Cuba keeps major hotels operating in Havana and Varadero

The Cuban Ministry of Tourism released an updated list of hotels that are still open and providing services in Havana and Varadero as of June 30, 2026. The list includes a range of properties such as Tryp Habana Libre, Meliá Habana, Iberostar Selection Parque Central, Barceló Solymar, Sol Palmeras, Meliá Varadero, Iberostar Selection Varadero and many others, showing a high activation rate for the country's main tourist hubs.

The report follows decades of partnership between the Cuban government and Spanish hotel chains, which have operated under mixed‑ownership joint ventures where foreign partners typically held up to 49 % of the equity. Over time, the military‑run GAESA and its subsidiary Gaviota have taken a larger role, leading to U.S. sanctions that have limited profit repatriation for foreign investors. Despite these constraints, firms such as Iberostar and Meliá continue to manage hotels through contracts with the Ministry of Tourism or civilian entities that are not subject to sanctions.