New additions reaffirm hotel group's commitment to growth and luxury offerings
The vice-president of marketing for Cuban tourism powerhouse Gaviota says his company is continuing to bolster its presence throughout Cuba, including its capital. Frank Pais Oltuski told a late April Havana audience that that city is one of many parts of the country where Gaviota is opening new accommodation options for tourists.
“Gaviota has a significant presence here, among the most recently opened new hotels and the more traditional Habaguanex brand in the historic centre, some 20 beautiful establishments that are true gems of our colonial architecture. So, this is one of our group’s most important work locations, a socioeconomic and cultural center of the country with a rich heritage and deep-rooted traditions, people of proverbial hospitality whose ability to overcome and move forward has overcome all tests over time, with hard work, a fighting spirit, and inexhaustible optimism,” said Pais Oltuski, speaking during Cuba’s annual tourism show FITCuba. “Precisely for this reason, we are here today. Because we have not sat idly by.”
Cuba has had to cope with a downturn in its economy during the past year, which Pais Oltuski acknowledged. But he added that Gaviota is committed to guaranting an “optimal level of response and quality in our operations throughout the country that has prevailed. Overcoming every obstacle, growing, and drawing the necessary experiences from each moment, without paralyzing ourselves, without anything stopping us. That’s why there are achievements and there will be recovery, without a doubt. And I want to emphasize that this isn’t excessive optimism, but rather the conviction that serious and coordinated work always yields encouraging results…I can assure you that Cuba, with its history, its culture, its natural attractions, its people, and its excellent tourism infrastructure, will recover despite all the campaigns and all the adversities. You can be sure of that, and we’re counting on you for that.”
New Gaviota hotels have opened in different parts of Cuba over the last 12 months, facilities have been renovated, and new products have been introduced that Pais Oltuski said have captured the attention of Gaviota customers.
“Among these, for example, the Hotel Playa Luxury Cayo Guillermo, in Jardines del Rey, a must-see for its services, exquisite location at the foot of Pilar Beach, and superior amenities; luxury sections have been opened at the Playa Vista Azul Hotels in Varadero; Playa Cayo Santa María, in Cayo Santa María; and Playa Pesquero, in Holguín,” Pais Oltuski reported. “This new product concept reaffirms Gaviota’s commitment to diversifying and expanding options that add a qualitative boost to its offerings, opening the door to higher standards with personalized attention for the full enjoyment of guests seeking a luxurious and exclusive experience.
“I should add that just a few weeks ago, we opened the Playa Punta Hicacos hotel in Varadero, a five-star all-inclusive resort with renovated facilities, a privileged setting, an excellent beach, and a tranquil atmosphere, with the added advantage of being just steps from the Las Morlas Tourist Plaza and Marina Gaviota. The Luxury brand will also be present here in the area formerly known as Cayo Libertad, an exclusive area of the hotel that we will also be incorporating into our Varadero offerings in the coming weeks.
“We have also worked on creating innovative options for families, such as the new Playa Kids product, designed for children’s enjoyment with a more comprehensive approach to services, spaces, and environments tailored to this very special segment, personalized rooms, and children’s entertainment and recreation programs, along with the attention of trained teams to provide them with the best care. Currently, it is available at the Playa Cayo Santa María hotel, but will gradually expand to other territories.”
Pais Oltuski reported that the One Gallery hotel will also soon incorporate its The One Collection section, with a focus on exclusivity and personalized luxury.
“All of this is accompanied by multiple parallel efforts on all possible fronts, from general logistics to employee training, market support, and ongoing monitoring of operations hotel by hotel, with a high capacity to respond to contingencies and unforeseen events,” he added. “There are tangible achievements. We have negotiated and secured new air operations that support arrivals to Cayo Santa María from Spain and Portugal. Operations from the Czech Republic are being consolidated. Travel flows from our main market, Canada, are evolving with the implementation of new flights and providing differentiated service to this source with a special advertising campaign. The management of the online sales joint venture, HOTEL TEC, is continuing to be strengthened, expanding its services in line with the growth and availability of products and offerings from Gaviota and other chains.
“We are currently implementing options to attract more Chinese tourists and are working to create conditions better adapted to their consumption habits with the support of the joint venture Cuba China International Travel Development.”
Pais Oltuski said Gaviota continues to work in all its destinations with “determination and the firmest commitment to live up to our customers’ expectations, with the hospitality that distinguishes us and without ceasing in the search for new ideas, projects, products, business models, initiatives, and proposals that generate greater appeal and satisfaction. The Nativa and Tradiciones gastronomic lines, which revealed to the world the most authentic flavors and dishes of Cuban cuisine, turning food into a new way to connect with Cuba, continue to be eloquent examples of this.”
Pais Oltuski used the event to thank Gaviota’s international partner chains for their support, particularly those that recently joined and or will soon join Gaviota.
Meanwhile, Pais Oltuski reported that the 7th Gaviota Destinations Tourism Exchange will be held in Cayo Santa María from Sept. 15-20, which will be part of what he called a “grand relaunch of the destination,” with new attractions, improvements, and personalized spaces.
