The Indonesian hotel chain Archipelago International, the largest private company of its kind in Southeast Asia, continues to increase its investments in Cuba, and for this purpose, it plans to take over the management of a sixth hotel on the island, the Aston Panorama La Habana, located seaside in the municipality of Playa in the capital.
The facility, with a 4-star category, is currently undergoing a total renovation process for the change of management, as reported by Sergio Álvarez, the commercial director for the Americas of the chain, to the specialized site Travel Trade Caribbean.
At present, Archipelago manages five hotel establishments in the main tourist hubs of Cuba, the first of the Aston brand outside the Asian region.
In the last four years, the company has continued to expand in the island, securing contracts to operate accommodations in Cayo Las Brujas, north of Villa Clara, and Cayo Paredón, in Camagüey, as well as in Havana, Varadero, and Guardalavaca, in Holguín. With these establishments, it oversees a total of 3,500 rooms in Cuba.
In December 2023, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Grand Aston Varadero Beach, a 5-star hotel with 531 rooms, the company's vice president for the region, José Luis Leonardo, stated that the results endorse the preference of customers for their brand.
According to the official, the Grand Aston La Habana was the one that received the most guests in the capital in 2023, while the most popular and visited in Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávila, is the Grand Aston Cayo Paredón.
"This wonderful island welcomes us and has allowed Archipelago to use it as a springboard for its development in the Americas," said Leonardo.
At this moment, the hotel chain is awaiting the execution of 12,000 rooms it will manage in Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
"Archipelago International's current goal is to focus on Latin America. We have several projects in the pipeline, both in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana; the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum; Cartagena de Indias, in Colombia, and Costa Rica," announced the company, without specifying whether this expansion will slow down its presence in Cuba.
Archipelago International has over 350 hotels, mostly in Southwest Asia, especially in Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Asian hotel chains are increasingly interested in Cuba, where Spanish companies and the Canadian Blue Diamond Resorts dominate the market in quantitative terms. The Dhawa and Angsana Cayo Santa María hotels are managed by the Singaporean company Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, a modest firm that operates in well-known Asian destinations and has begun to expand in America, with facilities in Mexico, and is advancing in the construction of two more hotels in Varadero.
In Cuba, 27 joint ventures operate thousands of 4 and 5-star rooms. Additionally, 20 international chains are present, managing 43,252 rooms through 88 contracts, 63.6% of Cuba's hotel plant. Almost all of them, in conjunction with the conglomerate GAESA, which owns the facilities and collects the profits generated by their administrators.
International travellers visiting Cuba, will need a tourist card (visa). This essential document can be conveniently obtained through the official provider website www.visacuba.com. By securing the tourist card in advance, tourist can ensure a smooth and hassle-free entry into Cuba, allowing them to fully enjoy their Cuban adventures without any delays or complications.
