A Legacy of Community and Continuity at Casa de Campo

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As Casa de Campo celebrates its remarkable 50-year legacy, the heartbeat of this iconic resort resonates with its commitment to community, heritage and a future envisioned by the next generation. 

José “Pepe” Fanjul Jr. embodies the values and vision passed down through generations. His roots intertwine intimately with the resort’s history, growing alongside it and bearing witness to its evolution. His reminiscences vividly depict the resort’s early days — the lush gardens, the captivating vistas and the heartwarming embrace of a burgeoning community. 

In May 2023, the Central Romana Corporation announced Fanjul’s appointment as the vice chairman of its board of directors.

Fanjul is also the executive vice president of Central Romana and the president of the executive committee, which also includes other key leaders: Leo Matos, Eduardo Martínez-Lima Jr. and Luis Fernandez.

In an exclusive conversation with Fanjul, we delve into Casa de Campo’s essence — a narrative that traverses its past, embraces the present and envisions a vibrant horizon while staying steadfastly true to its core: a nurturing and thriving community.

Philip Silvestri: Fifty years of Casa de Campo is incredible. Congratulations. And you grew up on the resort. I mean, I remember getting there when it was 100 rooms and maybe 150 villas. What were some of your early memories of the resort? 

Pepe Fanjul Jr.: Two different memories that really stand out to me. First was obviously the natural beauty of Casa de Campo. The gardens, the trees, the ocean, the golf course, the houses, the hotel — all of it. The landscape and architecture of the homes are all so beautiful. Secondly, I really was taken in by the sense of community at Casa de Campo. I arrived at age 14. From the minute we arrived, we met great friends. Literally from the moment we landed in the airport. I don’t think I’d ever been to a place where we met friends faster in a very welcoming and genuine way. Today, I feel the same about the tight-knit community here.

Silvestri: Having spent so much time at a young age in Casa de Campo, how was it seeing the resort developed? How has this shaped your vision and your passion for its future?

Fanjul: Our vision for the future is to build on the foundation and tradition that exists here. I think it’s our responsibility to preserve the beauty of Casa de Campo. It’s our responsibility to nurture its sense of community. Even though the resort is growing, we are careful about retaining what is special about Casa de Campo. Fifty years later, our job is to continue to renew the great amenities that Casa de Campo offers. We continue to reimagine the resort with the expansions and improvements that have been undertaken at the beach, in the golf courses, restaurants and new developments. The resort continues to attract a whole new next generation of homeowners. 

What we’re trying to continue to maintain and nurture is having this place be a place where everybody wants to visit and own a home.

Silvestri: I’ve always said that getting people to visit is the first step of their experience with Casa de Campo. It’s building up passion so that they can want to spend more time.

Fanjul: I heard a great comment the other day from a family I bumped into who has visited Casa de Campo for 20 years. They said they have traveled the world, but they’ve never found a place like Casa de Campo. 

Silvestri: I think there’s a lot of hotels and resorts. But they’re not like Campo de Campo. It has a community. 

Fanjul: This is a place that is very welcoming to everybody who comes down here. It has a soul.

In addition to so many great restaurants and fun night life, at Casa de Campo, you have so much to enjoy in one day, whether you want to play golf, go to the beach, play racquets, polo, go clay shooting or go on a beautiful walk.

Silvestri: Switching to Central Romana for a moment. Obviously, it’s been an integral part of the Dominican Republic sugar industry. How has the company innovated and evolved over the years?

Fanjul: Central Romana has so many different aspects of its operations. Central Romana is almost like a human being. It’s evolved and is living a long life. And it has created a diverse portfolio of companies.

Silvestri: What are the things that excite you the most about the future of the company?

Fanjul: First, it’s what we’ve accomplished locally in La Romana. La Romana and Central Romana both have grown enormously over the past 50 years together. Central Romana has been focused on growing here to support our community. We are committed to our philanthropic endeavors — at MIR and with Hogar del Niño and others within the community to support our neighbors. We have also been focused on continually improving and expanding our tourism assets — from the airport, the cruise port, the hotel — as well as the free trade zones and the real estate. Central Romana continues to evolve into being a world-class company.

