Meliá International Adding to Cuba Inventory

Meliá Colón

Seven new Meliá properties will be opening in Cuba by the end of 2018, upping the Spanish hotel chain’s room count on the island by 2,145 keys.

Meliá Cuba started the chain’s growth spurt by opening five new hotels this year. The properties, all of which are small- to medium-sized and set in historical buildings, represent a new style of hotel for Meliá in Cuba. Collectively, they offer 409 rooms. In addition,  Meliá Hotels International will open two new flagship properties in Varadero and Cayo Santa María by the end of 2018. The Meliá Internacional, Varadero, will have 934 rooms and the Paradisus Los Cayos, Cayo Santa María will have 802 rooms.

Meliá will also open Hotel INNSIDE Camagüey, as well as three hotels in the city of Trinidad before 2020. The properties in Trinidad will include Meliá Trinidad, Meliá Punta Ancón and the innovative Sol House Ancón, which is the result of the conversion of the current Hotel Ancón.

Meliá’s growth plans align with Cuba’s strategy to diversify its tourism industry.

“Within the framework of our strong commitment to helping improve Cuban tourism, we have the opportunity to promote unique cities with exceptional tourism potential, such as Cienfuegos, Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba, or Havana. This guarantees the internationally acknowledged Meliá service and quality standards from the east to the west of the island,” explained Gabriel Escarrer, vice-president and CEO of Meliá Hotels International. “The hotels in the new destinations, which are already in operation, will take on our Meliá brand (Meliá La Unión, Meliá San Carlos, Meliá Colón, Meliá Gran Hotel) and INNSIDE by Meliá brand (INNSIDE Cienfuegos Jagua and INNSIDE Camagüey) once they have been fully adapted to the brand standards.”

Francesc Camps, deputy managing director of Meliá Cuba, said: “The new hotels will provide us a chance to show our commitment to the development of balanced and sustainable tourism in Cuba and to demonstrate the value that our brands can add. These hotels in heritage cities are well integrated with the cultural and social fabric of their destinations, and give us a chance to provide travellers with experiences focused on discovering more about the local culture and heritage.”

New properties in Cienfuegos

• Meliá San Carlos –Located in the heart of the city of Cienfuegos, this 56-room hotel is housed in a fully-renovated historical building. It features a lobby bar, snack bar and a roof garden with outstanding views over the city.
• La Unión Hotel by Meliá Hotels International – This property is also located in the centre of the city. When its extensive renovation is complete, it will reopen as the new Meliá La Unión.
• Jagua Hotel by Meliá Hotels International – The Jagua Hotel has 174 rooms and three villas. It will reopen as the INNSIDE Cienfuegos Jagua once its renovation is complete.

Camagüey

• Hotel Colón by Meliá Hotels International – The 58-room Colón Hotel, located in the centre of Cuba’s third largest city, is housed in an historical Colonial building with a beautiful interior courtyard. When renovation work is completed, it will reopen as the Meliá Colón.
• Gran Hotel by Meliá Hotels International – The Gran Hotel is situated in a historic section of central Camagüey. It provides 72 rooms and will be rebranded as the Meliá Gran Hotel when its renovation is finished.

Varadero

• Meliá Internacional – This 934-room property will overlook the beach in Varadero. It will include exclusive services in “The Level” and “The Level adults only”, 10 restaurants, two buffets, 14 bars, an ice cream bar and market grill. A YHI Spa, Casa del Habano and a convention centre will also be available.

Cayo Santa María

• Paradisus Los Cayos — Meliá Hotels International’s fourth Paradisus resort on the island of Los Cayos, this resort will feature the latest state-of-the-art technology and design. It will offer exclusive Royal Service and Family Concierge areas; eight restaurants, five cafeterias and 15 bars; and facilities for meetings and events.