Articles tagged “cuba”

Officials have let U.S. hotel companies off the hook when making changes to U.S. Cuba travel policy. European and Caribbean companies, however, will likely feel the effect of new restrictions.

It's hard to see how other airlines, hotels and cruise lines don't follow JetBlue's lead in issuing waivers on change fees and cancellations for itineraries to Cuba given the U.S. government's ill-conceived warning for travel to the Caribbean island. The warning looks like it will help reverse the Obama administration's loosening of restrictions on U.S. citizen travel to Cuba.

The U.S. travel warning might have been limited to visiting hotels in Cuba, where U.S. embassy employees have allegedly been targeted. But instead the Trump administration would prefer to close the door on all U.S. citizen travel to Cuba. As Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson said at the Skift Global Forum, U.S. policy toward Cuba has accomplished nothing over the last few decades.

Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Harvey are taking a great human toll throughout the Caribbean and the United States, as has the earthquake in Mexico. Here's how the travel industry is responding.

Flights to Cuba are expected to be less in demand once the Trump administration's travel restrictions are enforced, but could that lead to more interest in cruises? Norwegian Cruise Line's announcement indicates the cruise operator is expecting a bump in business.

Here's the lowdown in a FAQ on what the new U.S. policy toward Cuba means for travel companies and travelers alike.

Travel industry policies toward Cuba have not transitioned smoothly from Point A to Point B over the last three years, and the upcoming Trump administration fine print will likely change things anew.

This isn't the worst-case scenario for Cuba that some U.S. travel brands had feared but it is a step backward and doesn't offer any clear glimpse of a path forward.

Compared with other U.S. sectors, the travel industry would be disproportionately impacted should U.S.-Cuba relations and travel policies get reversed. It's anyone's guess as to how President Trump will proceed regarding Cuba policies but that picture should become clearer later this month.

Travel brands and Cuba's ailing infrastructure are already struggling with accommodating 285,000 U.S. travelers per year in and around Havana. What happens when that number multiplies by seven?