Latest news with #RIU
Hospitality Net
14-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
RIU celebrates 20th Anniversary Gala in Cape Verde
On 29 April, RIU Hotels & Resorts celebrated its 20th Anniversary Gala, which commemorated the opening of its first hotel in Cape Verde on Sal Island in 2005: the Riu Funana. The ceremony was presided over by His Excellency Dr Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Cape Verde, along with other distinguished members of his government, and by Félix Casado, member of the RIU Board of Directors and Chief Operating Officer in Cape Verde. The Gala aimed to reflect the importance of Cape Verde for RIU, as well as to highlight the work of the past 20 years and the great link they have with the local community. For this, RIU presented 35 awards to its most renowned collaborators, suppliers and local organisations in the country. Over the past 20 years, RIU has witnessed and has been part of the country's great tourism evolution, becoming a top international destination. In addition, it has supported local talent and, as a result of training and career planning, Cabo Verde now has a large pool of professionals who today are leaders and trainers in other destinations. This was precisely one of the aspects that was highlighted by the Prime Minister in his words of congratulations to RIU with which the event was brought to a close. Dr Ulisses Correia e Silva praised the chain's business model, which supports the training of its workers and which cares about the well-being of the community. He also said that RIU has been an engine for tourism development and that much of the growth and professionalisation of the industry in the country has been thanks to the company's support. The event, held at the Riu Funana hotel on Sal Island, brought together nearly 150 attendees and was presented and led by the journalist Susana Rendall, who began by showing a commemorative video about the history of RIU in Cape Verde. Félix Casado, member of the RIU Board of Directors, gave an emotional speech in which he recounted RIU's beginnings in Cape Verde when, alongside Carlos Almeida, HR Director, they visited the local neighbourhoods to introduce the hotel manager and their project in order to hire the team from that first hotel. During his speech he expressed his appreciation, especially to his collaborators who have been able to demonstrate the value of Cape Verde, and showed his great affection for the country: Cape Verde is a destination that has changed us as a company. I'm not going to say it's been an easy journey. Especially [since] the beginning was full of challenges. Let me tell you all that your extraordinary 'morabeza' makes you unique and fortunately, we believe it has also touched the soul of RIU. The 35 awards presented during the Gala were distributed in four large recognition groups. The work of BIOS Cabo Verde and Associaçao Projeto Biodiversidade was highlighted in the category Environmental Project for the protection of the Caretta caretta turtle; Fundaçao DesBem was awarded for its work in health and childhood through the Children's Health Office of Sal Island; homage was paid to Carlos Almeida, Director of Human Resources for RIU in Cape Verde and the longest-standing employee in the chain in the country, for his key role in the development of the company in Cape Verde; and, finally, essential suppliers, local entrepreneurs and pioneers who have been with RIU since its beginnings in Cape Verde, were recognised. The awards were presented by Catalina Alemany, Director of Sustainability for RIU, Juan Carlos Dreher, Operations Officer for Cape Verde, Sergio Lobenstein, Operations Director for Cape Verde, Félix Casado and the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, His Excellency Dr Ulisses Correia e Silva. The evening also included a performance of Cape Verdean music and dance and concluded with the Prime Minister's speech, after which a dinner was provided for all the attendees with live music. The 20th Anniversary Gala was a celebration of work, overcoming challenges and an expression of deep appreciation for human relationships and closeness to the community. In addition, [it was] an opportunity to recognise the key people and players over these two decades. With this grand commemorative event, RIU celebrated in style. Twenty years ago, in 2005, RIU began its journey in Cape Verde and it is now one of its main international destinations with six hotels, more than 3,500 rooms and 3,120 local employees. For further information please visit: About RIU Hotels & Resorts The international RIU hotel chain was started in Mallorca, Spain, in 1953 as a small holiday business run by the Riu family, the founders and current owners, now in its third generation. The company specialises in holiday accommodation and over 74% of its establishments offer its renowned All Inclusive by RIU service. With the opening of its first city hotel in 2010, RIU expanded its product line with its own range of urban hotels under the name RIU Plaza. RIU Hotels & Resorts has 98 hotels in 21 countries, with a total of 38,055 employees that welcomed 6.7 million customers in 2024. RIU is currently the 40th largest chain in the world and fourth in Spain in terms of the number of rooms. For further information please visit: View source
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Iowa witness held in missing American student case appears in Dominican court
