The iconic Panorama Hotel in the Cuban capital Havana

Indonesian hotel group Archipelago International is growing its footprint in Cuba with the addition of properties in Havana and the north-east coast, both of which are set to be rebranded.

The group has been awarded management contracts for two hotels by Grupo de Turismo Gaviota. We take a closer look at what’s happening in the Caribbean.

Two new jewels in Archipelago’s crown

The first property is the famed Panorama Hotel in Havana, which will be rebranded as Aston Panorama Hotel. This 320-room hotel originally opened in 2002 and gained instant popularity due to its striking architectural design and fantastic location in the Miramar district right by the sea.

Set in Cuba’s Holguin region, meanwhile, the 749-key Holguin Costa Verde Hotel is the second property involved in the deal, and it’ll soon be known as Aston Costa Verde Beach Resort. Here, guests can relax by four different pools, tickle their palates at nine restaurants and sample the best cocktails at seven bars.

Archipelago on the march in Cuba

The relaunch of both hotels, which is scheduled for 1 December 2020, forms part of Archipelago’s overall strategy to expand in Cuba. Two more openings are scheduled for 2021, namely Grand Aston Varadero Beach Resort and Grand Aston La Habana Hotel, joining existing property Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas Beach Resort & Spa.

Gerard Byrne, managing director, Archipelago Overseas, said: “We are delighted to be given the opportunity by Grupo de Turismo Gaviota to introduce our very successful Aston brand to Havana and Holguin, particularly at such landmark hotels.”

John Flood, president and CEO of Archipelago, added: “We will continue to invest in the resources needed to ensure that the hotels we manage and operate in Cuba perform above and beyond our guests’ expectations. There is no doubt that in the post-pandemic travel context, Cuba will stand out as one of the world’s leading destinations for safe, healthy and environmentally friendly travel.”