing executive orders: Decrees 235-01 and 664-23. All three legal documents explicitly approve the repurposing of the site for public use and specialized technical-professional training.
Alfredo Pacheco, president of the Chamber of Deputies, emphasized the strategic significance of the project during the ceremony. He noted that the initiative reimagines an underused recreational space as an educational institution that will upskill thousands of young Dominican workers, while also reinforcing the competitiveness of one of the country’s most vital economic pillars: tourism.
Government officials outlined that the new training center will address a gap in accessible technical education in the Santo Domingo Este region, expanding local learning opportunities for residents seeking careers in hospitality and tourism. By cultivating a skilled local workforce, the center is expected to support the sustained long-term growth of the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry, which is a major driver of employment and national GDP.
Several other senior stakeholders were in attendance at the handover, including Rafael Santos Badía, multiple sitting legislators, and senior representatives from both Infotep and the General Directorate of National Assets.