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At the Monaco Yacht Show, Shari Liu sits down with Universal Aviation to talk about a decade of operating in the Dominican Republic, and what it takes to make the journey from private aircraft to superyacht feel seamless.
A decade is long enough to watch an entire private aviation landscape mature, and Universal Aviation has had a front-row seat to that shift.
"A lot has changed, we've definitely brought the standards up... especially in La Romana."
Much of that change has tracked closely with developments next door. Universal's La Romana operation sits beside Casa de Campo and already supports major events at the resort, giving the team a close view of what UHNW travellers now expect on arrival.
"Many, many changes... especially with the standards that Casa de Campo have been upgrading every year."
Private aviation and superyachting serve largely the same clientele, yet the two have long operated as separate worlds — a divide Universal is actively working to close.
"It was treated as a separate experience, but not now... we're trying to bring that experience into Casa de Campo."
Making that transition feel effortless for the traveller takes considerable coordination behind the scenes — customs, transport logistics, and close cooperation with the marina itself.
"Customs, transport logistics, coordination with the judge... we've grown that experience with Casa de Campo Marina, it's becoming better every year."
That groundwork is part of why Universal Aviation signed on as a Founding Partner of 1970, the inaugural Dominican Republic Superyacht Rendezvous at Casa de Campo this December — a role the company sees as central to how the event will actually function.
"We will be the gateway to the experience... it's a very important role, to have a seamless experience."
For an event built on bringing the international superyacht community to a new destination, that gateway role may prove just as important as anything happening on the water.
We re just ten minutes away from the entrance [of Casa de Campo].
Danilo Rosario Jiménez