Gran Caribe Hotel Group: Innovation on its 31st anniversary

The Gran Caribe Hotel Group S.A. celebrates its 31st anniversary with new developments in Cuba and recognizing, “the incalculable value of its human capital,” especially its founding employees, as the “living memory of the organization and guardians of its values,” a press release highlights.

In this regard, the hotel chain’s President, Jesús Pérez Balsa, shared a congratulatory message highlighting the history that inspires the improvement of the company’s products and services. “We are committed to enhancing the commitment of our team by strengthening the values of professionalism, efficiency and respect for what we do,” he stated, while inviting all to celebrate this anniversary collectively and with a spirit of renewal.

Among the Hotel Group’s new features, the doors to the executive floor of the Hotel Deauville will open on August 1st. Through an expansion of its facilities, the hotel will offer differentiated services for guests seeking enhanced experiences in the heart of Havana.

Meanwhile, the executive pool at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba is added to the exclusive facilities for guests at this emblematic establishment, a symbol of Cuban hospitality since 1930.

The statement also announces the launch of the new Caribe Club brand, “specifically designed to provide healthy leisure and recreation facilities, combining dining and recreational spaces with sports areas that guarantee more complete guest enjoyment.”

With more than 13,000 rooms and a presence in strategic destinations such as Havana, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Cayo Largo del Sur, Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Coco, Gran Caribe operates with prestigious foreign management companies such as Meliá, Iberostar, Blue Diamond, Barceló, NH Hotels, ROC Hotels and Blau Hotels, which guarantee marketing and international quality standards.

“In the very complex times we are living in, the Hotel Group, and especially its workforce, are working hard today to ensure standards in terms of service and the human quality with which service is provided,” emphasizes Carlos Rafael Rey. “These groups are growing, even contributing initiatives.”

With this objective in mind, last June, Gran Caribe held the Second Innovation Forum, for which more than 60 projects were presented, primarily in the areas of digital transformation and technical services, as specified by Yanet García Aguirre, director of Development, Science, Technology and Innovation for the business group.

“This is part of the country’s own strategy to use the pillars of governance for development. We are talking about science, innovation, social communication and, of course, digital transformation. The idea is that the innovative culture itself can be embraced as an instrument, as a tool to transform hotel processes. Innovation is one route, but it is not the only one. Today we have to ensure that solutions emerge from the facilities themselves.”

In this regard, the Hotel Nacional’s digital transformation project stands out, an experience that should be rolled out in other hotels. “It’s part of the Ministry of Tourism’s sector-wide program and is our Hotel Group’s flagship project. It includes the digital transformation strategy, electronic invoicing and solutions for each of the hotel’s processes,” explains García Aguirre.

A considerable number of young people make up Gran Caribe’s human resources. This is the case of Carmen Teresa González Sánchez, sales executive, who clearly explains the company’s strategic project to strengthen, recover and diversify markets.

“Russia and Canada are the first lines, but there is a push toward major market diversification, namely Latin America, with a significant impact on the Mexican and Argentine markets. We also aim to globalize Eastern Europe—the Czech Republic, Poland, and the Nordic countries, which we call the “Benelux” countries, Luxembourg and Belgium, and the Netherlands; without ruling out Spain, Italy, France, and Germany.”

She clarifies that these latter markets have significantly reduced tourist numbers, but that through promotion, advertising and co-marketing, the aim is to “rescue and counteract the media campaign directed toward Cuba as a destination abroad, with actions directly within the retail and wholesale sales network, including door-to-door initiatives, B2B and B2C sales, seeking to incentivize online channels, tools that allow us to reach different markets.”

To this end, Gran Caribe has its own website www.grancaribehotels.com, where you can book with guaranteed availability and instant confirmation, as well as consult information on all its facilities.

In September, Cuba will host the 10th Ibero-American Rural Tourism Meeting, which will take place from September 29 to October 5. Gran Caribe will present the Escaleras de Jaruco Natural Park to participants st this international event. This site is located in an area designated as a Protected Natural Landscape and offers several options for lovers of this type of environment: panoramic tours, climbing activities, birdwatching and authentic gastronomic experiences.

Also on the agenda for the second half of the year is the 150th anniversary of the Hotel Inglaterra and the 95th anniversary of the most emblematic Gran Caribe facility, the Hotel Nacional de Cuba.

RECOGNITION OF THE FOUNDERS

The press release states that on this new anniversary, the Group pays tribute to the founding employees who have accompanied this organization since its beginning. “The founding employees, who have remained active since 1994, constitute the living memory of the organization and are guardians of the values that have distinguished the Group throughout its history.”

At Gran Caribe’s headquarters, Lázara Henrique, operational specialist in the Management Center, expresses her sense of belonging and commitment with simplicity. “Giving my best to help the Group move forward.” She doesn’t hesitate to give the Group’s facilities a title to distinguish it: “the best destination.”

Also on the agenda for the second half of the year is the 150th anniversary of the Hotel Inglaterra and the 95th anniversary of the most emblematic Gran Caribe facility, the Hotel Nacional de Cuba.

RECOGNITION OF THE FOUNDERS

The press release states that on this new anniversary, the Group pays tribute to the founding employees who have accompanied this journey since its beginning. “The founding employees, who have remained active since 1994, constitute the living memory of the organization and are guardians of the values that have distinguished the Group throughout its history.”

At Gran Caribe’s headquarters, Lázara Henrique, operational specialist in the Management Center, expresses her sense of belonging and commitment with simplicity. “Giving my best to help the Group move forward,” and she doesn’t hesitate to describe the Group’s facilities as: “the best destination.”

With a 27-year career in the chain, Carmen Núñez Fernández has served as secretary to the president. She can appreciate the heritage of the company, which owns the oldest hotels in the country. She is proud to speak about both the Hotel Nacional and the Meliá Internacional in Varadero, for their distinctive service and elegance. At the same time, she knows that right now, “attracting tourism is the most important thing,” which is why “we are making an effort to move the chain forward and progress.”