Travel Industry Makes Preps to Celebrate Santiago de Cuba’s 500th Anniversary

The most complex and comprehensive investments carried out by the sector aim at making the most of the potential featured by Santiago de Cuba so as to develop city tourism, as part of the restoration to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the Assault to Moncada Barracks and 500 years of the village.

Click on Santiago de Cuba: A City of 500 Years

Marisol Rodriguez Correa, delegate of the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur is the Spanish acronym) in the province, explained that the marketing strategy of this destination is focused on recreational, cultural and commercial centers, squares, parks and hotel rooms.

Unlike attractive beach tourism circuits, the city treasures extraordinary historical, heritage, nature and nautical values at the historic core, sea and mountains, and along with the Hero City status, the people of Santiago and their idiosyncrasy are the main elements.

The official pointed out that besides the existing 1,525 hotel capacities, the main actions target the increase and improvement of hotel facilities, and the restoration of the emblematic Imperial Hotel at popular Enramadas Street is an example of this.

Over eight million pesos have been invested to restore the splendor of its eclectic façade and install up-to-date systems in the hotel’s four levels, as well as the comfort entailed by a four-star category and the inclusion of E Hotels (Encanto) Mode.

Managed by Cubanacan Group, the facility will offer 39 rooms, obtained as a result of an intense architectural intervention process carried out by Santiago de Cuba’s Tourism Service Company, supported by the Ciego de Avila and Holguin branches.

Located in the most popular area of the artery, near central Cespedes Park, Grand Hotel is characterized by its preserved architecture from the early 20th century and it has also been upgraded to four stars, with the standards of Encanto brand.

Exploited by Isla Azul, with 42 comfortable rooms, the overall intervention developed by Granma’s Emprestur contributes to the homogenization in the city of a high-quality offer, to be joined next year by Venus Hotel.

Casa Granda Hotel (58 rooms), perhaps the most internationally known with a privileged position right in front of Cespedes Park, was the target of a significant investment and a wine cellar was built in its first floor.

As for the nautical activities, Ms. Rodriguez Correa explained that, as one of the marina in the country and the first one on the south coast, Punta Gorda International Marina is undergoing an expansion program conceived through 2030, which enhances the Promenade outlined by the City Curator’s Office.

In July 2015, the workers of Emprestur Las Tunas are going to turn the facility that was occupied by the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, into the new three-star Punta Gorda Hotel, with 12 rooms, managed by Cubanacan and perched on a hill with enviable view of the bay.

Moreover, the program includes the expansion to a nearby property, to be carried out between late 2015 and early 2016, as well as the construction of other facilities so as to increase the room capacity.

Beyond the Promenade, which stretches from Alameda to Morro, taking into account the attractive shipwrecks, sea bottom and coral reeves, the offers include diving, fishing, boat riding, gaming areas and gastronomy.

The beer and malt drink factory, with Austrian technology and capacity to provide service to 310 patrons, is being built by Emprestur Santiago at a former warehouse as a new product related to recreation and the transformations taken place along the Alameda.

Named Puerto del Rey because of its proximity to the first jetty built by the Spanish colony, and decorated with mural paintings and grilles, while visitors enjoy their drink, the gastronomic service or cultural offer, they can see the whole making process.

According to the Mintur delegate, the main offer in order to enjoy nature and trekking is represented by Gran Piedra Hotel, with 27 totally-refurbished rooms and the restoration of the access way to the huge rock located 1,226 meters above sea level.

As for extra hotel offers, Ocio Club is being built by Emprestur Holguin in two heritage mansions nestled in Victoriano Garzon Avenue. The facility includes swimming pool, cafeteria, snack bar, sport bar, park for children and electronic games, among other attractions for all ages.

A much-anticipated news refers to the restoration of the traditional show given by Tropicana Santiago cabaret (1,200 seats), with an authentic performance dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the village, entitled Frenesi, with excellent staging, set design, wardrobe, audio and lights.

Engineer Marisol Rodriguez Correa underlined that having Canada, Germany, France, Holland and national tourists as the main markets, the leisure industry shows a stable annual growth in the territory, with a record that could be broken with the celebration of the National Rebelliousness Day and 500 years of the village.

“Although it seems to be distant in time —she said— we already have a significant level of bookings for July. Such hotels as Meliá Santiago, Casa Granda and San Juan have their get most of their rooms booked on certain days.

“The celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the village have been announced worldwide —she underscored—, and everything we’re doing to improve the city has a positive impact on the travel industry, along with the advertising work and the support provided by our Ministry, the Party and Government in the territory and the provinces that are backing us up.”