Gaviota, the hotel empire of GAESA, only has 3,470 of its more than 30,000 rooms operational in Cuba

Gaviota, the main hotel subsidiary of the military conglomerate GAESA, acknowledged on Friday that only 3,470 of its more than 30,000 declared rooms are operational.

Elia Elena Cortés, director of Sales at the Gaviota Tourism Group, confirmed the information to the official Cuban press. This figure represents 11.6% of the company's accommodation capacity.

The active rooms are located in the tourist hubs of the western and central parts of the island, including Havana, Varadero, Topes de Collantes, and Santa María. "This has allowed us to concentrate our services and supplies to improve customer care," Cortés stated.

The revelation came during a conference at the Hotel Paseo del Prado in Havana, to announce the opening of a new luxury resort on the island to tourism operators.

This is the Hotel Playa Luxury Varadero, which will have 85 superior rooms, reserved exclusively for adults.

The official emphasized that the main attraction of the hotel lies in its prime location. "Hotel Playa Luxury Varadero is located at the tip of the Hicacos Peninsula, in a slightly secluded area called Cayo Libertad, a unique environment that gives it all its charm."

The group's vice president, Frank País Oltuski Rodríguez, acknowledged that the potential reopening of other destinations during the high season will depend on "the situation in the country and the U.S. sanctions." "Customers do not deserve to lose Cuba," he said.

The announcement comes after the regime has relied for years on hotel construction as a source of foreign currency, while hospitals, housing, and the electrical grid deteriorated without restraint.

Cuba received only 450,353 international tourists between January and August of 2026, a decline of 64.4% in sector activity compared to the same period last year.

Important foreign chains left the country in 2026 following the tightening of Washington's sanctions against GAESA and the Ministry of Tourism.

Meliá, Iberostar and Barceló cease operations at their establishments on the island. Air Canada, Iberia, Air France, and Turkish Airlines have suspended their flights due to the fuel crisis and the decline in travel demand to Cuba.

The Prime Minister Manuel Marrero acknowledged before the National Assembly, at the end of July, that 73% of the country's hotel facilities remained closed and around 25,000 workers in the sector were without assigned work activities.