Q & A with Alvar Ojeda, General Manager of Varadero’s Tryp Peninsula Hotel

“Cuba is living the best of times in the realm of tourism and that could become a magnificent steppingstone for the rest of the Caribbean,” said Alvar Ojeda in this exclusive conversation with Caribbean News Digital. With that view in mind, the hotel he’s been at the helm of over the past four months is working hard to cash in on this new window of opportunity.

Q.- Can you give us a brief account of what the Tryp Peninsula Hotel in Varadero is actually like?
A.- Our hotel is an all-inclusive lodging mainly aimed at targeting family travel. That explains the existence of an full-fledged club for kids that’s being widely accepted by all guests. We also target the segment of couples and groups with offers properly cut out in keeping with their interests. In 2004, the hotel nabbed the National Quality Award to praise its good management. This award is a recognition to a job well done over the past couple of years. Right now the hotel is being run by Gaviota, a company that has excellent relations with us.

Q.- What top outbound markets are you focusing on?
A- We’re primarily dealing with tourists from Canada, UK, Argentina and Russia. The Russians are high on the list, while Argentina is growing steadily en route to become one of the top three segments in the market. As to the tour operators, we’re working with Argentina’s Solways and Cubanacan-owned Sol y Son.

Q.- How will you define the training and preparation of the hotel’s employees?
A.- The workforce is well balanced in terms of gender breakdown. Many of our employees have degrees in technical studies and some of them are college graduates. Within the Caribbean region, Cuba’s hotel workers rank high in terms of training and formation. Those are our trump cards, our key to success.

Q.- How’s the hotel faring as far as occupancy is concerned?
A.- The hotel’s occupancy rate is hovering around 92 percent in the high-peak season. Our round-the-clock entertainment is one of the most sought-after attractions. As to cuisine, the five-fork Tocororo Restaurant, the Italian bistro, the Foon Doo and the ice cream parlor are top of the line. We’ve got plans in the offing to open a Mediterranean food restaurant and another serving Asian food later this year.

Q.- What do you think of the Caribbean News Digital newsletter?
A.- I think it’s an all-embracing publication that provides extensive coverage of all news developments going on in the Caribbean. I read it and share the information with my friends.