Today, Engage Cuba, the leading coalition of private companies and organizations working to end the travel and trade embargo on Cuba, announced a partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the only national association representing the full breadth of the U.S. lodging industry.
Between 10% and 20% of Americans traveling to Cuba now are staying with an Airbnb host, according to an estimate by the company's founder and CEO, Brian Chesky.
“So it's been, we think, a very, very big success,” Chesky told reporters here, where he was a central business figure during President Obama’s historic visit here this week.
Chesky said that almost one year after launching in Cuba, the country is still Airbnb’s fastest-growing market. There are 4,000 Cuban homes listed on Airbnb, out of about 2 million in 191 countries.
The race to enter the Cuban hotel market for U.S. groups was officially declared after Saturday's announcement by Starwood of the signature of three Havana hotels (Inglaterra, Quinta Avenida and Santa Isabel). Fantastic news for the industry and for this market, but here is where the similarities with other world hotel markets end. Cuba is the world’s most concentrated hotel market in terms of ownership. No wonder the largest Latam hotel group is Cuban. Eight hotel groups control the entire inventory of 67,000+ rooms in the island. Just three groups own 82% of the hotel assets. Even Airbnb has a long way to go. They are still at 3,700 properties of a total of 19,000+ authorized by the Ministry of Tourism.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. ("Starwood") (NYSE:HOT) today signed three new hotel deals in Cuba, marking the first U.S. based hospitality company to enter the market in nearly 60 years. This announcement follows receipt of authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department for Starwood to operate hotels in Cuba. Long-time Havana icon, Hotel Inglaterra, will join The Luxury Collection and Hotel Quinta Avenida will become a Four Points by Sheraton. Both hotels will undergo renovations before raising their new brand flags later in 2016. The Company also announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent to convert the famed Hotel Santa Isabel into a member of The Luxury Collection.
CHEVY CHASE, MD -- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., the iconic leader in luxury lodging, today announced plans to unveil its first Ritz-Carlton Reserve resort in Bermuda in 2018. The resort will operate under a long term management agreement with George's Bay Hotel Ltd. and George's Bay Residences Ltd. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the development of Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Caribbean and Latin America. The project will represent the third Reserve location to open in the region, following the celebrated opening of Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in 2012 and the expected opening of Puerto Los Cabos, Ritz-Carlton Reserve in 2018.
Nickelodeon, the world’s No. 1 entertainment brand for kids, has always been known for being playful & family friendly… and now, it’s adding luxurious to its portfolio. Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana, the brand-new, five-star resort, is set to open May 2016, and is backed by the signature Karisma Gourmet Inclusive® Experience to ensure the perfect family vacation. Our resorts are centered on a passion for play in the ambience of a luxury hotel. Here are six things you’ll want to know about Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H), PRISA Group and McConnell Valdés Consulting, Inc. announce the opening of Puerto Rico's fourth Hyatt-branded select service hotel, the $29 million Hyatt Place San Juan/City Center in the capital city of San Juan. Hyatt Place San Juan/City Center is ideally situated in the metropolitan area, just steps from the Puerto Rico Convention Center and minutes away from the international airport and all major attractions.
President and CEO Steve Joyce said company leaders think an “Ascend-like arrangement” with a number of hotels makes sense in the country. Executives from Choice Hotels International said they are considering entry into Cuba on a near-term basis, and they don’t see significant financial implications in entering the country.
With possible apologies to the Energizer Bunny, a Sheraton in Puerto Rico recently introduced a new service, namely a member of the hotel staff whose job it is to help guests whose electronic devices have run out of juice.
I recently had the opportunity to briefly interview Mr. Paul Pennicook, the Director of Tourism for the Jamaica Tourism Board ("JTB"). Along with his team of officials, their initiatives have helped promote the Island's brand and focal point as a major tourist destination. The interview offers insights to interested investors and travelers alike about a Country that has experienced significant increases in tourism (one of four Island countries to exceed the two million visitor mark in the Caribbean), recent tourism-related openings (i.e. the Marriot Courtyard, Moon Palace Jamaica Grande, Hospiten Montego Bay) and foreign investment developments (i.e. Karisma Resorts, Harmony Cove & Celebration Limited) as well as some of the challenges they face (i.e. infrastructure, eastern international exposure).
