Hotel in Cuba responds to allegations of food waste

The Hotel Los Caneyes in Santa Clara, Villa Clara, responded this Tuesday to an accusation claiming that its management discards large quantities of good quality meat daily, while the Cuban population suffers from severe food shortages.

The accusation was published on June 28 by the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and the Press (ICLEP), through its community medium Páginas Villareñas, with testimonies from hotel workers who requested to remain anonymous. According to the report, chicken, pork, and beef were routinely thrown away, and the managers claimed "administrative hurdles" to avoid selling or donating the products.

"It's a shame to see how they throw away the meat when there are families outside who haven't tasted it in months," said one of the employees quoted by ICLEP.

Another worker added, "Many people need those foods, and here there is indifference. They could sell them to us at modest prices and even generate extra income."

The establishment's management responded with an official statement on their Facebook page in which they labeled the complaint as "false" and categorically denied any waste.

"At no time has any food been wasted in our hotel. Those sharing this type of false content do not know the reality of our establishment, nor the discipline with which each worker manages every resource," stated the management.

The hotel explained that each product is intended for day-use offers and family packages—with reservations made 24 hours in advance—and for buffet lunch service on Saturdays and Sundays.

The statement also highlighted that cooking is currently done over charcoal, emphasizing the additional effort this requires from the staff.

The establishment's management attributed the complaint to a coordinated campaign: "It is not a coincidence that, in the current context, these types of 'complaints' are emerging. They are part of the strategy to discredit the Cuban tourism sector."

In December 2025, a former employee of the Grand Aston La Habana, owned by the military conglomerate GAESA, reported the same pattern: good food —fried chicken, rice, eggs— being discarded while the population lacks access to these basic products. "It's preferred to throw away the food rather than allow the workers to take it," stated the former employee.

Hotel Los Caneyes belongs to the state chain Cubanacán and has been operating since 1966, featuring 96 rooms with architecture inspired by the Taíno indigenous caneyes.

The report comes at a critical time for Cuban tourism: in May 2026, only 30,883 visitors arrived on the island, the lowest monthly figure in years, with an accumulated decline of 58.4% in the first five months of the year. Hotel occupancy does not exceed 10%, which has led the regime to close dozens of establishments.