Carley Rojas Avila, Wealth of Geeks
On your next vacation, skip the hotel and stay in the home of a local. This sounds like the tagline of Airbnb, doesn’t it? But what if I told you that Cuba, of all places, popularized this unique stay experience first?
What for many years was one of the only options for travelers visiting the island has transformed into a rapidly diversifying hospitality industry on the island that seems held back by nothing when it comes to innovating — and fast.
From eco-lodges and Old Havana boutique hotels to gleaming, modern city resorts by some of the world’s top hotel brands, Cuba’s hospitality scene seems to have finally caught up to demand — and at just the right time of what seems to be a new wave in travel to Cuba.
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Travel renaissance
Cuba’s post-pandemic tourism industry is recovering very slowly, even as many neighboring Caribbean islands report record-breaking arrival numbers, some exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
But Cuba’s future looks bright again. This year, the country claimed TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best distinction for culture-focused travel. Pioneering travel brands like Abercrombie & Kent and Geographic Expeditions recently announced plans to introduce brand new tours to Havana and beyond within the next few months.
Cuba’s newest generation of guesthouses, hotels, and resorts leads the way. For years, visitors to Cuba could only stay at one of the tourist-only all-inclusive resorts or book a casa particular — a rentable room within a local’s home. Now, travelers can find everything from basic farmhouse-style accommodations on tobacco farms to overwater bungalows suspended over some of the world’s best beaches.
The change is particularly noticeable in Havana, where renowned luxury hospitality leaders share space with tiny, locally-grown boutique hotels. “Now is really the right time to visit Havana,” says Fernando Castillo, operations director of Blue Diamond Cuba. “To see the historic city of Old Havana and the innovation of the new generation coexist in the same moment is something special; you won’t see anything like it anywhere else.”
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Royalton Habana
The glittering glass and metal tower comprising Royalton Habana sits where Havana’s emblematic entrance once was. The resort is a leader among Havana’s new guard of hotels.
Though it opened in 2019, Blue Diamond Cuba acquired and rebranded the resort as a Royalton property in 2022. The move was part of the Canadian brand’s splashy Cuban expansion. The additions include a slew of tip-to-toe hotel refurbishments in destinations like Cayo Largo del Sur and the launch of Cayo Cruz’s adults-only Sanctuary White Sands.
Come November, Blue Diamond will introduce eight Resonance Hotels in some of the country’s most desirable destinations. These continued developments and renovations express an unfettered optimism about Cuba’s tourism growth.
Royalton Habana guests immediately recognize the resort as Blue Diamond’s crown jewel. Surfaces sparkle and shine, complementing the space’s sleek furnishings and elevated atmosphere. The clean, crisp aesthetic spans from the modern atrium to the resort’s 250 rooms and suites, all offering larger-than-life spaces and amenities. Soaking tub users can also soak in the sun in their spectacular seaside seats.
The property’s state-of-the-art gym means wellness-minded guests can complete workouts with uninterrupted ocean views, a salon, and an upscale yet intimate spa complete with a “hammam” or Turkish bath.
While the property feels separated from Havana’s hustle and bustle, it remains proximal to other optimal city offerings. The property’s ninth-floor terrace and bar are popular among locals for its sweeping ocean views and fun, festive atmosphere. The hotel’s upper viewing platform offers sweeping 360-degree city views. The 16th-century Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, a Spanish colonial architecture gem, feels close enough to touch.
Royalton Habana is the first “city resort” among Royalton properties. It is a departure from the all-inclusive beach resorts that catapulted Blue Diamond to its position as the Caribbean’s fastest-growing resort chain. Just a few years ago, visitors could not access anything like Royalton Habana in the capital or anywhere on the island. Now, they are at the forefront of Cuba’s new tourism era.
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Havana’s unending Mystique
Royalton also offers Mystique Habana by Royalton, a boutique property in Havana set within an early 20th-century property in the heart of Old Havana. The exorbitant resort contains just 61 rooms and suites but boasts high ceilings, original wood details, and a stunning rooftop space with a restaurant and bar, offering some of the city’s best views.
Mystique Habana caters to those longing for a genuine encounter with Old Havana’s gentle, historic charm. The city’s essence has long attracted writers, artists, and hopeless romantics who fall in love with the sounds and sights of a one-of-a-kind capital that remains deeply rooted in an increasingly modern city.
The brand’s intimate understanding of and catering toward Havana travelers’ increasing diversity reflects their continued investment in the city. “Havana is a constant process, constantly changing and also constantly the same,” says Castillo. “In that way, it’s like no other destination travelers will ever experience, and really does have something for everyone to experience.” For many travelers, the time to experience Havana is finally here.
