US sanctions compel Meliá and Iberostar to withdraw from Cuban hotels

In May 2026 the United States expanded sanctions targeting the Cuban military‑run tourism conglomerate GAESA and its subsidiary Grupo de Turismo Gaviota. The measures prohibit American transactions with entities linked to the Cuban armed forces and expose firms to Helms‑Burton claims.

Spanish hotel operators Meliá Hotels International and Iberostar Hotels & Resorts announced they are exiting a total of 27 hotels owned by Gaviota. Meliá will cease operations at 15 properties, while Iberostar will end management of 12 hotels but will continue to run six others owned by different Cuban state owners. The withdrawal comes as Cuba’s tourism sector suffers a 48% drop in visitor numbers and a loss of about 14,000 rooms, deepening the island’s economic strain.

Industry analysts note that the sanctions also threaten the hotels’ ability to handle dollar transactions and could trigger billions of euros in Helms‑Burton claims. James Hepple of Tourism Analytics described GAESA as "a state within a state" that controls significant economic assets, underscoring the broader impact of the sanctions on both Cuban tourism and the Spanish hotel groups’ global operations.