HAVANA 500: National Hotel celebrates 88 years of its foundation

The Hotel Nacional of Cuba celebrated its 88th anniversary on December 30th with satisfactory results, registering 200,000 tourist-days this year, 12 percent more than in 2017.Antonio Martinez Rodriguez, its general director, announced in a press conference that the income is around 26 million pesos, thanks to the efforts and initiatives put into practice by the workers.

During the year 2018, the staff has kept majority of its 426 rooms,and other lounges areas in exploitation, and in spite of the US government campaign aimed at discouraging the trips of nationals to Cuba, they managed to have near 80 % of occupation with other markets, while more than 50 % of guests repeat their stay.

The emblematic hotel facility greets Havana's 500th anniversary next November, with the improvement of the rooms and the restoration of halls and other areas, in addition to the fact that they will dedicate various cultural shows, including that of their Parisian cabaret, to such an important event.

Since 2004 and until 2017 it has been chosen as the country's leader by the World Travel Awards, considered as the Oscar of the leisure industry in the world, since the award is granted through a voting process, together with a global participation campaign that includes experts and specialists involved in tourism.

Due to its history, cultural and social values it treasures multiple attributes, and in 1982, when UNESCO declared Havana Cultural Heritage of Humanity, such a high distinction also encompassed this emblematic installation.

In its gardens are preserved cannons of the colonial defensive system, and a more recent era, tunnels and trenches reminiscent of the October Crisis or the Missile Crisis of 1962.

In addition to its attractions is its Hall of Fame, with photos of the celebrities who stayed there since the 1930s, as well as the menu preferred by 200 illustrious foreign guests.

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