Starwood, the large U.S. hotel operator that is currently the subject of a bidding war, has landed a blockbuster deal as the first U.S. hotel operator in Cuba since before the Revolution in 1959. The company will manage four hotels in Havana under contracts with Cuban companies.
The deals, announced on the eve of Obama's visit to Cuba, include the Hotel Inglaterra, one of the city's classic luxury hotels, on Parque Central in the city center; it will become part of Starwood's 'Luxury Collection.' It first opened in 1875. It's owned by state-owned company Gran Caribe.
Another hotel, the Quinta Avenida in the Miramar district, will become a Four Points by Sheraton. It's a much newer hotel, in a resort area and is owned by Gaviota, a company owned by Cuba's military.
A third Cuban entity, Habaguanex, which owns and manages many properties in Old Havana with a goal of preservation and renovation, has an agreement with Starwood, too. Starwood will manage the Hotel Santa Isabel and another still to be named.
Cuba's hotels are all owned by official companies, but many of them are managed by European companies such as Sol Melia and Iberostar. The companies renovate, build or expand, but ownership stays with the government. The new deal with Starwood, and expected deals with others, will continue that pattern and provide Cuba with more and newer rooms to handle the expected growing influx of visitors.
Photo: Hotel Inglaterra, Havana (Gotanero / Wikimedia)
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