Overview

The U.S. - Cuba Travel Summit is a timely opportunity for executives of the U.S. travel sector to meet and learn the potential in Cuba directly and personally from Cuban travel officials and specialists. Executives from all participating companies will have the chance for meetings with their Cuban counterparts to discuss their own business objectives. This will be a unique occasion for all players from the U.S. and Cuba to be together in one place to exchange information about the potential in Cuba and the services that U.S. firms can provide.

 

"As sponsor of the “Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act” to allow all Americans to visit Cuba, I wish the participants the very best when they come together in Cancun at the US-Cuba Travel Summit. This meeting between US travel executives and their Cuban counterparts is a valuable first step for American companies and organizations to learn how things will work when Cuba is open to American tourism." ~ Senator Byron Dorgan (D. ND)

 

Topics to be covered at the U.S. - Cuba Travel Summit will include:

• What is the business potential?
• Practicalities about how to prepare for such business
• What is it like dealing with Cuban business executives – case studies
• What about longer term investment opportunities
• What does Cuba offer? What is available in Havana, at Varadero, in the interior, on the
  surrounding island keys, specialty destinations, cruise ships, scuba diving, ecotourism, Santiago and Oriente, Old Havana, Fresh water fishing, birding tours, marina facilities, deep sea fishing, music and art, museums, and conventions.?
• What are the prospects for a change in U.S. laws?
• How you can help open up travel?

If you are interested in a topic not listed, email us, and we will see that it is included.

 

"A real opener for us to doing business with Cuba was to participate in one of the Kirby Jones-facilitated business summits when it was not fashionable to do so. This helped us understand how business was being done between the Cuban government and other trading partners. It gave us as a company the opportunity to meet and talk with the business executives of today's Cuba - the ministers of the Cuban government." ~ Michael Hopkins, Vice President, Crowley Liner Services

 

Representatives of the following entities in Cuba will participate in Cancun::

Cuban Officials:
Manuel Marrero Cruz - Minister of Tourism
Ambassador Jorge Bolanos - Chief, Cuban Interests Section
Joel Archer - First Vice Minister of Transportation
Argimiro Ojeda - First Vice President,Cuban Iinstitute of Civil Aeronautics
Jose Manuel Bisbe - Commercial Director, Ministry of Tourism
Miguel Figueras - Advisor to Minister of Tourism
Johanna Tablada - Deputy Director, Dep't of North Americia, Ministry of Foreign Relations
Eddy Padron - Dep't. of United States, Ministery of Foreign Relations
Katia Alonzo - Director, Ministry of Foreign Trade & Investment

Cuban travel and tourism operators:
Luis Miguel Diaz Escrich - President, Marinas Marlin
Jose Miguel Diaz - President, Cubanacan
Xiomara Martinez - President, Havanatur
Abelardo Fernandez - President, Palmares
Luis E. Sotolongo - President, San Cristobal
Norma Estrada - Vice President, Gran Caribe
Rigoberto Julia - Vice President, Gaviota
Jose Angel Trevino - Commercial Director, Havanatur
Maria Antonia Sene - Commercial Director, Cubanacan

Representatives of Foreign Hotel Operators in Cuba:
Sol Melia
Occidental
Oasis
Hotels C
Barcelo

Legal Notice:

To comply fully with all regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury, we are not using a U.S. owned hotel and are not paying any of the expenses of the Cuban delegation in Cancun nor are we organizing or arranging a trip to Cuba as part of this event.