--- title: "Spotlight on Andres Fernandez" url: https://www.casadecampo.com.do/blog/2019/09/30/spotlight-on-andres-fernandez/ date: 2019-09-30 modified: 2026-09-02 lang: en author: "chris" description: "Director of La Romana Port & Airport HOW DID YOUR PORT & AIRPORT STORY BEGIN? I joined the company in September 2016 to work at the cruise port, coming from..." categories: - "Blog" image: https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/LRM-Aviones.jpg word_count: 962 --- # Spotlight on Andres Fernandez ## Key Takeaways - Andres Fernandez joins the company in September 2016 to work at the cruise port, then moves into a port-based Tour Operation Department that manages turnaround operations, the tours program, and pre and post cruise stays. - La Romana Cruise Port is awarded as best Caribbean Turnaround Port after the Tour Ops Dpt runs the operation so smooth and effective that cruise lines value the private port and close private airport as one team led by the same Director. - Carnival Cruise Lines supports a year-round operation at La Romana Port in 2010 after the company sees the need to move beyond a seasonal winter-only port operation and improve port facilities and services. - La Romana Airport becomes the largest DR destination airport for Russia and Ukraine markets, while current efforts focus on North America, specifically USA and Canada. ## Director of La Romana Port & Airport ![Director of La Romana Port & Airport Andres Fernandez](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Andres-Fernandez-Puerto-de-La-Romana.jpg) **HOW DID YOUR PORT & AIRPORT STORY BEGIN?** > *I joined the company in September 2016 to work at the cruise port, coming from cruise tour operations in Santo Domingo & Samana. At that time the Casa de Campo’s Activities Department was running the tours program at the port and the company decided to create a port-based Tour Operation Department to manage the turnaround operations, the tours program and the pre & post cruise stays so this was my first role at the company. > Within the next 6 years the Tour Ops Dpt got well fixed with a great team so our operation run that smooth & effective that La Romana Cruise Port was awarded as best Caribbean Turnaround Port so cruise lines very well valued the unique & great combination of a private port and a close private airport, owned by the same company, managed by the same team and led by the same Director. > In 2012 the highway connecting La Romana with Punta Cana / Bavaro area was open so it was a perfect time & opportunity to create a Commercial Department at the airport to increase the traffic. Due to the experience I got by working for Spanish airline Air Europa in Puerto Plata for some years and the strong relationship between both airport & port businesses, the company asked me to move to the airport so I am now 6+ years working at both facilities commercial role.* **WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT YOUR ROLE AS A COMERCIAL DIRECTOR OF LA ROMANA AIRPORT AND PORT?** > *For sure the most rewarding satisfaction is seeing how the port and the airport are growing in business because of the support of our company and the passion that both Teams put in the job, making the most of the synergies with our colleagues at Casa de Campo, Altos de Chavon and La Marina to become much better & different than our competition. Each & every day brings new targets, new opportunities and new challenges so our time is never monotone and we're never bored: I just love my job!.* **WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF WHEN IT COMES TO AIRPORT AND PORT THAT IT OFFERS TO GUESTS?** > *Both the airport and the port are service-oriented companies so pride comes when we serve well our clients, this service brings satisfaction and better operations for both air & cruise lines and the company overall business grows. > In 2009 we saw the need for increasing the port facilities & services but at that time we had a seasonal, winter operation only. We saw the need of a year-round operation as the target to afford a port improvement so we just visited all cruise lines and in 2010 we had the support of Carnival Cruise Lines, which still have a year-round operation at La Romana Port. Since that time, together again with the support our colleagues at Casa de Campo, Altos de Chavon and La Marina we are continuously increasing & improving the port area and its facilities & services so we can proudly say that La Romana has a beautiful & very operative cruise port in a great destination, all oriented to provide Great Experiences to our guests. > Same at the airport: we studied the business and saw a first good opportunity at the Eastern Europe markets, worked hard on it and today we proudly are the largest DR destination airport for Russia & Ukraine markets. > Once this target is achieved our efforts are now clearly focused in North America (USA & Canada) so we hope to have great news about it very soon!