Meliá Hotels International, one of the largest hotel companies in the world, announced today the opening of the all- inclusive Meliá Braco Village in Rio Bueno, Jamaica as part of its Meliá Hotels & Resorts brand. This highly anticipated opening is the company's second hotel in the English-speaking Caribbean after Meliá Nassau Beach in the Bahamas, and it's first in Jamaica.
Grand Lucayan, Bahamas, the award-winning resort offering guests an authentic Bahamian experience, is proud to announce the opening of Lighthouse Pointe, the brand's all-inclusive offering. The new addition aims to capture the attention of new and past guests alike by coupling the appeal of Grand Lucayan's already impressive offerings with the benefits associated with an all-inclusive vacation experience. Lighthouse Pointe boasts 196 stylish guestrooms and offers guests a wide variety of recreational activities and dining options. The resort began welcoming guests on December 12, 2015.
Hard Rock International – owner of one of the world's most recognized brands – reveals plans for its second hotel and casino in the Dominican Republic, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Santo Domingo, located in the heart of the capital city. In collaboration with All Inclusive Collection, the full service hotel, estimated to open in late 2017, will feature 400 hotel rooms and suites and a state of the art casino.
Kingston, Jamaica -- The Courtyard by Marriott Kingston, Jamaica is now open and ready to welcome business and leisure guests from all over the world in one of the most sought after and beautiful destinations in the Caribbean. The hotel is centrally located in New Kingston, the business mecca of the city.
Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott International's exclusive portfolio of properties recognized for celebrating individuality, will add The Habitation Jouissant – a boutique hotel located in Cap Haitien, Haiti – to its impressive global portfolio in the fourth quarter of 2017. The property, located in Haiti's second largest city and situated on the country's northern coast, will be Autograph Collection's third hotel in the Caribbean and will proudly serve as Marriott International's second property in Haiti – following the highly anticipated opening of the Marriott Port-Au-Prince Hotel in early 2015.
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is raising the global profile of Caribbean Travel Marketplace providing opportunities for hoteliers attending the event to find new contacts and sources of business. CHTA is targeting wholesalers in Latin America and emerging destinations as well as tour operators specializing in niche markets. Caribbean Travel Marketplace is scheduled Jan. 21-23, 2016 at the Atlantis, Paradise Island in The Bahamas. Building upon the existing and longstanding portfolio of global operators conducting business in the Caribbean, CHTA is focusing on securing the participation of Latin American tour operators in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru and Venezuela and emerging destinations Russia, India, Scandinavia, Ukraine and the Middle East. With the growth and importance of the niche travel segments to its membership, CHTA is inviting niche tour operators to attend Caribbean Travel Marketplace. CHTA is working with National Hotel and Tourism Associations across the Caribbean to identify and attract tour operator representatives from top niche markets for the region. "We look forward to bringing Caribbean Travel Marketplace back to The Bahamas in 2016 as an event that will expand the Caribbean brand globally with the introduction of new tour operators to our region's diverse hospitality product," said Emil Lee, President of CHTA.
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) today announced that the Tranquility Beach Resort Dominica will join Curio - A Collection by Hilton, a global set of remarkable hotels hand-picked for their distinctive character and personality, appealing to passionate travelers seeking local discovery. The Tranquility Beach Resort Dominica, Curio Collection by Hilton, is expected to open in 2018.
Today, Best Western Hotels & Resorts announced the first North American hotel to join the BW Premier Collection®— The Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa in Puerto Rico. The BW Premier Collection, Best Western's soft brand, consists of carefully selected high-quality hotels in primary and destination markets.
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has named the winners for the inaugural "CHIEF Awards" honoring member hotels and tourism-related enterprises for best practices in Business Operations, Sales & Marketing and Sustainable Practices. Awardees were announced at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) which took place Oct. 2 - 4, 2015 at El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Puerto Rico.
Highlighting strong and growing interest in its portfolio of upscale brands in theCaribbean, Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company, today announced plans for further global expansion with the development of the 450- room Sam Lord's Castle Barbados, A Wyndham Grand Resort.