US President Barack Obama visited a Cuban “cerveceria” on Monday to talk about entrepreneurship and US-Cuba business engagement. This was his speech. Let me begin by thanking our hosts. This is my very first visit to a Cuban cervecería. I hear they’ve got some great pollo — Moros y Cristianos. And, of course, cerveza. But … Read more
The music scene in Cuba has exploded this year. New events and festivals seem to appear weekly. And the variety of music events is diverse as well. Mariachi USA, the premier mariachi music festival in the US, is headed to Cuba for a historic performance this Fall, October 4-11, 2016. Mariachi musicians, singers and dancers … Read more
By the Cuba Journal Staff Fathom, a social impact cruise ship brand owned by the Carnival Corporation, has announced approval from the Cuban government to call on ports in Cuba. Carnival is the first US company to receive Cuban approval since the Cuban revolution in 1959. Cuban approval was the final step remaining for the ambitious … Read more
It’s the first major American film shot in Cuba in a half-century. And now the trailer is out, thanks to Entertainment Weekly. It’s called Papa: Hemingway in Cuba, starring Giovanni Ribini, who plays a Miami Globe journalist who becomes friends with Ernest Hemingway in the last years of his life while living in Cuba. Adrian … Read more
Speaking to a group of reporters while touring Havana yesterday, Obama indicated that Google will be offering wi-fi service in Cuba. Obama said, “one of the things that we’ll be announcing here is that Google has a deal to start setting up more wi-fi and broadband access on the island.” In January, Cuba’s state telecommunications … Read more
Booking.com will become the first online US travel brand to offer instantly bookable hotel properties in Cuba. Within weeks, travelers who meet US government criteria will be able to instantly book hotel rooms for travel to Cuba. Plans are in place to increase the number of properties in Havana and beyond to give US travelers … Read more
By the Cuba Journal staff Barack Obama is now in Cuba. United States President Barack Obama officially kicked off his historic visit to Cuba on Sunday. Touching down at Jose Marti International Airport, Obama became the first sitting US president to visit the island since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. The visit comes less than a … Read more
Today, Airbnb was granted authorization to expand its digital lodging service to travelers from around the world. Airbnb was open only to those Americans traveling on the existing government-sanctioned categories for travel to Cuba. With 4,000 listing in less than twelve months, Cuba is the company’s fastest growing market in the world. Marriott International announced … Read more
Marriott International announced today that the the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury has approved its application to pursue a business transaction in Cuba. And yesterday Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced it has partnered with several Cuban entities to manage hotels in the island nation. Reports indicate … Read more
Marriott International, Inc. has announced it has received US approval to pursue a business transaction in Cuba. The company is in discussions to develop a hospitality relationship with potential partners. Yesterday, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced it has partnered with several Cuban entities to manage hotels in the island nation. Starwood’s deals, made possible … Read more
