The third edition of "Developer's Night: Future Visión 2035" brought together leading figures in real estate development and construction in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the industry over the next decade.
The event coincided with the tenth anniversary of Apartamentos RD, the company that organized it, and was held at the InterContinental Real Santo Domingo hotel.
Banking, infrastructure, architecture, urban planning and real estate development were all represented on the agenda, reflecting the range of professionals now involved in planning and building new projects. The evening combined conference sessions with awards recognizing contributions to the sector.
Robert de la Cruz, CEO of Apartamentos RD, said the company reaches a decade of operations in 2026, a period in which it has served more than 7,000 clients and taken part in the marketing of more than 300 projects.
De la Cruz recalled that Developer's Night began in 2018 and returned this year with a vision looking ahead to 2035. He said that where others see a plot of land, his company sees a project, adding that they are able to see the future before it exists, a remark he made in reference to the forward planning the real estate business demands.
Conferences on Infrastructure and Financing
The first panel featured Hostos Rizik, director general of the Oficina Coordinadora General del Fideicomiso RD Vial, the trust that oversees road infrastructure programs in the Dominican Republic; Javier A. Rodríguez Zelnick, president and CEO of Banco López de Haro; and Carlos Aguilar, managing partner and principal architect at the firm GVA. Their presentations covered areas that directly affect how projects are developed, from infrastructure and financing to architecture and planning.
Urban Planning and a Closing Address
Jesús Mayobanex Suazo, CEO of Visor Urbano RD, spoke next. He has more than 20 years of experience in planning and territorial development and previously served as director of urban planning for the National District. He received a recognition after his talk for his contributions to the sector.
The closing conference was given by Juan Raúl Ruiz, co-founder and partner of Luxia Labs, an architecture and real estate development firm. His career has centered on projects that combine design, innovation and commercial viability, and he was also honored at the end of his presentation.
Recognized Careers
One of the central moments of the night was dedicated to professionals and entrepreneurs who have contributed to the growth of the real estate and construction sector in the Dominican Republic.
The top honor went to Jesús Montano, a businessman and developer linked to Grupo San Juan Punta Cana, who has worked on residential and tourism projects in the country's eastern region.
Engineers Luis Abbott and Martín Abbott were also recognized for their work in structural engineering, construction and professional training. Architect Víctor Hermida, director of Constructora Hermida, was honored as well for an extensive career in the design, development and execution of projects across the country.
