Writing samples

Allison Hollins Writing Samples

Pages 2-4 ….. Fly.com Destination GuidesPages 5-8 ….. Travelzoo Top 20 Newsletter, sample advertorial/story pagesPages 9-10 ….. The Benjamin Hotel, sample website copyPages 11-13 ….. The Benjamin Hotel, e-brochure sample copyPage 14 ….. The Benjamin Hotel, sample print ad copyPages 15-17 ….. Affinia Hotels, sample website copyPages 18-19 ….. Casa Colonial Resort, press kit articlesPages 20-24 ….. The Reading Team, annual report samplesPages 25-28 ….. Hamilton Madison House, sample website copy

Fly.com Destination Guide – LondonTravel Search Engine, Receives 2.5-3 million monthly visits

Fly.com Destination Guide – MinneapolisTravel Search Engine, Receives 2.5-3 million monthly visits

Fly.com Destination Guide – AthensTravel Search Engine, Receives 2.5-3 million monthly visits

Travelzoo Top 20 Newsletter Write-upSent to 12 million U.S. subscribers




The Benjamin Hotel – New York CityWebsite Copy

The Benjamin Hotel – New York CityWebsite Copy

The Benjamin Hotel – New York CitySample page from e-brochure (screen shot of animated e-brochure)



Bemjamin Business Print Ad

The Benjamin Hotel – New York CityPrint Ad

Affinia HotelsWebsite Copy – Special Offers Section

Affinia HotelsWebsite Copy – Special Offers Section

Affinia HotelsWebsite Copy – Special Hotel Programs Page

Casa Colonial Beach & Spa Resort is the first and only luxury boutique hotel in Puerto Plata on the Dominican Republic’s north coast. The property is owned by the esteemed local entrepreneur, Don Isidro Garcia and was designed by his daughter Sarah Garcia, an accomplished Dominican architect and interior designer. Isidro Garcia owns and operates VH Hotels & Resorts, which consists of two other resort properties on the island also designed by Sarah Garcia. Casa Colonial, which opened in December 2004, sets out to surprise and delight with its fusion of old-world charm and contemporary elegance. The luxurious 50-room property reveals colonial chic while embracing comfort, hospitality and service. The resort was designed as a home or “casa” and the property’s exterior resembles a classic Dominican plantation estate. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by smiling staff members and provided with cold scented towels with an exotic chinola-guavaberry fruit drink. The dream-like lobby is adorned with sheer flowing draperies, light marble floors and walls and white colonial crown molding. Guests can gather in one of the lobby’s many intimate seating areas or around the large glass bar illuminated by colorful lighting in the evening. Just beyond the bar are views of the property’s lush tropical gardens that lead to the resort’s oceanfront guest rooms and suites.

Light tones and airy draperies also make their way into the guest rooms. Each room is its own serene haven with plush linens, custom-designed Caribbean furnishings, oversized soaking tubs and marble bathrooms. Some rooms include four-poster beds. All rooms include a private terrace with views of either the ocean or the hotel’s tropical gardens.

Sarah Garcia’s inspiration for Casa Colonial came from a family vacation to the scenic beach town of Forte Dei Marmi in the Tuscany region of Italy. While walking on the beach with her daughters, Garcia observed the ornate antique villas and homes set along the sea. She began to research the architecture of these villas and the Mediterranean lifestyle to create her own version of a sophisticated beach villa in Puerto Plata. She fused varying French and Spanish architectural styles and integrated Caribbean accents to create Casa Colonial.

Garcia felt that it was very important to utilize local Dominican materials in the hotel’s design. She used Dominican coral stone, iron and mahogany wood throughout the property. Unique sculptures made from restored palm trees damaged by a storm on her father’s farm align the entrance of the lobby. The guestroom hallways include a display of simple clay jars that were once used on her family’s farm to keep water cool. The room numbers are embroidered on pieces of linen placed in frames on the guestroom doors, representing an old Dominican tradition. The resort’s suites are also given the names of Garcia family members and the property’s upscale restaurant, Lucia, is named after Isidro Garcia’s oldest daughter. “What I am is the scenographer of a film, not an architect,” said Garcia when commenting on her use of Dominican heritage and materials for Casa Colonial. Her thoughtful design details provide a glimpse into Dominican history and tradition.

Garcia began her career at the Universita Internazionale Dell’ Arte in Florence, Italy where she studied architecture. Her passion to design resorts and hotels developed while studying there and Garcia focused her university thesis on the challenges of designing a “wellness” resort. At that time, her father decided to build his first hotel in Puerto Plata, the Victoria Resort, which Sarah Garcia helped design. After assisting with the design of Victoria Resort, Sarah Garcia went on to design and remodel 10 resorts and hotels throughout the Caribbean including the Bahia Principe in Rio San Juan, DR, her family’s Gran Ventana Beach Resort in Puerto Plata, the extension of the Sol de Plata hotel in Sosua, DR, the redesign of the LTI hotel in Punta Cana, DR, the redesign of the Allegro hotel in Turks & Caicos, the full architectural and interior design of the Hotelpa Caribe Club and the Hotelpa Caribe Tropical in Punta Cana, the Ocean Blue and Ocean Sands resorts in Punta Cana and the full interior and exterior design of Casa Colonial Beach & Spa. With Casa Colonial, Garcia not only created a beautiful hotel, but she challenged the hospitality industry in Puerto Plata and the Dominican Republic to elevate the level of luxury services on the island. No detail at Casa Colonial was overlooked, and the product cannot be duplicated. Each suite and guestroom includes a unique touch added by Garcia to give the hotel the intimacy of a private home. At Casa Colonial, guests can experience a true taste of Dominican culture and the warm hospitality of the local people. “I always put a lot of passion into my work, but Casa Colonial required an incredible amount of dedication to create something with such a special character,” said Garcia.

