"Astonishing It's Not Completely Looted: The Abandoned Cayo Coco Hotel's Current State"

Content creator Abelito Nemo recently shared a visual exploration on social media of the decaying remains of the once-prominent Hotel Emperador, previously known as Senador, Cristal Laguna, and NH Cristal Laguna. This hotel, located in Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávila province, has been left in complete disrepair after various managements, including Cubanacán, NH Hotels, and Iberostar, operated it over the years.

"We are about to enter this facility, walking through this path; this is the statue symbolizing Hotel Emperador, which was formerly Hotel Senador, then Cristal Laguna, and later Ibero Star Cayo Coco," Abelito Nemo narrates at the start of the video on his TikTok profile, @abelitonemo. Throughout the tour, Nemo reveals collapsed ceilings, spaces overtaken by nature, and structures in shambles.

The Ravages of Nature and Neglect

"This hotel has changed hands multiple times [...] this area seemed to have been the bar, pavilion, and café section, but now nothing remains," he explains. "Unfortunately, nature has reclaimed this entire area," he remarks while showcasing the dilapidated state of the rooms. "It's miraculous that not everything has been stolen," he adds.

According to his account, the facility suffered severe damage from Hurricane Irma in September 2017 and has remained non-operational since. "There were supposed to be renovations underway, but everything halted when Hurricane Irma hit the island in September 2017," he recounts. "I doubt it will ever be possible to restore it; it seems destined to remain derelict like many other facilities," he opines.

Tourism in Crisis

In another post, Abelito Nemo displays the pool area and delves into the broader situation of tourism on the island: "Looking at this devastation, one wonders why new tourist facilities continue to be built in the country, especially amid the worst economic crisis the island has ever faced," he notes. "It's also impossible to ignore the declining number of tourists visiting the country each year, falling well below expectations," he adds. "This is what's left of Hotel Emperador after Hurricane Irma's destruction in 2017," he concludes.

The posts sparked numerous comments from users expressing sadness, outrage, and criticism of the government's neglect. Many recalled working at or visiting the site, while others decried the lack of maintenance, the continuous decay of Cuba's tourist facilities, and the disparity between official rhetoric and reality.

Tourism Investment Decline and Economic Priorities

Recent statistics from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) reveal that investments in hotels and restaurants accounted for only 4.7% of the total so far in 2025, a significant drop from 11.3% the previous year. In contrast, the electricity, gas, and water sector received 33.6% of investments, indicating a shift in priorities amid a systemic crisis. This situation contradicts official statements claiming that tourism remains a priority.

The decline in visitor arrivals has been equally stark. From January to June this year, 981,000 international travelers visited the country, a 25% decrease from the same period in 2024. Hotel occupancy plummeted to a critical 21.5%, one of the lowest in the region. Such data underscores what has been described as a hotel mirage fueled by billions in poorly allocated investments.

Moreover, cumulative statistics through July confirm that only 76.8% of international tourists who arrived in 2024 have returned this year, indicating a structural contraction in the tourism industry, exacerbated by the lack of conditions to attract visitors in a competitive environment.

As empty hotels proliferate, public criticism grows over the neglect of vital sectors such as health, housing, and food. The case of Hotel Emperador is just one among many. Yet its image—now overgrown and forgotten—has become a metaphor for a tourism model that can no longer sustain even its own ruins.