United States President Barack Obama’s speech to the Cuban people unsurprisingly found supporters and critics. But one US Senator saw something else: a watershed moment. US Senator Patrick Leahy, who was part of the American delegation on the trip, was in the Gran Teatro in Havana to hear Obama’s speech. “It was a powerful speech, … Read more
Across the street from the Havana’s Capital building and next to La Habana Vieja (Old Havana), the Hotel Saratoga offers ideal access to the best parts of Havana, day or night. Our experience at Hotel Saratoga convinced us of this hotel’s superiority based on the things that luxury travelers value most in Havana: a good … 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
The first direct mail from the US to Cuba has officially arrived at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba’s government confirmed. The shipment represents the first steps of a pilot program announced in December 2015. The mail shipment was the first direct mail to arrive in Cuba in more than half a century. For … Read more
According to an article in the New York Times, the Obama administration announced today it would allow individuals to travel to Cuba for “people to people” educational trips and lift limits on the use of American dollars in transactions with Cuba. Today’s news is the latest in a steady, slow drum beat of actions taken … Read more
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
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
Major League Baseball and the MLBPA officially announced an exhibition game in Cuba in a release on Tuesday. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to be in attendance during his upcoming visit to Cuba. Obama will be the first sitting American president to visit Cuba in 88 years. “Americans and Cubans share a love of … Read more
