Our inaugural Plant-Based Immersion Health Summit was held in the Dominican Republic on Nov 20-30, 2014.
Interested in our next Immersion Summit?
Tentative dates are Fall 2015
Fill out the form below and we’ll keep you informed!
Why a Plant-Based Focus to Heath?
Find out in this video from Summit host Dr. Shane Williams…
The Dominican Republic and Puerto Plata
Much more than beach resorts, the Dominican Republics one of the Caribbean’s most geographically diverse countries. From stunning mountain scenery to desert scrublands it has an evocative colonial architecture and warm welcoming people.
The beauty of the Dominican Republic is world-renowned along with the generosity, kindness and gentleness of it’s people. The caramel-coloured beaches of Puerto Plata province on the northern shore of the Dominican Republic rank among the country’s best. Puerto Plata’s beaches stretch along the Atlantic Ocean instead of the Caribbean Sea and you’ll be delighted by what you find. There’s also plenty of sightseeing to be found. Temperatures in November comfortably range from 23 to 29 centigrade (73 to 84 Fahrenheit).
About The Gran Ventana Beach Resort
The Gran Ventana Beach Resort is a 4 star sleek, spacious, 506 room resort with an enviable location on the golden sands of Playa Dorada in Puerto Plata. This wonderful beach resort offers a distinctive blend of sophisticated design combined with the charm and hospitality of the Dominican Republic.
The hotel is situated within the Playa Dorada Tourist Complex, the largest and most complete tourist development in Dominican Republic and just a block away from the Playa Dorada Commercial Center and downtown Puerto Plata is just minutes away. The resort is also just 300 yards from the Playa Dorada Golf Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones.
The resort’s lobby extends with beamed ceilings and a view of the ocean as its centerpiece. Exceptional service and a sense of relaxation will greet you from the moment you arrive.
The Gran Ventana is also a TripAdvisor 2014 Excellence Award Winner and you’ll quickly understand why as soon as you land. The pleasant, gracious and helpful staff are legendary and go above and beyond everyday to make your stay the best resort experience ever. This overwhelmingly positive environment consistently drives the rank of the Gran Ventana as one of the most favourite overall resort destinations on the island. Most of the resort’s guests are return visitors often known by their first names as the Gran Ventana Beach Resort’s quality and kindness is never forgotten. Many visitors go away saying no one can come here just once… as it seems everyone eventually returns to enjoy the hospitality and find sanctuary again and again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all the meals plant based?
Yes, all meals during the summit will be nutrient dense, whole food plant based. They will be representative of the optimal dietary lifestyle we’ll be discussing and promoting. This means our custom menu is absent of all animal products (including dairy and eggs) and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Are drinks included?
All drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic are included.
Should I consult my Doctor before going?
People are always encouraged to discuss proposed changes to their lifestyle that will directly impact their health. Few factors of lifestyle impact health more significantly than your diet. So, just like you might discuss starting an exercise routine or a different dietary plan (in this case, transitioning to a whole-foods, plant based diet) with your physician beforehand, it would be optimal to have a similar discussion with him/her especially if you take medications to ‘control’ the condition. This trip may see you being much less dependent on prescription medications which is a common desired goal for many of our participants.
Do I need to come for the whole 8 days?
It’s not required to attend the full 8 days of the conference if your schedule permits only being able to be present for part of the program. However, we’d strongly suggest that you derive the maximal benefit and stay the full duration of the Summit. Because of the nature of the reservation system and our fixed, pre-booked expenses for the event, part-registrations are not possible.
Are the health checks mandatory?
In order to document the tremendous and rapid benefits that all participants will experience during the Immersion, we are hoping that all participants will grant their permission to measure the following values twice during your stay (at the beginning and near the end): weight, blood pressure and serum lipids. The purpose of these measurements are to provide group information and trends only. No personally identifiable results (as all results will only be identified by a random number known only to the participant and our staff) will be reported. The anonymous individual values will be used to calculate average weight loss, BP reduction and cholesterol reduction for the group and reported before the Summit ends to give all participants the progress made by their involvement. We are very excited about this aspect of the program as it will galvanize with real-time results, the rapid and powerful effects of a plant-based diet. Of course, any individuals wishing to opt out of this assessment can do so… but we hope all participants will agree to help us show how power food can be.
Is the resort non-smoking?
There are limited, designated smoking areas on the resort.
