This past weekend, on Friday and Saturday the 9th and 10th of November, Casa de Campo villa owners enjoyed the annual Dueños 2012 event hosted by Costasur and Casa de Campo – a non-stop series of events, activities and celebrations, which encompassed everything this superb resort has to offer and really gave us all the opportunity to experience literally everything!
On Friday the fun times began at the Casa de Campo conference center with the “Entrega de los regalos” (giving out of Dueños souvenirs), as well as the Café de la Leche, which although not part of the actually Dueños event was certainly very well attended and a great time for a great cause.
Meanwhile on Saturday the good times continued to roll, starting with the early morning (7am!) Yoga on the beach, followed by all the sporting events Casa de Campo has to offer (and some extra ones….), ending the day with a pre-party cocktail in Altos de Chavón at the Jenny Polanco Project with famous Puerto Rican designer Marimerce Santiago (again not officially part of the event but nevertheless a nice addition!), followed by the Dueños FIESTA in the La Romana Country Club and finally dancing all the way through until the morning at Genesis nightclub in Altos de Chavón!
As I literally took 800 photos – I have a little work to do before they all get published, but here is a nice selection which illustrates just how awesome Dueños 2012 was!
CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU to Costasur and Casa de Campo for yet again hosting such a great event and showing us all a really good time!
This year as has become the jolly tradition, at the “Entrega de los Regalos“, Casa de Campo’s Dueños (villa owners) picked up their “goody bags” and enjoyed a feria of different events and activities set up by each Casa de Campo department – showcasing what it is they have to offer not only tourists but also villa owners!
And so, laden down with their brand new umbrellas, T-shirts and caps (pink for girls, blue for boys) the Dueños enjoyed cocktails and picaderas served by the Food and beverage department, whilst they got to know the various departments and their teams.
Also in attendance at the “Entrega de los Regalos” was Rebecca Hughes (me!) and Philip Silvestri as well as a few members of our team, representing Silgon Inc., Marketing, Web Development & Publishing Services, creators of CasaLife magazine, TODO Casa de Campo guide and Casa de Campo Living (www.casadecampoliving.com) website – meeting and greeting all our friends and fans (!) and enjoying one or 2 Absolut vodka cocktails and a few Chivas on the rocks!
A monthly charitable event for the Hogar del Niño, the Café de la Leche was not part of the official schedule of Dueños events, but elegantly hosted by Casa de Campo villa owner Yrene Caslini was a lovely occasion, which united villa owners in support of this great cause.
A little after sunrise and in the early morning glow at Minitas Beach a surprisingly large group of Casa de Campo villa owners welcomed the morning with a envigorating yoga class led by local yoga teacher holistic life coach Kyra Montague.
3 years ago I remember the Casathon as being a little like a fun-run – with the majority of participants walking or jogging and chatting along with friends, this year however it was much more serious and competitive with literally all the competitors “in it to win it” as they say! Congratulations to the runners – I was exhausted just watching!
Casa de Campo’s tenistas turned out bright and early at the La Terraza Tennis Club to earn themselves the title of Dueños 2012 tennis champion and tennis enthusiasts young and less-young enjoyed a the tennis clinics hosted by the IMG Nick Bollettieri Academy.
Each competitor of the shooting tournament got 25 shots to prove themselves as Casa de Campo’s best marksman (and woman). For many the Dueños 2012 clay shooting tournament was their first attempt at this deceptively challenging (both physically and mentally) sport – perhaps some discovering a passion and talent that will see them shooting more regularly in the future?
Dueños 2012 Horseback riding
Throughout the day, groups of Casa de Campo villa owners enjoyed horseback riding through the resort – an activity which turned out to be one of the most popular!
The first ever Dueños Bike Marathon, organized by Juan Elmufdi, Carmen Santoni and Simon Lopez in conjunction with the Casa de Campo villa owners club, was a huge success, with Casa de Campo villa owners big and (very) small taking part on a route which had them tearing up the turf across the Casa de Campo resort – from Minitas Beach up to Altos de Chavón and back – in just 30 minutes!
Having been rained off for the last 2 years (yes really) it was with great joy that the Casa de Campo polo community took to their saddles.
2 teams battled it out on a beautiful blue and sunny afternoon in a game refereed by Casa de Campo Director of Polo Calixto Garica-Velez, with Alfonso Paniagua, Vice-President and Administrator of Costasur Casa de Campo joined by his wife Annie in the stands cheering on their son Luis Alfonso Paniagua, as well as Dr. José Lopez, Health Vice President of Central Romana and Director of the Centro Médico, also supporting his son – Julio Lopez.
Also not officially part of the Dueños 2012 schedule of events, the Trunk Show featuring the beautiful jewellery designs of Puerto Rican designer Marimerce Santiago was a wonderful opportunity for a quick pre-dinner drink and a little shopping – some of us (myself included) even spiced up our evening outfits with the addition of some beautiful MIMA jewellery!
More than 1,000 Casa de Campo villa owners and their families enjoyed a magnificent night at the La Romana Country Club with an excellent dinner catered by Casa de Campo – featuring Maine lobster, (which was very popular) and a constant flow of wine and cocktails!
Speeches were presented by Vice-President and Administrator of Costasur Casa de Campo, Alfonso Paniagua and Dr. Claudio Silvestri, President of Premier Resorts & Hotels (managing company for Casa de Campo), as well as Casa de Campo’s new Chief Marketing Officer, Peter Bonnell, followed by the prize-giving ceremony and finally dancing with famous Dominican merengue band, Los Hermanos Rosarios.
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