Among Luciana Goldfain's management's main pillars are respect for the environment, communication, organization, and the improvement of services provided at the location.
By Mairobi Herrera. The first night Luciana Goldfain stayed at Casa de Campo, when she arrived in the country two and a half years ago from Argentina, she had dinner at La Piazzeta restaurant with her husband and immediately felt the magic of Altos de Chavón.
At that moment, Goldfain, wife of the Culinary Director of the Casa de Campo Hotel, Rodrigo Menéndez, understood that something special was going to happen there. Time has proven her right. She is now the new general manager of Altos de Chavón and has the challenge of raising the quality of services, generating well-being for its residents, and encouraging more visits.
Altos de Chavón is one of the most emblematic spaces in Casa de Campo. It is a replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean village that receives more than five thousand visitors per month (during low season), who are stunned by its perfection and the cultural vibe perceived in the place. But, in addition, Altos de Chavón has a community of residents who have this exclusive space ingrained in their daily lives.
The manager, who is a specialist in international relations, began her tenure at Chavón on February 15, 2023, and has since been implementing a project schedule, the results of which are gradually being felt in the community. She operates under an executive committee, comprised of representatives from Central Romana, Costasur, and the Casa de Campo hotel.
Projects
Among the projects approved during Goldfain's administration is a waste collection system, which is intended to be implemented with better organization and with absolute respect for the area's ecosystem. That is to say, without machines or products that affect the wildlife and natural environment of Altos de Chavón.
He is also working, together with Costasur's Human Resources management, on a Japanese organization system called “5S,” which will be applied to the ceramic, weaving, and screen-printing workshops at Chavón.
Your mission is to optimize the work environment, facilitate the work of collaborators, and enhance their capabilities. With its implementation, the aim is to improve process productivity and increase quality.
“With this system, we will make workshop artisans modify their habits, whether it's cleaning or organization, to improve the production chain, have better and greater customer response, whether they are residents, tourists, or orders we receive from other hotels,” Goldfain stated.
Other initiatives being carried out include the renovation of the store where the pieces created by the artisans in these workshops are normally sold, which lends greater prestige to these works of art.
Regular events that the community is already familiar with, such as the Farmers Market, Oktoberfest, Halloween, and Christmas, will continue. New micro-events will also be introduced to maintain a lively atmosphere year-round.
Good news for the residents of Altos de Chavón is that a new beauty salon and a sushi restaurant will soon be opening.
Maintenance Program
The bells of San Estanislao Church are already ringing!, exclaims Goldfain excitedly, highlighting that this improvement is part of a broad maintenance program that has been underway since her administration began in Altos de Chavón.
Goldfain explained that Chavón's structure needed general maintenance and renovation due to the consequences of its more than 40 years of operation.
This maintenance program is carried out according to a schedule. An aspect that did not exist before was revealed by Goldfain.
“There are going to be many infrastructure improvements, including green areas, fountains, filtration, etc. The changes will be noticeable soon,” he added.
According to estimates, during these first four months of his tenure in Altos de Chavón, 60% of this maintenance program has been completed.
Customer and Visitor Assistance
Customer assistance is one of the aspects that Goldfain management is paying close attention to. A customer assistance representative has been included, who is responsible for greeting visitors entering the area and providing assistance.
The manager indicated that her project is to incorporate her own tour guides in Altos de Chavón for the first time.
“Tour operators come with people who don't always say what they need to say about our place. So we want to protect that. We don't want incorrect information being spread,” he/she/they noted.
Currently, the new customer service representative, in addition to her main duties, also serves as a small group tour guide. She is responsible for educating visitors with correct and timely information about Chavón's history.
In addition to improving customer service, the aim is to create new attractions to encourage more visitors to experience the location. The possibility of including activities that allow for direct enjoyment of the majestic Chavón River is being evaluated.
At the same time, basic services are being added, not only for visitors but also for residents, such as pharmacies, ATMs, parcel services, beauty salons, restaurants, ice cream parlors, markets, among others.
Shows
Altos de Chavón is home to the well-known amphitheater, a stage for concerts by major national and international artists. In this regard, the new management of Chavón is working to maintain this legacy and establish a generational and taste balance among the artists who perform there today.
Among the upcoming concerts is that of Dominican artist Fernando Villalona, who will perform on August 12th for free. The performance of well-known jazz and pop artist Michael Bublé, his first in the country, was also announced, and his advance ticket sales have already sold out.
Open doors
For Goldfain, staying in contact with the community is essential for good management, as she understands the importance of finding an authority that responds to concerns and needs, living in Altos de Chavón.
That is why it has formed different groups to maintain constant communication with everyone involved in the community.
“Although I'm not the one who should be saying this, in my WhatsApp groups I feel the community is happy because they have someone they can turn to when they have a problem,” she indicated.
Goldfain guarantees that all communication channels are open. Their email is parquechavon.gerencia@costasur.com.do, their phone number is 809-523-3318, and their office is located above La Piazzeta restaurant. They are open to suggestions, ideas, and listening to concerns.
Goldfain's goal is to try to change the perception that Chavón is disconnected from everyday life. His desire is to make known that efforts are being made to provide more attractions and improvements in the area... that people should come and discover Altos de Chavón.
