According to reports by the Wall Street Journal, three major US corporations are preparing to complete deals to do business in Cuba. AT&T Inc., Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Marriott International are expected to announce agreements with Cuban government-run entities, according to company and U.S. officials. Earlier this week, in a letter to … Read more
The 210-passenger luxury ship, Pearl Mist, will not sail to Cuba on March 16 as planned. In a statement by Timothy Beebe, VP of Pearl Seas Cruises, “Pearl Seas Cruises has received notice this morning that the approval meeting of the Cuban government scheduled for today (March 10, 2016) has been postponed until after President … Read more
SXAméricas will present the Sounds of Cuba showcase, the first of its kind in the 30 year history of SXSW. Five Cubans acts – a record – will play at SXSW. The showcase will take place on Friday, March 18 at Speakeasy (412 Congress Ave). The Cuban groups come from the hip-hop and jazz genres … Read more
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini signed an agreement in Havana on Friday to normalize relations. The new agreement replaces a policy adopted by 28-member bloc 20 years ago that pushed for changes to Cuba’s communist political system. “The message we pass to Cuban authorities,” Mogherini said, “is that … Read more
The world-famous recording artist, Sting, has published an appeal to support a music-inspired effort to send a piano to Cuba. According to a new release on Sting’s official website: Cuban culture and music has made an incredible impact on the world, and here’s an opportunity to ensure that impact will continue for years to come. … Read more
Last year, The Dead Daisies, a US-Australian rock band, played in Cuba to an energetic crowd. They spent a week playing two sold out shows, visiting music schools, recording music and taking in the rich local music culture-a first for a band after President Obama announced the re-establishment of US – Cuba relations. All Daisies … Read more
Cuba seems to have a special gravity when it comes to attracting iconic figures and historic moments. Perhaps the forces of reverse nostalgia have been at work far longer than we realize. Just last month, Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, stopped in Cuba for a historic meeting with the head of the … Read more
By Alexander Britell It’s time for US hotels to start operating in Cuba. That’s the view of Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, who is calling on the US Departments of Treasury and Commerce to allow American hotels to operate in Cuba. In a letter to Treasure and Commerce Secretaries Jack Lew and Penny Pritzker, respectively, Klobuchar … Read more
If there’s one thing new visitors to Cuba will take away from their first trip to Cuba it would have to be that Cuba is not just another palm-fringed Caribbean island catering to all-inclusive travelers. The hardships and constant struggle endured by Cubans has nurtured and strengthened their identity. It bursts on the scene in … Read more
Beyoncé and Jay-Z caused quite the uproar when they made their visit to Cuba back in 2013. Looking back, though, the two were pioneers for what is now the island’s tourism rebirth — a year and a half later, Cuba and the US had begun the process of normalization. So where did they go on their … Read more
