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Marriott International says President Donald Trump’s decision to reverse the Obama administration’s 2016 decision to allow individual people-to-people travel in Cuba may alter its expansion plans there.
Other U.S. hotel companies either said they needed more time to address the situation or were mum on their Cuba plans.
Marriott, the world’s largest hotel company, oversees one hotel in Cuba, and has another in its development pipeline. Last summer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, which was acquired by Marriott last September, reflagged Havana’s Hotel Quinta Avenida under its Four Points by Sheraton brand. It was the first hotel in Cuba to fly the flag of a U.S. brand since the country’s revolution ended in 1959.
Trump’s decision and its “full effect on our current and planned operations in Cuba may depend on related forthcoming regulations,” Marriott said in a statement. “As Cuba moves to reform its economy in the post-Castro era, American businesses should be present to lead by example. We will continue to urge the Trump administration and Congress to recognize and utilize travel as a strategic tool in efforts to improve relations with Cuba, allowing us to be part of a promising future, as opposed to reverting to the policies of the past.”
Geneva-based Kempinski, which earlier this month opened what it called Cuba’s first five-star luxury hotel in Old Havana’s Manzana de Gomez building, said Friday morning before Trump’s announcement that eliminating individual people-to-people travel “would not be favorable for any kind of businesses connected to tourism such as cruise ship operators, airlines or hotel chains.”
Contacted by Travel Weekly on Monday, the luxury hotel operator declined further comment.
Other U.S. hotel operators were less clear about Trump’s impact on plans for Cuba.
“As the first American hotel operator to enter Cuba in 1958, we welcome the opportunity to return to the country to share our culture of hospitality and exceptional service,” said a Hilton spokesman, without being more specific.
Hyatt declined to comment.
U.S. hotel companies’ expansion into Cuba has been limited to the one Four Points property — Marriott is also slated to reopen Havana’s 83-room Hotel Inglaterra as part of its Luxury Collection.
Meanwhile, Airbnb has been aggressive in Cuba. Since debuting operations there in April 2015, Airbnb hosts have generated about $40 million from 560,000 guest arrivals, the company said earlier this month.
“Travel from the U.S. to Cuba is an important way to encourage people-to-people diplomacy,” Airbnb said in a statement on Thursday. “While we are reviewing what this policy could mean for this type of travel, we appreciate that the policy appears to allow us to continue to support Airbnb hosts in Cuba who have welcomed travelers from around the world.”
Sоurсе: travelweekly.com
