US Newspapers Coming To Cuba Hotels Courtesy Of Airlines

Visitors and residents of Havana (and throughout the Republic of Cuba) will soon have access to the print editions of newspapers from throughout the United States as a result of the resumption of regularly-scheduled commercial airline service from the United States.

Throughout the world, properties managed by United States-based companies provide newspapers to their guests, especially guests who are members of loyalty programs.

With flights expected to operate primarily from the cities of Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Tampa, Washington DC, newspapers from those locations are expected to be transported to the Jose Marti International Airport (and other airports) each day and then distributed to hotels.  Arlington, Virginia-based USA Today is expected to have the largest distribution platform throughout the Republic of Cuba, followed by The Miami Herald, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Tampa Tribune, and The Los Angeles Times.

Stamford, Connecticut-based Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (2015 revenues exceeded US$5.7 billion) will be managing three properties in the Republic of Cuba (Gran Caribe-owned Hotel Inglaterra; Habaguanex-owned Hotel Santa Isabel and Gaviota-owned Hotel Quinta Avenida, which will be re-branded as a Four Points by Sheraton).  Gaviota is controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Republic of Cuba.

Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International (2015 revenues exceeded US$14 billion) is in discussions with Republic of Cuba government-operated companies to identify properties to manage within the Republic of Cuba.

Seattle, Washington-based Starbucks Corporation (2015 revenues exceeded US$14 billion) has a presence within many branded properties managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Marriott International.  While Starbucks will likely seek stand-alone location(s) within the Republic of Cuba, with a focus upon resort properties, there will eventually be operations within hotels- both for retail and foodservice (restaurants, room service, in-room coffee makers, etc.).  Newspapers are sold at Starbucks locations.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,270 properties in some 100 countries and over 180,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences under the renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Design Hotels, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, Element®, and the recently introduced Tribute Portfolio™. The company also boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®).

NOTE: The Libertad Act ("Helms-Burton") of 1996 authorizes individuals and companies subject to United States law to engage in direct negotiations with the government of the Republic of Cuba to settle claims registered with the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission under the auspice of the United States Department of Justice.  As a result of a series of mergers and acquisitions during the last fifty-seven years, a US$51,128,927.00 claim initially made by New York-based International Telephone & Telegraph Corporation (ITT) is now controlled by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide (and, soon, Marriott International), which can use this value as a means to secure opportunities within the Republic of Cuba.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 4,300 properties in 85 countries and territories.  Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, Bvlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 54 million members.