* **ARE THERE ANY INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE AIRPORT THAT YOU CAN SHARE?** > *Maybe not many people knows that the first commercial airport built by the company was located at actual Casa de Campo’s Punta Aguila area. American Airlines & American Eagle were operating flights from Miami, Puerto Rico, etc. but as aircrafts became larger the airport's runway became short, so new facilities were needed. A future development project at Cacata area, north of Casa de Campo, was chosen as the best location for the new LRM airport construction and time has confirmed that this was a very smart decision. > An important fact for the airport traffic growth is the destination development; rather than ethnic, we are in a leisure-oriented destination so by developing the destination and its tourism businesses we'd create the need for more flights. That's why we are now fully involved with both the La Romana – Bayahibe Hotels Association and the Tourism Cluster, to create the perfect conditions to attract the attention of investors, to build more hotel rooms that will need more flights to be occupied. This initiative is working very well and we are sure that good results will come in the very next future.* **WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING RECENT DEVELOPMENT AT THE PORT?** > *As said before we are very proud of our cruise port because it perfectly fits for the two kinds of operations that a cruise line do while docked: a passengers embarkation & disembarkation call, set with a perfect turnaround operation combined with the airport, and the transit calls where passengers enjoy the many attractions of our awesome La Romana & Bayahibe destination as well as the many services & activities already offered at the port terminal as well as at Casa de Campo, Altos de Chavon and La Marina. > The company has greatly supported us to have a modern, well-equipped port as well as to continuously train our staff to combine the great facilities with a great service. > We hope you all at Casa de Campo share our love & passion for our cruise port, the airport and our great destination as we are sure that the best is yet to come!* ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Why was La Romana Cruise Port set up as a turnaround port instead of just a stopover port?** A: The turnaround model matters because it lets the port handle embarkation and disembarkation, not just transit calls. Andres Fernandez says the team built a port-based Tour Operation Department to manage turnaround operations, tours, and pre and post cruise stays, and that setup helped La Romana Cruise Port earn recognition as the best Caribbean Turnaround Port. Casa de Campo, Casa De Campo, Casadecampo supports that model by linking the private port with a close private airport under the same company and same Director. **Q: How does the airport and port connection help cruise and air operations in La Romana?** A: The big advantage is that both facilities are owned by the same company, managed by the same team, and led by the same Director. That creates real operational synergy between cruise and air traffic instead of treating them as separate businesses. Andres Fernandez says this combination is one reason cruise lines value La Romana so highly. For guests and operators, that usually means smoother coordination between arrivals, departures, tours, and stays across Casa de Campo. **Q: What made La Romana Airport grow beyond its original setup?** A: The airport grew because aircraft became larger and the original runway at Casa de Campo’s Punta Aguila area became too short. That forced the company to choose a new site at Cacata, north of Casa de Campo, for the LRM airport construction. The practical lesson is that airport planning has to match aircraft size and traffic needs. Andres Fernandez also points out that destination development drives flight demand, so more hotel rooms can mean more flights later. **Q: What markets has La Romana Airport focused on most successfully?** A: The airport’s strongest recent success has been in Eastern Europe markets, especially Russia and Ukraine. Andres Fernandez says the team studied the business, worked hard on those markets, and now La Romana is the largest DR destination airport for Russia and Ukraine. That matters because it shows route growth came from targeted market work, not luck. The next focus is North America, specifically USA and Canada. **Q: What do most people get wrong about growing a resort airport like La Romana?** A: A common mistake is thinking flights come first. Andres Fernandez argues the opposite: destination development creates flight demand. He says Casa de Campo is part of a leisure-oriented destination, so building more tourism business, more hotel rooms, and stronger support from groups like the La Romana – Bayahibe Hotels Association and the Tourism Cluster helps attract investors and future flights. That approach ties airport growth to real demand instead of hoping airlines fill seats on their own.