In the midst of one of the deepest crises Cuba has experienced in decades, characterized by prolonged blackouts, chronic food shortages, and a shattered purchasing power, the tourism conglomerate Gaviota—belonging to the military holding GAESA—celebrated the reopening of a high-standard hotel facility in Varadero, one of the country's main tourist destinations.
Through Facebook, Gaviota announced the reopening of a "completely remodeled" hotel that will now be managed by the Italian chain Domina, presented as a new "tourist product" that promises luxury, comfort, and exclusive experiences by the sea.
According to the post, the facility features renovated dining areas, recreational zones, resting spaces, and privileged views of the ocean, all designed to attract visitors looking for "authenticity" and high-end amenities in Cuba's main resort.
"Welcome to Domina Marina Varadero!" proclaimed the state-owned company, inviting travelers to "discover" this new phase of the resort.
For its part, the Italian chain described the venue as a space where "every detail reflects excellence and exclusivity."
On Facebook, he shared images of some of the resort's rooms.
"Discover the place where every sunrise shines brighter than the sun, Varadero has a new secret: Domina Marina," she expressed.
However, the promotional enthusiasm contrasts sharply with the reality experienced by the majority of Cubans.
While resources are being invested in tourist facilities aimed at foreign visitors, thousands of families face power outages lasting more than 12 to 20 hours, empty markets, uncontrolled inflation, and salaries that are barely enough to cover basic necessities.
Change of owner in the dark?
Although the official announcement does not mention the change of ownership, Cuban internet users identified the property as the former Meliá Marina Varadero, raising questions about the change in management.
"Why did Meliá leave him?" one person asked.
Another person, who claimed to have worked on the installation, noted that the previous management had neglected it greatly and expressed hope that the new administration would succeed in "reviving it."
"I had the pleasure of visiting it several times between 2018 and 2019, and it was truly fantastic. Then I was told that after COVID, it was not even a shadow of what it once was," noted a resident of Havana.
The Meliá Marina Varadero, a resort with all-inclusive features, was the twenty-sixth accommodation that Meliá Hotels International opened in Cuba.
Inaugurated in 2013, the complex featured a five-star hotel with 423 rooms, as well as 26 apartments located in condominium buildings. It also included a diving center, a catamaran terminal, and marina services (docking and mooring).
But years later, it was no longer even a shadow of what it once was.
In 2024, a Canadian family that booked a vacation there reported that the deplorable state of the hotel made their experience a true nightmare.
In the common areas, the hallways were dimly lit, there were cigarette butts everywhere, stains on the walls, and elevators out of service. In the room, it was worse: bloodstains on the sheets, dirt everywhere, and a toilet that didn't work.
"Broken tiles on the ceiling, dark hallways, and stains on the walls and doors, everything decrepit and falling apart. Everything dirty," described the tourist.
Another luxury hotel, for whom?
Beyond the change of ownership, the reopening of the hotel brings to light a policy that has shaped the government's economic strategy for years: the almost exclusive focus on international tourism, even as visitor numbers have declined and dozens of hotels remain half-empty or with occupancy levels far below what is needed to be profitable.
Nevertheless, the construction, renovation, and reopening of tourist complexes continues, channeling investments into a sector largely controlled by the military apparatus, while essential areas such as food production, electricity generation, and public transportation remain mired in decline.
In this context, the reopening of Domina Marina Varadero not only represents another luxury enclave on the northern coast of Matanzas but also symbolizes the economic model that prioritizes tourism revenue managed by GAESA, while the country is experiencing a social emergency affecting millions of citizens every day.
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