
Melia Punta Cana Beach Resort, Wellness Inclusive
Tainoti. That is the official greeting here at Melia Punta Cana Beach Resort, in the Dominican Republic. In the traditional Taino language, “tainoti” means “I greet you with love because you are family.” The history and culture of the Taino – the island’s indigenous people – is woven into the fabric of this adults-only, all-inclusive resort. For instance, each day a local expert visits the resort to share his or her passion or expertise about the local culture with interested guests. As the Editor of Travel to Wellness and the President of the Wellness Tourism Association, I visited recently to learn more about this WTA member, and to experience their new Wellness Inclusive concept. Built on five spaces of wellness: social spaces (activities), silent spaces, sensory spaces, culinary spaces and personal spaces, along with a significant respect for nature and exploring the local culture, the program launched in January of