HOLGUIN — Iberostar Cuba is a leading hotel chain that has been serving vacationers in Cuba for 30 years. On a recent press trip, Iberostar Cuba showcased several of its properties, and its new product highlights as well.

Iberostar Cuba has 18 four- and five-star hotels in the main tourist destinations on the island: three hotels in Havana (with its newest hotel, Iberostar Selection Havana, opening mid-2024; it will be the highest building in Cuba featuring 42 floors), six in Varadero, two in Cayo Guillermo, two in Cayo Ensenachos, two in Cayo Cruz, two in Holguín and one in the historic city of Trinidad.

The brand is known for its exclusive service and creating curated experiences for new and repeat customers. It offers guests four category selections …

• Grand: the highest luxury segment. These properties can be found in Havana (Iberostar Grand Packard) and Iberostar Grand Trinidad
• Coral: three properties in Cayo Cruz, Cayo Encenachos and Holguin feature upgraded adult-only sections with 24-hour room and bottle service
• Selection: including Varadero, these four properties feature a more family-friendly stay with kids’ splash pads and specialty restaurants
• Iberostar: nine properties boast standard level accommodations, with a prestige section for adults

THE ROAD TRIP PACKAGE

Cuba’s travel segment sees a huge Canadian market annually, with some sections recording 70% of Canadians visiting per year.

“With Canadians, we have three great Canadian tour operators: Sunwing, Air Canada Vacations and Air Transat. During high season, there are several flights per day,” says Alexei Torres Velazquez, Marketing Director of Iberostar.

Tour operators are encouraged to offer their clients a ‘Road Trip by Iberostar’ package. This campaign launched earlier this year and its goal is to combine destinations and encourage travellers to see more of Cuba during one visit.

This curated package can be combined with several destinations, including the following four properties that can be built into a 10-day or two-week stay.

Iberostar Holguín

Located near the northeast coast, Holguín is known for its natural, serene landscapes. Celebrating its five-year anniversary on Nov. 16, Iberostar Selection Holguin offers 576 rooms while the Coral Level has 62, with two suites that can be upgraded upon arrival.

The main reception for the hotel is at Holguín Selection and Coral has its own reception with private check-in. Coral also has its own restaurant, the lobby bar is accessible 24-hours, and all the rooms have pool views. “All Coral guests can enjoy the services across the entire property, but the Selection guests cannot use the Coral service sections—this is an upgrade, and the other section is for families. This is the case for all Selection hotels in Cuba,” says Grechen Rodriguez, sales manager for Iberostar Selection Holguin.

There are four a la carte restaurants to choose from: Japanese, Mediterranean, gourmet and a steakhouse. There is also a theatre, conference centre, 24-hour doctor’s office, Star Camp for kids, and a Cigar Bar to enjoy.

David Seguí Sánchez, media marketing executive for Iberostar Cuba and Grechen Rodriguez, sales manager for Iberostar Selection Holguin

Iberostar Esmeralda

For a quieter tourist destination, Cayo Cruz is a small key in the centre-east of Cuba’s north coast, connected to the island by a 42km causeway that ends at Jigüey beach.

Here, guests can enjoy 450 rooms at Iberostar Selection Esmeralda – opened in November 2022 – and 121 rooms at the Coral Level, which opened in December 2021. Coral accommodations include Sea-view or Swim Out Coral Junior Suite, with direct access to the pool from the terrace. All guests can enjoy Playa Esmeralda and indulge in water activities such as kayaking or a catamaran ride. The 4 a la carte restaurants include Italian, Cuban, Mediterranean and gourmet. There is a neutral adult relaxing zone and serenity pool. The outdoor theatre overlooks the Selection pool and offers nightly entertainment.

Iberostar Esmeralda

Iberostar Grand Trinidad

Located in the south-central part of Cuba, Trinidad was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 because of its importance for the sugar trade. Here, visitors can enjoy a combination of nature tourism, city, culture and beach. Trinidad is not all-inclusive and runs a la carte.

“The most important message we want to convey is the quality we offer in this hotel,” says general manager, Luis Alberto Heras. “We are committed to offering satisfaction to our customers; they only have a one or two-night stay and then are off to another city.”

The building was a theatre in the 19th century and then it became the National Bank of Canada before becoming the Grand Trinidad in 2005. It holds 40 rooms, divided into two floors, featuring different categories: rooms with a terrace, junior and standard rooms which are on the interior. The lobby bar and the restaurant are on the main floor and compliment local Cuban ingredients and traditional style of cooking. In 2024, Iberostar Grand Trinidad will begin an expansion adding an additional 40 rooms, a rooftop pool, spa and gym.

Iberostar Grand Trinidad

Iberostar Ensenachos

Cayo Encenachos is a small island located off the northern coast of the province of Villa Clara. This property features 460 hotel accommodations in the Iberostar Selection Ensenachos and 46 villas (23 villas with two bedrooms), a living area, kitchen and hot tub in the Coral Level Ensenachos, mainly used for repeat guests and long-term stays.

Selection is closest to Playa Megano, which spans 1.6km long. It also houses the biggest spa in Cuba, a theatre, gym, kids club and aqua park. Playa Ensenachos is by the Coral Level extending 1km long. El Colonial Restaurante Gourmet is located inside the Coral level private check-in building and is a la carte, as is the restaurant on the beach. All reservations are arranged through the butler service at Coral Encenachos.

For more information on Iberostar Cuba click here.