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The Iberostar Selection La Habana hotel, located in the skyscraper on 23rd Avenue known as Torre K, has closed its doors “due to the situation in the country,” according to the custodian of the property who spoke to 14ymedio. The duration of this closure was not clear at the time of publication, and it also affects the external café on the ground floor.
The information provided by journalist Juan Diego Rodríguez, in the independent newspaper 14ymedio, indicates that there were no flags on the poles at the main entrance of the hotel, a detail that, according to the report, suggests a decision that goes beyond a temporary interruption.
Asked about the situation, the guard—who was out of uniform—told the media that he did not know when the facility would reopen and attributed the closure to the country's overall situation.
The closure does not only affect the accommodation. The Avenida 23 café, located on the ground floor of the building and usually open to the general public, not just hotel guests, also remained closed.
According to the same custodian, "the only thing that remains open within the hotel is the bank, until 12 noon," although Rodríguez's text clarifies that he did not specify which bank he was referring to and that there is no branch listed among the services offered on the official website of the establishment.
The closure occurs amidst the energy crisis affecting Cuba.
The report from 14ymedio recalls that, just two days earlier, sources connected to Aguas de La Habana had revealed to 14ymedio that, due to the lack of electricity, the state-run company would stop pumping water to the capital for at least 48 hours.
An employee mentioned in the note summarized the impact of that situation with a phrase: “Everything that runs on motors, including the K Tower, is just for show.”
Although the hotel has its own generators and has managed to maintain electricity even during severe blackouts and complete failures of the national power supply system, that equipment relies on fuel oil.
The text emphasizes that fuel is experiencing a moment of extreme scarcity, following more than two months without the arrival of a tanker in Cuba.
In that context, the operation of a high-consumption facility like Torre K would be compromised despite having autonomous electrical backup.
Relocations and questions
According to posts on social media mentioned in the 14ymedio report, the tourists who were at the hotel were said to have been moved to the Hotel Packard on Paseo del Prado.
However, the report clarifies that there is no confirmation that there were guests at that time.
It also adds that the K Tower had been burdened with an image of a "ghost hotel" since its opening due to a lack of guests, a situation that the outlet claims to have verified during a visit made three months after the inauguration.
The article notes that even the observation deck on the 41st floor, one of the building's main attractions and the highest point in Havana, failed to draw in enough visitors.
The luxurious hotel in Vedado
The opening of the luxury hotel operated by Iberostar was also surrounded by controversy.
The tallest hotel in Cuba opened its doors in 2025 with extremely high prices for any Cuban relying on their salary.
The price of accommodation in the Torre K-23 varied depending on the type of room, panoramic views, and the chosen lodging option.
Online Tours showcased in 2025 a list of booking options ranging from 147 euros per night for a double room with breakfast included, to 325 euros per night for a suite with full board.
Havanatur shared a brief promotional video on its social media with the message: "2025 will be the year when the tallest hotel in Cuba opens."
The Torre K-23 Hotel features over 500 rooms spread across its 40 floors. It offers horizon suites, junior suites, and rooms designed for executives.
This project, conceived as an icon of luxury tourism, generated a wave of criticism on social media.
The K-23 Tower has been described by many as an insult to the Cuban people, given the stark shortages the country is facing.
Social media comments indicated that the estimated construction cost, ranging from 226 to 565 million dollars, could have been allocated to address critical issues such as power outages, hospital repairs, or housing construction.
The contrast between the luxury of the hotel and the everyday hardships faced by most Cubans turned the K-23 into a symbol of inequality and social discontent.
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