First hotel by a U.S. company opens in Havana

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has opened the Four Points Havana, the first U.S. hotel in Cuba in nearly 60 years.

Starwood signed an agreement earlier this year to open a total of three hotels in Havana.

The Stamford, Conn.-based company will manage the property, which is owned by Grupo Hotelero Gaviota.  It is located in the Miramar district, a financial center where many international embassies are located.

“The opening of Four Points Havana marks a monumental moment for not only the Four Points brand, but for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, solidifying its innovative, first-mover spirit,” says Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of specialty select brands for Starwood.

President Obama began normalizing diplomatic relations with the Caribbean island nation in 2014. U.S. citizens are now allowed to travel to Cuba for 12 approved reasons, such as educational and humanitarian missions. But they are still not allowed to travel purely for tourism.

U.S. commercial airlines are also now applying for approval to fly into Cuba.

Starwood: 1st U.S. company to run Cuba hotels in decades

The Four Points Havana has 186 guest rooms, 1,000 square feet of meeting space, a 24-hour fitness center, and a spa. It also has several food and beverage options including full-service dining at Don Quixote, breakfast and lunch at El Olivo, poolside light bites, and a lobby bar with local beers.

Unlike most Cuba hotels, the Four Points will offer Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

“We are thrilled to once again be pioneers with our groundbreaking entry into Cuba, offering our guests a way to stay with Starwood in this sought after destination,” says Jorge Giannattasio, Starwood’s senior vice president and chief of Latin America operations.

Reservations at the property can be made through the company’s website and other booking channels. Members of the Starwood Preferred Guest program will be able to earn and redeem points for their stay.

The hotel will still undergo upgrades and improvements over the next few months.

The Four Points brand, which caters to business travelers, has 18 hotels in nine countries in Latin America. Globally, it has 200 hotels in almost 40 countries. The brand is scheduled to expand its portfolio of rooms by more than 60% in the next five years.