Year: 2015

A quarter of a century has passed from the moment when Meliá Hotels International dropped anchor in Cuba with the opening of its first hotel, the Sol Palmeras, with an inaugural ceremony on May 10, 1990, in Varadero, until it has currently taken over first place among the foreign chains with a major presence on the Cuban archipelago. For the celebration of the hotel company’s 25th anniversary, its founder and president, Gabriel Escarrer Juliá and its vice-president Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, attended an event at Cayo Coco in honor of the newly inaugurated hotel Meliá Jardines del Rey, in the context of the official activities program of the 35th International Tourism Festival #FITCuba 2015, which took place from May 5 to 7 at Jardines del Rey.

In the morning hours of Monday, May 5, the XXXV th edition of Internacional Tourism Festival of Cuba was officially begun at Jardines del Rey. The newly inaugurated resort Meliá Jardines del Rey, the world’s largest hotel from Meliá Hotels International, served as the venue for this event, the most important event in the tourism sector of the Caribbean island. It is the first time in 35 years that a Tourism Festival has been held at a hotel complex.

Meliá Hotels International and Cuba: 25 years of history On 10 May 1990, the first hotel by Meliá Hotels International in Cuba, the Sol Palmeras opened its doors in Varadero. Since then, 25 years have passed and today, the chain boasts 25 hotels located in eight of the best tourist destinations on the island, with almost 13, 000 rooms and four of its most renowned brands: 3 Paradisus, 14 Meliá, 8 Sol and 2 Tryp.