Silvestri: And you said it was here for the community during COVID.

Fanjul: Our board and ownership are really proud of the fact that we supported our employees during that really challenging time when the world was locked down and we had no tourism business. 

Silvestri: In addition to the sugar and many other agricultural aspects, you’ve also been highly involved in the resort real estate endeavors over the years. How is that experience translated into Casa de Campo growth? Especially the incredible boom that I wouldn’t say started in the pandemic but has really accelerated.

Fanjul: I think there was an awakening that happened during COVID. Families wanted to live a healthy, balanced life and own a home in Casa de Campo, which offers a great lifestyle and so many great amenities. Post-COVID, the demand for resort properties in Casa de Campo continues to be strong.

Silvestri: There’s been talk of a master plan to develop the property across the river from Casa de Campo. 

Fanjul: We’re not there yet. I’m happy to talk about it, but it’s still years away because there is still so much to create right here. The company owns land spanning from the Chavón River to Bayahibe that has some great ocean views and topography. It is no secret that we are preparing the infrastructure to expand in the future. We haven’t gotten there yet because we continue to open up beautiful lots here. We started developing Vista Lagos and El Bosque. We have a lot of plans in the pipeline for the hotel and resort that we are excited to announce in the next year. 

Silvestri: So that brings up a question of a multigenerational family-run business for 50 years now. What do you think has been the key for Casa de Campo’s ability to maintain continuity and vision throughout its history?

Fanjul: I think that really having continuity is one of our greatest assets of a multigenerational business and family. It’s having a vision to execute for the long term, which is different from the way many business operations are run. Some of the best things we’ve done are things that were really built for the long term. And I think building for the long term is one of the great advantages of being a multigenerational family business.

We also all have a great appreciation for the Dominican Republic, for the community of La Romana and Casa de Campo. We’ve been here 50 years, and we don’t see an end in sight. 

Silvestri: How has the Dominican Republic benefited from Casa de Campo? What opportunities does it present moving forward? 

Fanjul: Casa de Campo is a global brand that is a great source of pride for the Dominican Republic. Teeth of the Dog is the highest-rated golf course in the Americas. 

While Casa de Campo is a global brand, it’s exciting that Casa de Campo is still only being discovered. 

Casa de Campo is becoming more accessible because the Dominican Republic has done a great job building its infrastructure. Visitors have more ways to travel here. 

Silvestri: As someone born into the family business, was there one moment you realized you wanted to continue your family’s legacy? 

Fanjul: I had an interest in joining my family business from when I was a child from watching my grandfather and my father and my uncle. This great sense of building a beautiful business; you couldn’t help but want to be a part of it and be interested in it. I was around 30 years old when I made the decision to join the business. I thank my father and my uncle every single year for having afforded me the opportunity. It’s been a very enriching experience for me, personally, because I get to work with so many outstanding people and on so many interesting opportunities.

Silvestri: Do you remember any wisdom or advice that your father or uncle imparted to you? 

Fanjul: They’ve always given me wonderful advice. From a work perspective, it is “Work hard. Be honest. Be respectful to everybody.” 

Silvestri: So many companies nowadays are just looking from quarter to quarter and how they can maximize profits. That’s not sustainable. Something’s going to give.

Fanjul: That’s not our model. Our model is generational — to build long-term, enduring quality assets. 

Silvestri: Are there any words of wisdom that you would impart to your kids?

Fanjul: For my kids, I share similar advice: Strive to have great values, love what you do and enjoy the moment. 

Silvestri: Is there anything else that you would like to tell the readers of Casa de Campo Living? 

Fanjul: I would like to thank the homeowners for their confidence and support. And we promise, nothing less than another exciting 50 years of expansion and adventure.