TORONTO — Booking.com is jumping on the bandwagon to Cuba with the announcement that it will become the first online U.S. travel brand to offer instantly bookable hotel properties for certain U.S. citizens travelling to the island nation.

After months of negotiation with Cuban authorities and local hotels, the online travel company has announced that the first properties will be ready to book in the coming weeks.

The news follows the recent loosening of restrictions for U.S. travellers to Cuba, and means that Cuba will soon become instantly bookable for U.S. travellers who meet the criteria currently approved by the U.S. government. At the outset, properties will be available in Havana, with plans to increase the number of properties in the city and beyond on a daily basis.

“Cuba is a beautiful, culture-rich country that many travellers are keen to visit,” said Todd Dunlap, Managing Director, Americas, Booking.com. “At Booking.com, we are on a constant mission to bring our customers everything they want to help them experience the world. With the news of the easing of U.S. travel restrictions, we began working immediately with the local Cuban government, tourism authorities and our local hotel partners to launch the first platform to allow travellers to book and confirm instantly with the click of a button.”