Cuba's 1st Potentially Five-Star, AAA Diamond Property, Kempinski Manzana La Habana, Welcomes Guests On 31 May 2017
/The Gran Hotel Kempinski Manzana La Habana may be the first property in the Republic of Cuba to earn a four or five rating from AAA and/or Forbes Travel Guide. It's first guests will check-in on 31 May 2017. The property expects to be fully-operational.
Room rates on the hotel's Internet site for a one-night stay from 9 June 2017 to 10 June 2017 range from US$440.00 (patio room) to US$720.00 (suite familiar) per night.
Gran Hotel Kempinski Manzana La Habana
Calle San Rafael (entre Monserrate y Zulueta)
La Habana Vieja , 10100, Havana Cuba
Reservations.lahabana@kempinski.com
https://www.kempinski.com/en/havana/gran-hotel-kempinski-la-habana/
Geneva, Switzerland-based Kempinski Hotels SA has a management contract with Republic of Cuba government-operated Gaviota SA., controlled by Republic of Cuba government-operated Grupo de Administracion Empresarial S.A. (Enterprise Management Group), or GAESA, which is, in turn, controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the Republic of Cuba (FAR).
Kempinski Hotels SA operates seventy-five (75) five-star properties in thirty (30) countries. The Bangkok, Thailand-based Thailand Crown Property Bureau has a majority shareholding in Kempinski AG, which owns Kempinski Hotels SA.
From the Kempinski Hotels Internet site: "Originally built between 1894 and 1917 as the first European style shopping arcade in Cuba, Gran Hotel Kempinski Manzana La Habana is situated in the heart of the old Havana with a direct view of the Capitol and the Great Theatre of Havana and amidst UNESCO World Heritage sites. The famous Castillo del Morro is accessible within a 10 minute drive. Experience the first true luxury hotel in Cuba and indulge yourself while staying in one of our 246 large rooms or suites with extra high ceilings and French windows opening out to the old city. Experience a variety of restaurants and bars, which also includes a one of a kind cigar lounge and a roof top Panoramic Restaurant and Bar with spectacular views over the old city. Relax in our spa, fitness center and rooftop pool."
The value of the renovation project has been estimated as US$30 million to US$50 million.
There are no properties in the Republic of Cuba that currently achieve a AAA Four Diamond Award or AAA Five Diamond Award from the Heathrow, Florida-based AAA (formerly American Automobile Association) or a Four-Star Rating or Five-Star Rating from the Atlanta, Georgia-based Forbes Travel Guide. Neither AAA nor Forbes Travel Guide have rated any properties in the Republic of Cuba. From AAA: "AAA’s Diamond Rating System does not cover Cuba at this time."
From Forbes Travel Guide: "At this time we do not have any star rated hotels in Cuba though we continue to watch the destination with interest and look forward to launching the country as a new market in the not too distant future. We are really waiting for the hotel infrastructure to generate levels of service that would qualify them to be considered for an evaluation and potential Star Award. We have not sent any inspectors into Cuba at this time for this reason though have already made high level visits by members of our Executive office." The Chief Executive Officer of Forbes Travel Guide, Gerald J. Inzerillo, visited the Republic of Cuba in 2016.
Properties rated five-stars in the Republic of Cuba generally equate with one-star to three-star properties in the United States.
