CubaPLUS Magazine

Packard Hotel, a new luxury stablishment, will open in August in this capital, expanding the city's room capacity for tourism.

The Packard Hotel is in phase of completion to become the second of its kind for the city, after the Grand Hotel Manzana Kempinski opened last year, the Cuban News Agency reported. This facility, located at the end of Havana's Paseo del Prado (Prado Boulevard) facing the Morro Castle and the entrance of the bay, will have five star plus category when 192 of its 321 rooms are ready for welcoming guests, located on Havana's Paseo del Prado.

Daysi Malvares, development manager of Almest Real Estate company, said that they are working to finish bedrooms in three of the hotel's 10 floors so that Gaviota Group and Spanish Iberostar, in charge of its administration, can gradually start marketing the hotel. With privileged views of the Havana seawall, the Packard Hotel will open its doors under the luxury brand Grand, of that European company.

Located on Paseo del Prado No. 51-55 e/ Carcel y Morro, the hotel was built during the 1920s by an American company, and it was owned in 1958 by Mercedes and Evaristo Ulloa Ferro brothers.

After the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, it was nationalized and although it continued providing services, it gradually deteriorated until it closed its doors. Now the Packard Hotel will give more brightness to the capital's tourism and exhibit its long history along with its new benefits.