Reprinted from Air Fulfillment Services “AFS Traveler,” June 2016
Is Cuba ready for US meeting and incentive groups? Based on the feedback from incentive program participants recently returning from Havana, the answer is yes!
“The dinners out were an incredibly unique and delicious experience. Seeing the Buena Vista Social Club was a highlight.”
“We travel frequently and without a doubt this was one of the best trips, ever. We learned a lot about Cuba while having excellent meals and wonderful entertainment.”
“My favorite activities were the Buena Vista Social Club evening, the Contemporary Art Museum, motorcycle cabs to the paladar (a fun way to see the streets of Old Havana), and the cigar factory. The cemetery tour was excellent and unusual!”
“The best activity was the visit to the cigar factory. It was very interesting to see how they were really made.”
With the easing of travel restrictions to Cuba, and number of US travelers to Cuba doubling over the last 12 months, Havana is quickly becoming a hot destination for US meeting and incentive groups.
The following is part of our interview with Scott Andrews, President of Cuba Incentive Travel Associates focused on bringing meeting and incentive groups to Cuba:
AFS: What is the level of interest in Cuba from the US meeting and incentive industry?
SA: Very strong. We are getting a lot of requests for proposals, we are bringing groups of planners to Havana for site visits, and we are selling programs and supporting the operation of the first meeting and incentive groups traveling to Cuba.
AFS: What do planners need to know who are considering Cuba for meeting or incentive groups?
SA: In some ways the process is no different than sourcing any other meeting or incentive destination, although in other ways it’s different. The biggest difference is that the state essentially owns and directly employs all the hotels, transportation companies, tour guides, tour destinations, and group venues, so the quoting process is sometimes slow.
AFS: So everything tourism related in Cuba is state owned?
SA: Almost everything. They do allow the private ownership of restaurants (called paladares), which have flourished. As a result, there is strong competition and many great food options throughout Havana. Meeting and incentive travelers are very surprised to find how good the food is, and rave about their dining experiences.
AFS: What about hotels?
SA: There are several incentive quality hotels in Havana (and none elsewhere in the country), all of which run very full. For that reason, planners interested in recommending Havana need to be willing to block space at least 12 months in advance. Starwood recently announced a partnership with the Cuban Ministry of Tourism to operate two additional high-end hotels but it will likely be one to two years, maybe more, before these new properties come on line.
AFS: What do incentive groups like to do when they come to Havana?
SA: Havana is a great incentive destination. It is a city that is not only unique in the Caribbean, it is unique in the world. The charm of the restored areas of Old Havana rivals the most beautiful historical parts of any city in Europe I have had the opportunity to see. And that’s in addition to the fantastic Caribbean vibe in the city and the genuine warmth of the Cuban people.
AFS: But what do the groups actually do?
SA: Oh wow, where do I start? City tours showcasing amazing Spanish colonial history, horse and carriage rides through Old Havana, bar crawls retracing the steps of Ernest Hemingway, rum factory tours, cigar factory tours, tons of great museums, round-the-clock live music throughout the city (including the classic Buena Vista Social Club), vintage car rides throughout Havana (and the countryside and beaches), and don’t let me forget the iconic Tropicana Cabaret.
Thank you to Air Fulfillment Services for a great interview and article. To stay updated on the latest in Cuba incentive travel, sign up for the CITA newsletter.