Starwood Hotels Makes Historic Opening in Havana
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has officially become the first American hotel company to open a lodging facility in Cuba since the 1959 Revolution that eventually prompted a diplomatic breakup between the island nation and the United States.
Following a multimillion-dollar agreement inked last March between the U.S. hotel giant and Cuba’s Gaviota Group, the former Hotel Quinta Avenida Habana in the Cuban capital -fully owned by Gaviota in the past- is now a U.S. property reflagged as Four Points by Sheraton La Habana.
In his keynote speech following the cutting-ribbon ceremony, Mr. Jorge Giannattasio, Senior Vice President and Chief of Latin American Operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, referred to the historic moment of “this iconic opening that marks the beginning of a new work relationship between Cuban and American hoteliers.”
Mr. Giannattasio availed himself of the opportunity to be thankful for being in Cuba and having the tremendous opportunity of witnessing this grand opening in a special country for the Starwood chain.
For his part, Carlos Latuff Carmenate, President of Cuba’s Gaviota Group, underscored the fact that what’s really special about Cuba is its safety and security, the hospitality of the Cuban people and highly-trained local hotel and tourism employees.
“This means a new chapter in the history of Cuba’s hotel industry in which Starwood’s renowned international prestige comes together with Gaviota’s experience and professionalism. This is the beginning of a longstanding work relationship that will be marked by mutual respect, a willingness to get the job done and the conviction that big achievements lie on the road ahead,” Mr. Latuff concluded.
The company said it would not close the hotel on the Miramar neighborhood (5th Avenue and the corner of 76th Street) while it refurbishes it, a process that would take several months.
For decades, such business deals between the two countries had been prohibited under the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba. But while the blockade remains in place, the Obama administration has loosened restrictions on trade and investment since it announced a detente with Cuba in December 2014.
According to Starwood's website, the company will also start operating state-owned Gran Caribe’s Inglaterra Hotel under its Luxury Collection brand on Aug. 31. The company’s website is listing rooms at its new Four Points by Sheraton La Habana at $249 per night. Occupancy is currently hovering around 80 percent.