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic – A key witness in the March 6 disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki from a Dominican Republic resort arrived in court for a hearing on Tuesday afternoon in his bid to go home. Joshua Riibe arrived in court in the Dominican Republic, where he has been held in the disappearance of Konanki, 20, who has been missing since the early morning hours of March 6. Riibe has not been named a suspect in the case, which has been considered a missing person case and not a criminal one. He appeared with his father as prosecutors argued that the witness' freedom has not been limited while he has been held in the Dominican after his passport was confiscated, and he has the right to walk around the RIU Republica resort without issue. Lawyers and prosecutors screamed at each other during a very heated hearing on Tuesday after Riibe's counsel submitted photos of him surrounded by police and patrol cars. Riibe is not paying for lodging; the RIU is allowing him to remain there for free. Riibe's lawyer, meanwhile, said the prosecutor is playing with the court and the public opinion. His lawyer claimed that Riibe always has police around for his safety, but today they haven't taken care of him. Read On The Fox News App WATCH JOSHUA RIIBE'S ARRIVAL AT A DOMINICAN COURTHOUSE: Meanwhile, Dominican authorities returned Riibe's friend's passport on Tuesday afternoon. Konanki went swimming in the ocean with the witness, identified as 22-year-old Riibe of Iowa, outside the RIU Republica resort in Punta Cana after drinking at a hotel bar. She has yet to be located. Riibe has been detained in the Dominican since then and filed a writ of habeas corpus on Monday, challenging his de facto detention in the country. He arrived in court for a hearing Tuesday in which a judge will rule on whether he can return home, sources said. Key Witness In American College Student's Disappearance Tells Police How They Met, What Happened On Beach The State Department confirmed to Fox News Digital earlier on Tuesday that it was assisting a witness in University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki's March 6 disappearance from the Dominican Republic. "We take seriously our commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad and are providing consular assistance," the State Department said in a statement when asked about Riibe's Monday filing of a writ of habeas corpus. "Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment." Konanki had gone to the beach with a group of seven other friends after a night of drinking. Six of her friends returned to the RIU Republica around 6 a.m., leaving the 20-year-old student alone with Riibe, who was also on spring break at the RIU Republica and is believed to be one of the last people to see her alive. Riibe, who is considered a witness in Konanki's disappearance, apparently told Dominican authorities that while they were swimming, a large wave crashed over them, according to a translated transcript of his interview to police shared with Fox News. He said he tried to help her and last saw her wading through knee-deep water. He then began vomiting up seawater and noticed that Konanki was no longer in sight and assumed she had returned to her hotel room. Riibe said he fell asleep in a beach chair before eventually returning to his room. Hotel Horror Stories Emerge After American College Student Goes Missing As Resort Insists No Connection Hotel surveillance footage shows Riibe returning to his hotel room around 9 a.m. on March 6. Konanki's parents, Subbarayudu and SreeDevi Konanki, are not disputing Riibe's account of what happened, according to a letter they sent to Dominican police on Monday. Her father had previously asked police to investigate all possibilities. American College Student Disappears In Dominican Republic: Timeline "Following an extensive search, Dominican authorities have concluded that Sudiksha is believed to have drowned," her parents wrote in a letter to La Policia Nacional, the country's national police force, Monday night. "Her clothes were discovered on a beach near where she was last seen. The individual last seen with her is cooperating with the investigation, and no evidence of foul play has been found." They said they made the request after "much deliberation" and thanked supporters for the international search effort. Missing American College Student Seen In New Hotel Security Footage Before Disappearance The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia, where Konanki is from, issued a statement sharing her family's belief that she drowned. "While a final decision to make such a declaration rests with authorities in the Dominican Republic, we will support the Konanki family in every way possible as we continue to review the evidence and information made available to us in the course of this investigation," the sheriff's office said. Spring Break Warning: Most Unlikely American Tourist Hot Spots Emerge As Deadly Risk Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota who has not been accused of a crime but is considered a crucial witness in the case, has been held under surveillance at the resort since Konanki was reported missing. His family has called his continued required presence in the country "irregular." Riibe is not accused of a crime, but authorities confiscated his passport while investigating his account of what happened. Fox News' Mara Robles contributed to this article source: Iowa witness held in missing American student case appears in Dominican court
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Search continues for missing University of Pittsburgh student who vanished during spring break in Dominican Republic
The search for missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, who vanished while on a spring break trip in the Dominican Republic, entered its fourth day Monday. The 20-year-old junior was last seen in the early morning hours of March 6 entering the beach of the RIU hotel she was staying at in Punta Cana, according to Dominican Republic National Police. Konanki and five friends from college arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3 and were staying at the same hotel, police said. National Police learned she was missing Friday morning and an "exhaustive search has been initiated by sea, air and land" using drones, helicopters, divers, boats and canine units. Police believe she disappeared around 4:15 a.m. after she and her friends were captured on video surveillance entering the beach area of the hotel. Her friends returned to the hotel but she did not. The public prosecutor's office was interviewing her friends. Police also said they interviewed a young man who was at the beach around that time and are trying to corroborate his version of events. RIU Hotels said in a statement Sunday it was "deeply concerned about the disappearance of one of our guests." "From the moment her absence was reported, we have been working closely with the local authorities, including the police and the navy, to conduct a thorough search," the hotel said. "We would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time … we are fully committed to doing everything in our power to assist in this situation." The hotel said it is supporting authorities in the search, and established an internal communication channel so that employees across the chain's five Punta Cana hotels can share information with hotel leaders and authorities. La Altagracia Civil Defense, the local Dominican Republic emergency operations agency, shared photos of multiple agencies searching on the beach over the weekend. Konanki's family resides in Virginia. