TORONTO — The Cuba Tourism Board has named Lessner Gomez the new Director of the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto.

With over 25 years of experience in the travel industry, and with the goal of working together to help increase the number of Canadian visitors to Cuba, Lessner says he is looking forward to working closely with all Cuba’s travel partners and the continued strengthening of relationships with Canadian tour operators, travel advisors, hotel partners and travel media.

“The Canadian market has always been very important for Cuba, but now more than ever it is a priority, my priority,” said Lessner Gomez, Director, Cuba Tourist Board. “I have worked closely with this market for years and I hope from my new position to continue supporting all our associates and strengthen relations with all travel agencies, tour operators and press to work together to increase the number of visitors from Canada to Cuba.”

Armed with a tourism diploma from the Ciego de Avila University, Lessner began his career in Cayo Coco. For the last five years, Lessner has been the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Tourism office in the Ciego de Avila province. Before that, Lessner covered a variety of different positions at several hotels in Cayo Coco, including the entertainment team, quality control manager and sales manager.

Lessner says working for so many years in Cayo Coco, where Canadians account for the majority of the tourist business, has allowed him to familiarize himself with the needs of the Canadian market.

For the past several years the Cuba Tourism Office’s operations here have been headed up by Eloy Govea, Director of the Cuba Tourism Office in Toronto.

Last week Cuba’s Tourism Minister, Manuel Marrero, was in Toronto to tell the trade that contrary to reports about fuel shortages impacting resort operations, Cuba’s resorts are open and ready to welcome Canadian vacationers this winter.

“We thank Canada, we’ve had so many years in Canada,” said Marrero.

By the end of 2019 Cuba will have some 4,000 new resort rooms, with more on the way for 2020. New and renovated hotels and resorts include the SO/ Paseo del Prado La Habana; the Melia Internacional (formerly the historic Internacional), Gran Hotel Bristol by Kempinski, Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski, Paradisus Los Cayos and Grand Muthu.