Meliá Hotels, the leading foreign hotel company in Cuba, and Airbnb, the U.S.-based room rental platform, are seemingly in the same business. Yet details of each company’s performance in Cuba illustrate how different they are in terms of impact on travelers – with implication for the future of the travel and tourism industry everywhere.
The Trump administration has indicated that an announcement will likely be made in the “coming weeks,” based on a review of Cuba policy that has been ongoing since January of this year. According to a report released last week by Engage Cuba, rolling back the current U.S. policy on Cuba could cost U.S. businesses and … Read more
Where you stay is becoming more important as Havana evolves into a major destination for urban adventure travelers. The two key areas of Havana for foreign travelers to focus on is Old Havana and Miramar. Old Havana is the historic part of Havana. Miramar is the “leafy suburbs” where many of the city’s embassies and … Read more
The Chicago Harp Quartet (CHQ) spent a week-long residency from May 29-June 4 in Cuba. The island nation, a country of 11 million people, today has only one harp teacher and only four pedal harps, and those are in disrepair. Supported by Lyon & Healy Harps and donations from the general public, the CHQ’s mission … Read more
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and has 40% more coastline than Florida – so it’s not going to be spoiled overnight. But there is some truth to the notion that’s its changing in ways that are irreplaceable. RELATED: Cuba: Is the Whole Country Photoshopped? It makes a difference that Cuba is the … Read more
If you’ve been to the cigar shops of Havana lately, you’ve noticed an odd inventory situation. Some legendary cigars, like the Bolivar Belicoso Fino, are nowhere to be found. Others, like the Partagas Lusitania, are, remarkably, frequently in stock. In general, the shelves seem a bit barer, not surprising given the wave of new visitors … Read more
Civil aviation in Cuba got a huge boost last year when the U.S. and Cuba agreed to re-establish regular passenger air service in more than 50 years – now general avaition is taking flight too. When plans were announced for the first Visual Flight Rule (VFR) Air Rally in more than 60 years to Cuba … Read more
