Hilton Hotels & Resorts are a staple name in the luxury hospitality sector, but with the unveiling of the up-and-coming Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, it’s clear they’ve taken their all-inclusive offering up a notch—or ten.
The brand-new resort in the Dominican Republic is now on sale for travel beginning in FEB 2025.
As Cool as a Curio
Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort is the first all-inclusive Curio Collection by Hilton property in the Dominican Republic. Not only that, but it’s also the second Curio property in the Caribbean, the first one being the Mangrove Beach Corendon Curacao All-Inclusive Resort.
“Curio is a brand that allows more customization and personality to come through from each specific resort and destination. The brand standards are very high across the board at all Hilton all-inclusive resorts, but the Curio Collection allows for a little bit more local flare and personality to come through, and it’s definitely more of a high-end type of approach and execution,” says Ashley Gibbs, Senior Manager Business Development – All Inclusive at Hilton.
Zemi Miches reflects a strategic expansion of Hilton’s all-inclusive offerings in the Caribbean and Latin America. In fact, Zemi Miches marks the brand’s 10th all-inclusive in the region. And with plans to nearly triple Hilton’s footprint in the Dominican Republic over the next five years, Zemi Miches is leading the charge toward redefining Caribbean vacations.
For Gibbs, Zemi Miches will also be the ultimate showcase of the Curio brand.
“I feel like it’ll be the first time we truly show what the Curio brand is capable of within the all-inclusive portfolio. What we have in Curacao is much more of a low-key casual destination that speaks well to the casual nature of a majority of Canadian travellers, but Zemi Miches is going to cater to a little bit more of that higher-end clientele,” he notes.
The Beach is Just the Beginning
A 1.5-hour drive from PUJ will land you at the 502-room Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, located on the soft sands and calm waters of Playa Esmeralda in Miches. It’s the perfect spot for relaxation in a cabana or enjoying one of the resort’s non-motorized activities.
Miches is a hidden gem of natural beauty and tranquility, boasting stunning landscapes, ecological richness, and plenty of activities for nature lovers and adventure seekers. The Curio Collection, with its emphasis on personality, is the perfect brand to bring this area to life for travellers.
“We’re taking a lot of what makes the Dominican Republic and Miches such a lush and beautiful destination, and trying to lean into the personality of that area. It’s a very new and up-and-coming area, and we’re going to be one of the first resorts to open in that region,” Gibbs says.
Making Noise About Miches
With the resort still in development and Miches gaining traction as a destination, Gibbs stresses that now is the time for travel advisors to become more familiar with the kind of all-inclusive experience Hilton offers in the rural beach town, allowing them to share this knowledge with clients confidently. By spreading the word early, advisors can help travellers feel more comfortable with this relatively unknown destination, ultimately driving interest and securing future clients as Miches grows in popularity.
“We have to raise awareness around Miches as an up-and-coming destination, get people familiar with the name Miches, with the location and the transfer time and all that stuff, because then we can lead into the fact that this is going to be a really elevated and different experience,” Gibbs says.
With Miches’ serene vibe and Hilton’s luxury offering, who is the ideal client for the Zemi Miches?
“We’re talking someone who likes a bit of the eco-chic with a luxury element to it, but also the beaches, the greenery, the lushness, and a little bit more of a remote feel, while still having a lot of the all-inclusive amenities at your fingertips,” Gibbs says.
“Someone who’s looking for a new destination, but doesn’t want to give up a lot of those creature comforts and things that they would be accustomed to on a higher-end experience.”
The resort, built naturally into the coastline, also has sustainability at its core.
“We’re keeping and maintaining a lot more of the lush natural greenery. It’s a more eco-conscious approach to a new resort that I think captures the interest of the modern traveller and people who are growing into the budget for a higher-end, all-inclusive experience,” says Gibbs.
Guests at Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort have a variety of experiences beyond its beautiful coastline, from daily arts and cultural activity programs and live nightly entertainment, to relaxing in the cigar room and speakeasy. For those looking for some fun and games, there’s a bowling alley and arcade, and the Coki Cove Kids Club and Palmchat Teens Club for under-18 guests.
There are also two pools, a waterpark, and unique fire pit lounges carved right into the water.
Rooms That Feel Like a Retreat
The resort’s 502 rooms, set in four-storey buildings, are designed with natural tones and textures reflecting the destination. The eco-chic elegance is evident in the furnishings and artistic decor, showcasing Taino heritage—a nod to the Indigenous people of the Caribbean.
Some rooms come with spacious balconies overlooking Playa Esmeralda, while others, like the ground-floor rooms, boast private plunge pools perfect for a late-afternoon dip.
Club Azure and the Bungalows Collection
For guests seeking to indulge in next-level luxury, Club Azure and the Bungalows Collection set the stage for a truly upscale experience with premium rooms and suites and exclusive amenities throughout the resort.
Club Azure privileged rooms provide stunning ocean views, partial ocean views, or plunge pools. Guests in this category enjoy exclusive amenities throughout the resort, like private check-in, a dedicated personal concierge, sophisticated coffee and minibar experiences, nightly turndown service, and more.
The Bungalows Collection is perfect for guests seeking serenity—and a bit of isolation. This truly exclusive area features only 20 beachfront bungalows as a studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom option, each with a private pool. Guests in the Bungalows Collection enjoy all the benefits of Club Azure, as well as the added advantage of true solitude.
“The Bungalows are an incredibly unique and very limited set of room categories. They’re not only unique to the resort, but also to our entire all-inclusive collection because we don’t have a room category like that anywhere else in the portfolio. For those looking for the feel of being in their own private villa with the convenience of an all-inclusive resort, this category would check off a lot of boxes,” says Gibbs.
For those staying in Club Azure and The Bungalows, three exclusive dining venues elevate the culinary experience:
- The Royal Palm Lounge: Azure and Bungalow guests enjoy Caribbean fine dining in an intimate setting.
- Ciba’s Elite Rooftop Oasis: A fusion of international cuisines tailored for premium guests.
- Jagua: The ultimate beachfront dining spot, reserved exclusively for Bungalow guests.
Savour the Wow Factor
The resort’s dining offerings are as vibrant as its surroundings with 13 unique culinary experiences including 24-hour room service, beach and pool service, and a variety of restaurants and bars.
Food that wows is part of all-inclusive Hilton’s brand pillars, catering to the higher expectations of today’s travellers.
“If someone’s going to an a la carte restaurant at an all-inclusive, they don’t want to feel like they’re at an all-inclusive. They want to feel like they’re in an immersive dining space that’s bespoke and has an ambiance, but also has a menu and cocktails and an entire culinary experience that matches the surrounding environment,” says Gibbs.
“It’s about providing a variety of those, and not having something that’s cookie cutter or what people have been used to in years past within the all-inclusive space.”
Each plate tells a story—whether it’s the traditions of the Caribbean at Anacaona, the flavours of Thailand at Boba, the wood-fired pizzas at Manicato, or one of the other themed a la carte restaurants.
Yuca, serving authentic Dominican cuisine with a contemporary twist, is a standout restaurant for Gibbs.
“It really ties together the entire theme of the resort, while also being able to bring in a lot of culinary creativity and still highlight traditional Dominican cuisine and more of a modern approach,” he says.
“For us, it’s knowing your market and the fact that they’re looking for something that is on the higher end and presented in an artistic way, but also learning more about the culture.”
