Cuba Journal 
In 2015, Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Havana, Cuba to formally re-designate the U.S. Interests Section to U.S. Embassy Havana. Today Secretary Kerry summarizes our progress with Cuba in his, “Exit Memo From Secretary Kerry to President Obama”: For over fifty years, our efforts to isolate Cuba failed to advance our objective of … Read more
According to a report by AP, Artisanal charcoal will become the first legal Cuban export to the U.S. in decades under a deal between Cuba’s government and the former lawyer for imprisoned U.S. government contractor Alan Gross. Attorney Scott Gilbert, who has sought to build economic ties between the two countries since Gross’ release, said … Read more
Alaska Airlines launched today its first flight from Los Angeles to Havana. The airline’s new service is part an agreement to normalize regularly scheduled commercial flights between the two nations. The agreement was negotiated in 2016 under Obama’s broader policy of engagement with Cuba. Alaska Airlines won the only West Coast route awarded in 2016 … Read more
Havana Club®‘s trademark’s history is the envy of any enterprising trademark attorney. When Jose Arechabala S.A. was nationalized after the Cuban revolution, the Arechabala family fled Cuba, stopped producing rum and in 1973 allowed the U.S. trademark registration for Havana Club to lapse. Taking advantage of the lapse, the Cuban government registered the mark in … Read more
According to Cuba’s tourism ministry, the Caribbean island attracted a record 4 million foreign visitors in 2016, an increase of 13% over last year. The ministry attributed the tourism boom in part to the resumption of diplomatic relations with the U.S. RELATED: The Outlook for the Cuban Cruise Industry 2017 “The regions that contributed most … Read more
A newly unified The Associated Press (AP) Caribbean Bureau, headquartered in Havana, will be headed up by Michael Weissenstein, a veteran correspondent and editor who currently serves as Cuba bureau chief. Best thing I’ve seen all week. Power-mower a lo Cubano handmade out of baby-carriage wheels and half a water pump. Ingenious. pic.twitter.com/M0jiDzgwye — Michael … Read more
A computer factory is planned for Cuba. The facility, said to be able to produce up to 120,000 tablets and laptops every year, is being built by Chinese company Haier. This marks the island nation’s latest foray into technology and will soon give residents a new way to obtain personal computing devices. According to state-run media, … Read more
Travelers can now book their trips on the largest vessel sailing to Cuba, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sky. The cruise line is opening for sale a series of five four-day cruises from Miami to Cuba in May 2017 that will include an overnight stay in Havana. On Monday, May 1, Norwegian Sky will set sail … Read more
If your bucket list is filled with some of the world’s most exotic golf courses, this cultural tour of Cuba that includes a golf tournament and competition is your chance to achieve a milestone in the once-forbidden Caribbean island. Carlson Maritime Travel, in concert with international golf professionals, has organized a special Cuba tour for … Read more
The Havana Jazz Festival, sponsored by famed Cuban jazz artist Chucho Valdes and ICM, or the Cuban Institute of Music, just concluded its 32nd year. Cuba has a long jazz tradition. And its annual Havana Jazz Festival attracts musicians from all over the world. At this year’s festival, though, one of the biggest attractions was a … Read more