Casa Colonial Resort -- 2006 Press KitSample article on the new hotel’s design concept

Casa Colonial Resort -- 2006 Press KitPress Release/Article on hotel’s surrounding area

SPANISH COLONIAL HISTORY AND TROPICAL ADVENTURES FOUND ON THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC’S AMBER COAST

PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Located on the glittering Amber Coast of the Dominican Republic’s north shores, Casa Colonial Beach & Spa Resort is set within the lush resort and golf complex of Playa Dorada, directly on the golden sand beaches of the city of Puerto Plata.

Puerto Plata was described as “the fairest land under heaven” by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Over 500 years later, the city of Puerto Plata has continued to captivate visitors from around the world with its charming Latin culture, incredible natural beauty and the extraordinary kindness of its people. Puerto Plata is situated at the base of the towering Mt. Isabel de Torres and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Dominican Republic. Forests, green valleys, mountains and miles of golden beaches provide a playground for adventure sports seekers with activities such as mountain biking and horseback riding as well as a host of water sports including diving, sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.

The city of Puerto Plata offers a glimpse into the city’s rich Spanish history, which inspired the architectural concept of Casa Colonial Beach & Spa. Victorian architecture with filigree lace wood and ironwork characterizes most of the historic homesteads and public buildings in the city. Visitors of Puerto Plata can spend a day in the town strolling through the eclectic shops housing local hand-made art, clothing and jewelry. The Malecón in Puerto Plata is an ocean side road filled with numerous cafes and small restaurants. Walking west along the Malecón leads visitors to the stunning Fuerte San Felipe, Puerto Plata’s only remaining Spanish colonial fort where Columbus had hoped to establish the first Spanish colony in the New World. The fort features a moat, historical artifacts and a small museum.

Towering over the city of Puerto Plata is the 2,600ft (792m) Mount Isabel, providing a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can take a seven-minute cable car ride up the mountainside to explore the summit, which offers a botanical garden and a scaled down version of Rio de Janeiro`s The Redeemer, the famed statue of Christ. There is also a restaurant from which diners can enjoy breathtaking views of the city and coastline.

The area that surrounds Puerto Plata is known as the Amber Coast and is home to the world’s richest deposits of amber. Unique amber jewelry pieces created by local artisans can be found throughout the country. The town of Cabarete, otherwise known as mecca for kite and wind surfers, dots the coastline. Sosua, offering a beautiful crescent-shaped beach serves up lively cafes, bars and restaurants. The two towns are located 30-40 minutes from the resort.

The Dominican Republic’s north coast is also home to the famous Playa Grande Golf Course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The course is referred to the “Pebble Beach” of the Caribbean as 10 of the 18 holes are played along the sea cliffs, bays and overlooking bluffs with spectacular Atlantic Ocean views. The green fees for Playa Grande are certainly more desirable than Pebble Beach. Rates range from $80 to $120 at Playa Grande while rates at Pebble Beach range from $230 to $425 for 18 holes. Guests of Casa Colonial can also enjoy reduced rates at the Playa Dorada Golf Course located across from the hotel. The 18-hole course was also designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and was ranked #53 in Golf Digest’s “Best 100 golf courses situated outside of the United States” in May 2005. The Playa Dorada Golf Course features exceptional greens with wide fairways, four greens set by the sea and five greens set by the bordering inland water.

The Dominican Republic’s new Ocean World aquatic park is also located minutes from the resort. The park is the creation of a talented group of marine life experts who joined forces to design the most exciting nature encounter in the Caribbean. The spectacular facility boasts breathtaking views of the sea and allows visitors to experience the world’s largest dolphin lagoon, the only sea lion encounter of its kind and a shark interaction pool.

The Reading Team –Nonprofit Literacy Program in Harlem2008 Annual Report, Mission Statement (I crafted their mission statement)

The Reading Team –Nonprofit Literacy Program in Harlem2008 Annual Report, Sample Page




Hamilton Madison House –Nonprofit Community Organization in Lower Manhattan2009 Website Re-design; I wrote all copy for new site

Hamilton Madison House –Nonprofit Community Organization in Lower Manhattan2009 Website Re-design; I wrote all copy for new site

Hamilton Madison House –Nonprofit Community Organization in Lower Manhattan2009 Website Re-design & Copy

Hamilton Madison House –Nonprofit Community Organization in Lower Manhattan2009 Website Re-design & Copy