Meliá with a great desire to do and many projects in Cuba

The new INNSiDE Habana Catedral hotel invites to wake up with the best views of Old Havana. Photo: © Courtesy of Meliá Cuba

By Daily Pérez Guillén/ Special to TTC no.292

“We have to do more than ever after these two very difficult years of the pandemic,” Gabriel Escarrer, vice president and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, said referring to Cuba when offering statements to the press during the Havana Tourism Fair last May.

“With great a desire to do and with many projects,” the company is taking that path if the news it shares on its digital platforms and in exchanges with the press are taken into account.

Meliá promotes the Caribbean destination through an invitation to live experiences. “Everything that the Cuban people offer is something unique,” a perception of Escarrer and the communication team that makes visible the company’s commitment to quality and to improve what it offers in each of its facilities on the archipelago.

From its blog, they already announce the services of the new INNSiDE Habana Catedral, located a few steps from the homonymous square and the monumental baroque church that gives its name to the site. Meliá invites you to wake up with views of the Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro or the majestic National Capitol and to have breakfast looking at the sea, feeling from its center the heartbeats of the historic heritage city.

Sevilla Habana Affiliated by Meliá, for the love of history and traditions. Photo: © Courtesy of Meliá Cuba

In another entry on the same page, Andalusia is evoked from one of the city’s iconic hotels, now with the name Sevilla Habana Affiliated by Meliá. 178 rooms will soon be integrated into the constellation of its hotels in Cuba, as an option for travelers who love history and traditions. Opened in 1908, this accommodation was the venue for Al Capone’s private conversations in his room on the 6th floor and a site for Enrico Caruso’s inspiration prior to his performances in the capital in 1920.

But the company is growing beyond the historic center of Havana. A video published on its Facebook profile reflects the soul of Trinidad, a destination where sun, beach, nature, culture, history converge and where Meliá shows off one of its top accommodations in Cuba.

The Trinidad Peninsula is presented by the chain’s official website as an “idyllic hotel” to discover the charms of that heritage city. In one of the most beautiful regions of the country, the Spanish chain will have a modern 5-star facility for the start of the high season, located facing the sea and with spectacular views of the waters of the Caribbean and the Escambray mountains.

From the warm water of the beach, the swim-up and infinity pools; the varied gastronomic proposal in seven restaurants and bars; to the entertainment options and specialized programs for romantic, circuit and business trips, the Trinidad Peninsula stands out in the Cuban hotel industry for its self-sufficient capacity.

The Meliá Trinidad Península is an “idyllic hotel”. Photo: © Courtesy of Meliá Cuba

According to its general manager, Juan Pereira, the facility will be a benchmark for respect for the environment, as it will produce its own electricity from 1,500 photovoltaic panels and will have another 250 to guarantee hot water. It also has a cistern to collect rainwater from the roofs that will be used for irrigation in the green areas.

Each of the 401 rooms has an automated system to regulate the temperature. “Vital for energy savings, because if a client leaves the air conditioning on and goes out, it will turn off after two hours. Likewise, when checking in, the room air-conditioning system will be turned on so that when guests arrive they feel a pleasant temperature,” the executive explained to the press during a tour of the hotel.

Located 10 kilometers from the city, this facility, the largest in size and comfort in the territory, will have its own means of transportation to offer excursion programs to the nearby town, the Valle de los Ingenios and the mountains.

For Gabriel Escarrer, the future of Meliá in Cuba is very hopeful. This is how he reaffirmed it last August: “We have no doubt that Cuba will once again recover its pre-crisis levels and will be in better conditions than ever. Therefore, it is essential for us to continue improving our portfolio of hotels on the island, promoting new quality experiences in accordance with increasingly demanding guests.” Judging by the company’s investments, that’s how it will be.