According to a report published this week by advertising and public relations giant WPP, Cuba will take at least four to five years before it emerges as a significant consumer market for brands seeking exposure to the island nation’s once (and still – to some degree) forbidden population. While Cuba’s brand landscape is highly appealing … Read more
Somewhere between the hints of coffee and dark chocolate, the luxurious aroma of black cherry and cacao, I stopped and simply admired this hand-crafted Cuban product. “This is a special cigar,” I said to myself. And that’s exactly what the Bolivar Super Coronas is. This was released back in 2015 as one of Habanos’ “Ediciones … Read more
The détente between Cuba and the U.S. is less than two years old, and the impact for Cuba’s tourism industry has already been big. In January of this year, U.S. travelers to Cuba totaled 43,200, a 125% increase compared to the same month in 2016, according to Cuba government statistics. From January to June 2016, … Read more
Generations of Jews living in Cuba (sometimes referral to as “Jewbans”) added to the rich complexity of Cuba’s cultural history. It is estimated that more than 24,000 Jews lived in Cuba in 1924, and more immigrated to the island nation in the 1930s. But during and after the 1959 communist revolution, more than 90% of … Read more
Recent media attention about growing pains in Cuba’s tourism sector misses the nuance about the real costs of traveling to Cuba and the important impact that travel is having on Cubans themselves. For travelers, lower costs are making the island nation more appealing – plus the ways to create great experiences and make memories are … Read more
According to Martín Proenza, the founder of the web-based taxi platform, YoTeLlevo, your taxi driver makes the difference in Cuba. With a surge in travelers to Cuba in recent years, it’s become more important to arrange transportation. But for travelers, getting around Havana’s 281 square miles can be a challenge as public transportation is limited … Read more
Amid the hand wringing over exactly how Cuba and the U.S. can annul a 56-year-old divorce, some magic has been happening between an island nation that punches above its weight in many arenas and a U.S.-based room rental platform with some high concept ideas about how to improve humanity. A closer look at Airbnb’s success … Read more
Flights to Cuba from the U.S. have increased dramatically in recent months, but Miami’s Little Havana still bustles with tourists mixing it up with the people, tastes and smells of the island nation. Miami is an oasis of swaying palm trees, white beaches, yachts and gigantic tour ships in the harbor, a handy monorail transit … Read more
It is no surprise that there is a rapid increase in Americans traveling to Cuba. Authoritative rankings are pouring in and they consistently rave about Cuba’s unique culture, architecture, art, music, rum, cigars, beaches and more. For example, in January 2017, U.S. travelers to Cuba totaled 43,200, a 125% increase compared to the same month … Read more
Cuban baseball players’ contributions to the U.S. major league baseball (MLB) defies explanation. The island nation’s phenomenal success in baseball starts for Cubans at an early age. In Havana, atop roofs and through chain-linked fences, a dozen spectators – half of them mothers – typically gather to watch and cheer as their young boys, mostly … Read more
