Culinary tourism is one of the fastest-growing levers in hospitality, and a two-day festival on a 7,000-acre Caribbean resort shows exactly how a destination turns great food into a reason to book. Casa de Campo Resort & Villas has confirmed the return of its Casa de Campo Food & Wine Festival, running October 9–10, 2026 in La Romana, Dominican Republic—now in its fourth year and stacked with Michelin-starred and celebrity-chef talent.
For operators and travel-minded foodies alike, this is a case study in how a luxury property uses culinary programming to draw high-value guests and stretch the shoulder season.
An All-Star Chef Lineup
This year's festival leans hard into name recognition, pairing Michelin pedigree with television-friendly appeal:
- Michael Mina — award-winning chef and founder of the Mina Group, known for a sophisticated take on contemporary American cuisine.
- Hubert Keller — the French-born, Michelin-starred chef returning for his fourth year with his signature refined-yet-approachable French cooking.
- Joe Isidori — chef, restaurateur and founder of Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer, back for his second year with elevated comfort food.
- Local Dominican chef talent showcasing regional flavors alongside the global names.
Univision personality Raúl de Molina returns as host, giving the weekend a broadcast-caliber energy. The event is presented in partnership with Invited.
Dinner Under the Stars
The signature moment is "Dinner Under the Stars" at Minitas Beach Club, headlined by Adam Pawlak, the Top Chef finalist known for his modern Midwestern cuisine. The intimate, open-air dinner features a multi-course menu paired with select wines—an experience engineered for scarcity and shareability.
The two-day schedule runs as follows:
- Friday, October 9: Day One at the Grand Tasting Pavilion
- Saturday, October 10: Day Two at the Grand Tasting Pavilion, followed by Dinner Under the Stars at Minitas Beach Club
Across both days, guests move through curated tastings, live demonstrations and interactive showcases built to pull back the curtain on fine dining.
"Building on the momentum of the past three years, this fourth annual Casa de Campo Food & Wine Festival reflects our continued commitment to delivering world-class culinary experiences that celebrate both global excellence and Dominican heritage," said Andrés Pichardo Rosenberg, President of Casa de Campo Resort & Villas. "Casa de Campo has long been a destination where culture, cuisine, and community come together, and this festival is a true embodiment of that spirit, bringing together renowned talent, local flavors, and unforgettable moments for our guests."
A Destination Built to Extend the Stay
The festival sits inside a resort designed to keep guests on property. Casa de Campo offers 63 holes of golf across three Pete Dye–designed courses—including the celebrated Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore and The Links—plus a Golf Learning Center with Trackman technology.
Rounding out the amenities: the Forbes 4-star The Spa Casa de Campo, a 250-slip Marina & Yacht Club, Polo & Equestrian Club, Racquet Center, a 245-acre Shooting Club, and Altos de Chavón, an artisan village modeled after a 16th-century Mediterranean city.
Why It Matters
For hospitality operators and destination marketers, Casa de Campo's playbook is worth studying. A chef festival is more than a headline—it's a demand driver that converts culinary star power into premium bookings, packaged experiences and a reason to visit in October rather than peak season.
Three takeaways for the industry:
- Star chefs are a bookable asset. Pairing Michelin names with a TV-ready host (Raúl de Molina) extends reach well beyond a resort's usual audience.
- Scarcity sells. A single "Dinner Under the Stars" seating creates the kind of exclusive, photo-friendly moment that fuels social reach and repeat demand.
- Local plus global builds credibility. Spotlighting Dominican chefs alongside international talent positions the destination itself as a rising culinary story.
"Each year, the Casa de Campo Food & Wine Festival continues to raise the bar, serving as both a celebration of exceptional cuisine and a powerful platform to showcase the Dominican Republic's growing influence on the global culinary stage," said Jason Kycek, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas.
That framing—cuisine as a country's competitive edge—is exactly the trend savvy operators are riding, and it's one we've watched play out at destination festivals like the Big Sky Food & Wine Festival and Epic Fest Paso Robles.
How to Attend
Tickets and packages for the 4th Annual Casa de Campo Food & Wine Festival are available through the resort's official website. La Romana International Airport (LRM) sits five minutes from the resort, with Santo Domingo (SDQ) and Punta Cana (PUJ) offering daily direct flights from major North American airports.
Planning a culinary event or building destination programming of your own? Tell us in the comments how you're using chef partnerships to drive bookings—and explore more food and wine festival coverage from Food & Beverage Magazine.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