Will there be internet access at the resort?
There is public WiFi available in the lobby of the resort free of charge. WiFi service in an individual’s rooms will be available from the resort for an additional charge.
Will you be making a recording of the summit?
We are planning to have both video and photo coverage of the summit available for purchase at a later date for attendees as well as for those who were unable to attend.
2014 Summit Attendee Testimonials
“It is with pleasure that I take a few moments to highly endorse the excellent experience provided by the Plant-Based Health Summit organized by Dr. Shane Williams and his staff. Having already been on such a diet and deriving all of the tremendous benefits thereof for the previous four years, my purpose in attending was to validate and further confirm the knowledge I had acquired consulting the findings of Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. I’m convinced that a plant based whole food no oil diet is not only essential for a continuation of life but for a massive improvement in the quality of life! Bottom line: you have nothing to lose (but some obesity, bad blood work and indigestion!!!).
– Winston Morris (Professor of Music, Tennessee Technological University)
“The Summit was unique in that it gave us close and personal contact with the speakers who were all awesome. It also gave first hand information about how good food can taste that is strictly plant based. It just reinforced my feeling about the value of this way of eating. At my age, 89, I wasn’t looking for dramatic change but I do notice that if I stick to mainly plant based food I have less brain fog, hurrah! We are never too old to learn something new. I welcome the opportunity. The speakers were very interesting and convincing. I have 5 sons and daughters-in-law, 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. I want them to be healthy, I do not want to outlive any of them. I encouraged my son John and his family to come to the Summit. My grandson Jeremy has lost 24 pounds. got rid of acid reflux and is embracing the diet. This worked for him when all other forms of pursuasion and encouragement to change his eating didn’t. I continue to encourage other family members to change and they have to some extent. My son Ian and his wife are going to Dr. McDougall’s one week healthy eating in California Feb 20, 2015. I am working on my other sons. If you have another Summit I hope some may attend.”
– Betty Franklin (Gravenhurst, Ontario)
“I went to the Summit to see what the impact of following a whole-food, plant-based diet strictly for ten days would have on my blood sugar, weight, and cholesterol numbers. It was also a great opportunity to hear from and talk to people like Caldwell Esselstyn and Colin Campbell, whose books I had read. Results? My numbers were even better than I had expected, and I was able to interact with Drs. Campbell and Esselstyn almost daily. Definitely worth the trip to the Dominican Republic!”
– Ron Jacques (Bracebridge, Ontario)
“I attended the 10-day Whole Food Plant Based Summit in the Dominican Republic in November 2014. A friend was telling me about the Lunch & Learn seminars she was attending in Bracebridge and I was intrigued, mainly because I have struggled with my weight all my life and wondered if this way of eating would satisfy my hunger and help me shed some pounds. I also have wet Macular Degeneration and I will do anything necessary to help me keep my vision and was curious whether this would help. Getting away to sun and sand also was a draw. The Summit was unique because we had our own chef to prepare all the food we could eat, our own private eating area and a group of like-minded people. The speakers were so inspiring and I looked forward to the lectures. I learned so much. I have lost weight and feel healthy and energetic and am never hungry. I don’t even have the usual cravings. My husband has been quite happy with the food I am making and has blood sugar has improved and he has lost weight as well. At the summit I learned that I can get all the protein I need without eating meat and dairy. This is the biggest question my friends ask and I tell them to read The China Study. I even gave the book to my family doctor for Christmas so she would understand. I bought several of the cook books that were recommended and have shared recipes with many of the attendees. I would recommend this summit to anyone who wants to improve their health.”
– Diane Jackson (Haliburton, Ontario)
“Plant based eating was not new to me when I came across Dr. Williams Summit opportunity. It was exactly what I was looking for to reinforce and inform myself to a deeper level about the health benefits of plant-based eating. Ever since watching Forks over Knives and reading the China Study I had hoped to have an opportunity to meet T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Essystyn which I was so thrilled to do at the summit. There were many other wonderful speakers who shared very helpful information, ideas and recipes. I enjoyed meeting fellow Canadians and some Americans who were just learning about plant based eating as well as some veterans, with lots of ideas and advice. The summit reinforced in my mind that this was the right path for me and also gave me a renewed enthusiasm for cooking. I talk about the experience all the time to anyone who will listen and highly recommend the trip.”
– Jeanette Lane (Lindsay, Ontario)