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia was contacted to report her disappearance, according to Sheriff Michael Chapman. He noted that Konanki's parents are traveling to Punta Cana. Konanki's family declined to comment on the search for her. He said authorities are combing through security camera footage for signs of her and cellphone data. "We have certainly experts here within the U.S. that will look into all aspects of her phone, her friends' phones, anybody that she might have been with, to see exactly what may have happened there," Chapman said. Chapman said his office is working with authorities in the Dominican Republic, as well as the U.S. State Department. The FBI said Dominican authorities are leading the investigation, but that the bureau "stands ready to assist our international partners with any requests for assistance." Konanki's five female friends from college were scheduled to return to the U.S. on Friday, but stayed back to aid in the search for her, sheriff's office spokesperson Thomas Julia said. Authorities said it's not clear if her disappearance is accidental or if foul play was involved. "Right now, it runs the gamut from something accidental to foul play," Julia told NBC News. "It is all at this point under consideration. Nothing's been ruled out." The University of Pittsburgh said it was in contact with Konanki's family and offering support in the investigation. The Indian Embassy in the Dominican Republic is also helping in the investigation as Konanki is also a citizen of India, Chapman said. Konanki is a biology major at the University of Pittsburgh and is part of the South Asian fusion a cappella group, Avaaz, according to a post on the group's social media. Virginia Rep. Suhas Subramanyam said he's been in touch with Konanki's family and friends to assist with the search. "I am actively working with federal and international agencies to leverage every possible resource available to bring her home safely," he wrote on X Monday. "We are all praying for her safe and immediate return home." This article was originally published on
NBC News
10-03-2025
- NBC News
Search for missing University of Pittsburgh student who vanished during spring break in Dominican Republic continues
The search for missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, who vanished while on a spring break trip in the Dominican Republic, entered its fourth day on Monday. The 20-year-old junior was last seen in the early morning hours of March 6 entering the beach of the RIU hotel she was staying at in Punta Cana, according to Dominican Republic National Police. Konanki and five friends from college arrived in the D.R. on March 3 and were staying at the same hotel, police said. National Police learned she was missing on Friday morning and an "exhaustive search has been initiated by sea, air and land" using drones, helicopters, divers, boats and canine units. Police believe she disappeared around 4:15 a.m. after she and her friends were captured on video surveillance entering the beach area of the hotel. Her friends returned to the hotel, but she did not. The Public Prosecutors' office was interviewing her friends. Police also said they interviewed a young man who was at the beach around that time and are trying to corroborate his version of events. RIU Hotels said in a statement Sunday it was "deeply concerned about the disappearance of one of our guests." "From the moment her absence was reported, we have been working closely with the local authorities, including the police and the navy, to conduct a thorough search," the hotel said. "We would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time … we are fully committed to doing everything in our power to assist in this situation." The hotel said it is supporting authorities in the search, and established an internal communication channel so that employees across the chain's five Punta Cana hotels can share information with hotel leaders and authorities. La Altagracia Civil Defense, the local Dominican Republic emergency operations agency, shared photos of multiple agencies searching on the beach over the weekend. Konanki's family resides in Virginia. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia was contacted to report her disappearance, according to Sheriff Michael Chapman. He noted that Konanki's parents are traveling to Punta Cana. He said authorities are combing through security camera footage for signs of her and cell phone data. "We have certainly experts here within the U.S. that will look into all aspects of her phone, her friends' phones, anybody that she might have been with, to see exactly what may have happened there," Chapman said. Chapman said his office is working with authorities in the Dominican Republic as well as the U.S. State Department. The FBI said Dominican authorities are leading the investigation, but that the bureau "stands ready to assist our international partners with any requests for assistance." Konanki's five female friends from college were scheduled to return to the U.S. on Friday, but stayed back to aid in the search for her, sheriff's office spokesperson Thomas Julia said. Authorities said it's not clear if her disappearance is accidental or if foul play was involved. "Right now it runs the gamut from something accidental to foul play," Julia told NBC News. "It is all at this point under consideration. Nothing's been ruled out." The University of Pittsburgh said it was in contact with Konanki's family and offering support in the investigation. The Indian Embassy in the Dominican Republic is also helping in the investigation as Konanki is also a citizen of India, Chapman said.
