CubaPLUS Magazine

The Hotel Nacional de Cuba, considered the flagship establishment of the country's hotel industry, has just received the World Luxury Hotel Award and the World Luxury Restaurant Award, recognizing its excellence within the luxury sector. According to information released by the Ministry of Tourism's publication, Sol de Cuba, these significant accolades, established in 2006, distinguish excellence in the luxury hotel, restaurant, travel, and spa industries. Winners are determined by votes cast by international travelers.

Approximately 200 photographers from 17 countries will participate in the 19th edition of the "Noviembre Fotográfico" (November Photography) event, which will showcase their work in various exhibition spaces throughout the Cuban capital starting on November 1st.

Cuba became one of the first signatory countries to the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, the opening ceremony of which took place at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.

The very title of the exhibition, "Playing is Breathing," could serve as its own catalog. But then there's the delightful dance with brushes and the unmistakable stamp of Cuban culture, ever-present in Diana Balboa's work today.

Russia's Nordwind Airlines, of the Pegas Touristik group, will resume direct flights between Moscow and the Cuban city of Holguin on October 29, TASS informed on Wednesday. This way, the region’s tourist hub will be connected to this important tourist-sending market, as it did in 2017

Havanatur, Cuba's premier tour operator, was recognized this Sunday for its key role as the official receptive agency for the Gran Retto open water swimming event, held in Varadero this past weekend. The award, presented during the closing ceremony, acknowledges the dedication and excellent work carried out by the entire Havanatur team of specialists responsible for the organization, marketing, and promotion of the event since its inaugural edition.

The 15th edition of the Varadero Gourmet International Festival concluded this Saturday at the Plaza América Convention Center, an event that has solidified its position as a benchmark for the development of Cuban gastronomy and its integration into tourism as a strategic asset, stated the Minister of Tourism of Cuba, Juan Carlos García Granda.

The website www.restaurantesencuba.com was officially launched this Friday as part of the activities of the 15th edition of the Varadero Gourmet International Festival, taking place until Saturday at the Plaza América Convention Center in the resort city of Matanzas province.

Ron de Cuba, as it is known internationally by its aficionados, is a vibrant presence at the 15th edition of the Varadero Gourmet International Festival. The event provides an ideal platform to showcase the rich and varied flavors that this spirit offers to every fortunate palate that experiences it.

The 15th edition of the Varadero Gourmet International Festival opened its doors this Thursday at the Plaza América fairgrounds. The central theme of this year's event is "Flavors Without Borders: The Magic of Fusion Cuisine with a Cuban Soul." Speaking at the opening of the event, which will run until Saturday, Cuba's Vice Minister of Tourism, Adalberto Venero, stated that the festival aims to internationalize the country's culinary traditions. He added that it will provide a platform for sharing best practices with international visitors.

The Broken Teacher is the title of a Cuban film shot in Ecuador, produced by DAMASU PRODUCCIONES—a creative and cinematic collective associated with ICAIC (Cuban Institute of Cinematic Art and Industry)—featuring actors from Cuba, Ecuador, the United States, and Chile. The film was shot entirely in the Ecuadorian province of Los Ríos, located midway between Quito and Guayaquil, an area known for its complex security situation and curfews. These locations were chosen for their authenticity, as DAMASU PRODUCCIONES aims to distribute the production on platforms such as Netflix, according to an exclusive statement to CubaPLUS by producer Daniel Martín Subiaut.

The second edition of ExpoBodas 2025 opened this Thursday at the iconic Hotel Nacional de Cuba, attended by promoters, designers, photographers, suppliers of party materials and accessories, and other industry professionals. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Diana Olivera, General Director of the Cubatur agency, stated that the island has the potential to become an attractive wedding destination, not only for its natural charms and hospitality but also for its highly competitive prices within the region.

Weddings are increasingly becoming a popular tourism modality. It's estimated that approximately 340,000 nuptial ceremonies are held worldwide each year, attended not only by the bride and groom but also by family and numerous friends.

Prominent Caribbean academics and artists will analyze Cuba's role in the region as part of the Carifesta program in Barbados, the Organizing Committee announced today. Carifesta, the region's foremost cultural event, will host a discussion this Sunday focusing on Cuba's relationship with the wider Caribbean. Entitled "Speaking of Cuba and Fidel," the event, according to organizers, will provide an opportunity for collective reflection on the island as a political, artistic, and ideological point of reference.

Gran Retto, a highly anticipated swimming competition among open water enthusiasts, will once again take place in the Cuban resort of Varadero on September 13th and 14th of this year. The event is expected to draw around 600 competitors from Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, Germany, and Cuba. The announcement, released in a press statement by the event's official tour operator, the International Group of Tour Operators and Travel Agencies Havanatur S.A., cites information from the Marketing Director of Cubadeportes, Ediunys Carrazana.

The Timbalaye La Ruta de la Rumba International Festival, that will open on August 25 and is dedicated to the influence of the Congo, will include various performances, theoretical panels, visits to educational centers, and craft exhibitions.

Last July, Cuba welcomed 50,083 Canadian tourists, marking a significant increase compared to previous years. According to Lessner Gómez, Tourism Counselor for Cuba in Canada, this represents a substantial growth of 112,324% compared to the same period in 2024. This information, released by the Ministry of Tourism's Sol de Cuba magazine, indicates that this surge aligns with the Cuban tourism sector's efforts to revitalize its primary market: Canada.

Blue Diamond Resorts, the Canadian hotel group formerly known by that name, has rebranded as Royalton Hotels & Resorts. The change, however, does not alter its core identity, but rather represents a strategic alignment of its portfolio to highlight the strength and recognition of the Royalton brand, according to President Jordi Pelfor.

The traditional practice of casabe took center stage at a discussion this Friday regarding its 2024 inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The panel was presided over by Anne Lemaistre, Director of the Regional Office of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; Dulce María Buergo, President of the Cuban UNESCO Commission; and Sonya Virgen Pérez, President of the National Council of Cultural Heritage.

This year's International Rumba Festival, Timbalaye, shines a spotlight on the voices of the Congos, brought from Africa, and the rich cultural legacy of this ethnic group, according to event organizers. The 17th edition of the festival, themed "Rumba Route," will take place from August 25th to 31st, under the slogan "Hay un congo cara" (There's a Congo Face), aiming to "convey that vibrant essence throughout all provinces," explained Irma Castillo, Vice President of Timbalaye. The ancestral voices of the Congos in rumba will be the central focus of this year's festival, to which the event is dedicated, she noted.