Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has become the first U.S. hospitality company in nearly 60 years to obtain government authorization to operate in Cuba. This past weekend, the hotel giant announced its signing of three new hotel deals in Cuba after receiving the go ahead from the U.S. Treasury Department. Havana icon Hotel Inglaterra will join Starwood’s The Luxury Collection and Hotel Quinta Avenida will become a Four Points by Sheraton later this year following renovations. Starwood has signed a letter of intent to convert the famed Hotel Santa Isabel into a member of The Luxury Collection.
In a press release statement, Thomas B. Mangas, Starwood’s chief executive officer, said, “With Cuba’s rich history, natural beauty and strong culture, there is no question the entire U.S. hospitality industry has watched Cuba with great interest, and we are thrilled to lead the charge and bring our sophisticated, high-end brands into the market at this inflection point.”
Upon completion of its conversion and rebranding, the hundred-year-old Hotel Inglaterra will offer 83 rooms in its downtown Havana location, a short distance away from the Gran Teatro de La Habana, while the Hotel Quinta Avenida, located in Havana’s Miramar district, will feature 186 rooms after renovations are complete. Pending approval from the U.S. Treasury Department, Starwood will convert the Hotel Santa Isabel, a 19th century colonial-style palace situated on the Plaza de Armas overlooking Havana Harbor, into a member of The Luxury Collection, complete with 27 rooms, including 11 suites. For more information, visit starwoodhotels.com.
