Q & A with Roberto IglesiasGeneral Manager of the Iberostar Trinidad Grand Hotel

Since its recent opening, the Iberostar Trinidad Grand Hotel is cutting its teeth in the Cuban travel market, a niche both the Spanish company and its latest lodging on the island nation are drawing a bead on, let alone the marketing strategy of putting the two of them on the map by using this luring destination of central Cuba as a launching pad.

This five-star hotel will work with very exclusive customers to guarantee them top-notch and customized service in an undisputedly beautiful environment full of natural charms and cultural richness.

Q.- The Iberostar Trinidad Grand Hotel is one of the company´s latest additions to its portfolio. Why did the Spanish group pick Trinidad as the location of choice?

A.- Right now Iberostar is putting its smart money on Cuba as a travel destination and one of its interests is to open a hotel in each and every of its top travel circuits. Iberostar also wants to add a hotel in the Ancon Peninsula with a view to give its guests a superb sun-and-sand choice in Cuba.

Q.- What´s the new hotel´s category, its main services and operational status?

A.- The Iberostar Trinidad Grand Hotel is a five-star hotel that operates under the bed-and-breakfast category. It has 40 comfy rooms, broken down in 36 standard rooms and 4 junior suites, all of the equipped with sat TV, safe, minibar and Internet hookup. The hotel has a main restaurant serving smorgasbord-style breakfast and lunch in sync with its category.

Q.- What are the major markets you´re working on right now? Do you have any plans in store to tap other niches?

A.- At this moment Italy, France and Spain are bearing the sales brunt of the hotel, though we´re reporting major increases from Germany and the UK. The idea right now is to strengthen those markets because this is a small hotel that can´t meet everybody´s demands in such a major travel destination as Trinidad.

Q.- What market segments are you mostly interested in?

A- Well, since this is a five-star boutique hotel, we´re definitely trying to lure high-end customers, people who are used to traveling and getting the best service money can buy, guests who come looking for customized service in a friendly and lovely atmosphere. We simply try to hone even the tiniest details and make sure end users receive the kind of service they really want.

Q.- What are your plans for the first year of operations?

A.- Just to position ourselves as a reference product for all of central Cuba and put ourselves on the world map by using the colonial city of Trinidad as a marketing launching pad.

Q.- What kind of policy do both the company and the hotel have with their employees?

A.- For Iberostar all employees are valuable because they are the ones who make a difference. Here in Trinidad, for instance, we´re still training our staff and sending employees to other hotels around Cuba, even out to Mexico for further training.

Q.- What Caribbean countries has Iberostar opened hotels in? What does Cuba mean to this Spanish hotel chain?

A.- We have hotels in Mexico´s Maya Riviera, Cancun and Cozumel Island, though there are projects in the offing to open more establishments there. In the Dominican Republic, we´re operating in Bavaro, Bayahibe and Puerto Plata. Our expansion plans in the Caribbean are really far-reaching.

Among the world regions, the Caribbean is one of the most sought-after travel destination, and Cuba is by far a major piece in that mosaic. Cuba´s beaches, nature, culture and history are unique. To Iberostar, Cuba means the perfect complement to its Caribbean offerings.