By the Caribbean Journal staff
A leading Asian resort company is in the midst of a major expansion in Cuba.
Archipelago International, the largest independent hotel company in Southeast Asia, is adding two resorts in Cuba, the company said.
Archipelago has already signed a management contract for the rebranded Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas Beach Resort in Cuba, following a signing ceremony in Havana.
The Grand Aston.
The Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas Resort and Spa is set on Las Brujas among the cays of northern Cuba, adjacent to the popular Cayo Santa Maria.
The property has a total of 727 rooms and suites, along with five pools, a fitness center and a Balinese-style spa.
“Archipelago has been brought in to maximize the potential of this wonderful new resort and will apply its proven operational, technical and training capabilities,” said Gerard Byrne, Managing Director, Archipelago Overseas. “The resort will provide guests with a multitude of choices and experiences throughout their stay, and will imbue a sense of our Southeast Asian heritage.”
Archipelago has more than 145 hotels across Asia, India and now the Caribbean, under brands like Aston, Huxley, Alana and Neo, among others.
And the company has another property on the way in Cuba.
The company said it was planning another new resort in Cuba, with the Grand Aston Varadero already under construction and expected to open its doors in the country’s all-inclusive hub of Varadero in 2021.
“We are delighted to debut in Cuba,” said John Flood, President & CEO, Archipelago International. “Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas Beach Resort & Spa is a truly remarkable resort. Cuban hospitality services, combined with international management expertise, will ensure a memorable all-inclusive experience for its guests.”
While Cuba’s tourism outlook has been clouded by recently tightened travel restrictions, the country has a burgeoning pipeline of hotels on the way from brands ranging from Banyan Tree to Kempinski’s new overwater resort to the continued growth of Spanish hotel giant Melia in the country.
For more, visit Archipelago.
— CJ