What for many years was one of the only options for travelers visiting the island has transformed into a rapidly diversifying hospitality industry on the island that seems held back by nothing when it comes to innovating — and fast.
From eco-lodges and Old Havana boutique hotels to gleaming, modern city resorts by some of the world’s top hotel brands, Cuba’s hospitality scene seems to have finally caught up to demand — and at just the right time of what seems to be a new wave in travel to Cuba.
—————
Travel renaissance
Cuba’s post-pandemic tourism industry is recovering very slowly, even as many neighboring Caribbean islands report record-breaking arrival numbers, some exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
But Cuba’s future looks bright again. This year, the country claimed TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best distinction for culture-focused travel. Pioneering travel brands like Abercrombie & Kent and Geographic Expeditions recently announced plans to introduce brand new tours to Havana and beyond within the next few months.
Cuba’s newest generation of guesthouses, hotels, and resorts leads the way. For years, visitors to Cuba could only stay at one of the tourist-only all-inclusive resorts or book a casa particular — a rentable room within a local’s home. Now, travelers can find everything from basic farmhouse-style accommodations on tobacco farms to overwater bungalows suspended over some of the world’s best beaches.
The change is particularly noticeable in Havana, where renowned luxury hospitality leaders share space with tiny, locally-grown boutique hotels. “Now is really the right time to visit Havana,” says Fernando Castillo, operations director of Blue Diamond Cuba. “To see the historic city of Old Havana and the innovation of the new generation coexist in the same moment is something special; you won’t see anything like it anywhere else.”
—————
Royalton Habana
The glittering glass and metal tower comprising Royalton Habana sits where Havana’s emblematic entrance once was. The resort is a leader among Havana’s new guard of hotels.
Though it opened in 2019, Blue Diamond Cuba acquired and rebranded the resort as a Royalton property in 2022. The move was part of the Canadian brand’s splashy Cuban expansion. The additions include a slew of tip-to-toe hotel refurbishments in destinations like Cayo Largo del Sur and the launch of Cayo Cruz’s adults-only Sanctuary White Sands.
Come November, Blue Diamond will introduce eight Resonance Hotels in some of the country’s most desirable destinations. These continued developments and renovations express an unfettered optimism about Cuba’s tourism growth.
Royalton Habana guests immediately recognize the resort as Blue Diamond’s crown jewel. Surfaces sparkle and shine, complementing the space’s sleek furnishings and elevated atmosphere. The clean, crisp aesthetic spans from the modern atrium to the resort’s 250 rooms and suites, all offering larger-than-life spaces and amenities. Soaking tub users can also soak in the sun in their spectacular seaside seats.
The property’s state-of-the-art gym means wellness-minded guests can complete workouts with uninterrupted ocean views, a salon, and an upscale yet intimate spa complete with a “hammam” or Turkish bath.
While the property feels separated from Havana’s hustle and bustle, it remains proximal to other optimal city offerings. The property’s ninth-floor terrace and bar are popular among locals for its sweeping ocean views and fun, festive atmosphere. The hotel’s upper viewing platform offers sweeping 360-degree city views. The 16th-century Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, a Spanish colonial architecture gem, feels close enough to touch.
Royalton Habana is the first “city resort” among Royalton properties. It is a departure from the all-inclusive beach resorts that catapulted Blue Diamond to its position as the Caribbean’s fastest-growing resort chain. Just a few years ago, visitors could not access anything like Royalton Habana in the capital or anywhere on the island. Now, they are at the forefront of Cuba’s new tourism era.
—————
Havana’s unending Mystique
Royalton also offers Mystique Habana by Royalton, a boutique property in Havana set within an early 20th-century property in the heart of Old Havana. The exorbitant resort contains just 61 rooms and suites but boasts high ceilings, original wood details, and a stunning rooftop space with a restaurant and bar, offering some of the city’s best views.
Mystique Habana caters to those longing for a genuine encounter with Old Havana’s gentle, historic charm. The city’s essence has long attracted writers, artists, and hopeless romantics who fall in love with the sounds and sights of a one-of-a-kind capital that remains deeply rooted in an increasingly modern city.
The brand’s intimate understanding of and catering toward Havana travelers’ increasing diversity reflects their continued investment in the city. “Havana is a constant process, constantly changing and also constantly the same,” says Castillo. “In that way, it’s like no other destination travelers will ever experience, and really does have something for everyone to experience.” For many travelers, the time to experience Havana is finally here.
