Gaviota, the leading hotel subsidiary of the military conglomerate GAESA, admitted on Friday that merely 3,470 out of their reported 30,000 rooms are currently in operation.
Elia Elena Cortés, the Sales Director for Gaviota Tourism Group, disclosed this information to Cuba's state-run media. This figure represents a mere 11.6% of the company's total lodging capacity.
The functioning rooms are located in the tourist hotspots of western and central Cuba, including Havana, Varadero, Topes de Collantes, and Santa María. "This has allowed us to focus our services and supplies to enhance our customer service," Cortés mentioned.
This revelation was made during a conference at the Hotel Paseo del Prado in Havana, where they announced the opening of a new luxury resort to tour operators.
The new resort, Hotel Playa Luxury Varadero, will feature 85 high-end rooms exclusively for adults. The official highlighted the hotel's main attraction as its prime location. "Hotel Playa Luxury Varadero is situated at the tip of the Hicacos Peninsula, in a slightly secluded area known as Cayo Libertad, offering a unique charm," she added.
Frank País Oltuski Rodríguez, the group's Vice President, acknowledged that reopening other destinations during peak season would depend on "the country's situation and U.S. sanctions." He added, "Our clients deserve not to miss out on Cuba."
The announcement comes after the regime's longstanding strategy of focusing on hotel construction as a foreign currency generator, while hospitals, housing, and the electrical grid continued to deteriorate.
Cuba hosted only 450,353 international tourists from January to August 2026, marking a sharp 64.4% decrease in sector activity compared to the same period the previous year.
Major foreign hotel chains withdrew from the country in 2026 following Washington's heightened sanctions against GAESA and the Ministry of Tourism.
Meliá, Iberostar, and Barceló ceased operations in Cuba. Additionally, Air Canada, Iberia, Air France, and Turkish Airlines halted their flights due to the fuel crisis and a drop in travel demand to the island.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero acknowledged before the National Assembly in late July that 73% of the country's hotel facilities remained closed, leaving approximately 25,000 hotel workers without assigned tasks.
Key Factors Impacting Cuba's Tourism Industry
Why is only a small percentage of Gaviota's hotel rooms operational?
Gaviota has only 3,470 out of their 30,000 rooms operational due to focusing their resources on key tourist areas to enhance service quality amidst economic challenges and U.S. sanctions.
What impact did U.S. sanctions have on foreign hotel chains in Cuba?
U.S. sanctions led major foreign hotel chains like Meliá, Iberostar, and Barceló to cease operations in Cuba due to increased economic pressure and logistical challenges.
How has the tourism sector in Cuba performed in recent years?
Cuba's tourism sector has seen a significant decline, with only 450,353 international tourists visiting from January to August 2026, a 64.4% drop compared to the previous year.