HAVANA — Havana is “architectural poetry”, where visitors can find jewels of the Baroque style along with Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, the modern movement, and more, says Barbara Martin-Daniel, Commercial Director, Grand Aston La Habana.

Martin-Daniel shares her thoughts on Havana, and its readiness to welcome back visitors with open arms, and the brand new Grand Aston La Habana, in this op-ed:

“Due to history, this city remained integral and very divided in various districts at the same time. It’s epic!

“You feel it when you are there. It’s magic. I have seen it for 22 years, regaining strength for the next historic openings, and at this precise moment, after more than two years of confinement due to this terrible COVID-19 pandemic, Havana opens its arms to you and invites you to meet it, love it and enjoy it to infinity!

“Recently, walking through its parks, its streets of Old Havana, through the Plaza de Armas, happy to imagine this place again in colonial times, hearing in my head the carriages go by … suddenly I see the renovated Palacio del Segundo Cabo. I had never seen it so handsome. Then heading to the eclectic Vedado (with its Art Nouveau mansions, the Art Deco museum), on the Malecón I visited the masterpiece, tall and majestic: the Grand Aston La Habana, a 600-room hotel with an innovative design, a refuge of elegant and contemporary sophistication, its interior decoration is a perfect fusion between the Havana style of the 1930s and the Asian refinement of its management  (https://www.archipelagointernational.com).

“This property takes modern living to the next level, revealing unique designer architecture, fresh rooms, eclectic dining, inspiring event spaces, and beautiful wellness facilities, including the city’s only 24-hour fitness centre and the only massage center in the city with real Balinese techniques, plus an amazing 56-metre long swimming pool overlooking the sparkling waters of iconic Havana Bay.

“Soaring into the Cuban sky and above the legendary Malecón, this urban oasis is ideally located in the Vedado, the city’s bustling central business district, close to offices, shops, restaurants and entertainment.

“A few hours by plane from Canada, you will find all these contrasts in a metropolis of more than two million inhabitants where one feels part of History with a capital H, and part of its much-appreciated Creole mix. Havana is an international capital that is the MUST in this SUN destination. Dare and enjoy it!

“We offer the perfect city and beach combination vacation with a choice of hotels from the Archipelago Group in the Americas, in Cuba …

“In Havana, the Grand Aston La Habana with its official opening on March 15, 2022, and this summer will see the opening of the Aston Panorama hotel, located on the seafront of the Cuban capital, with the embassies of the Miramar District, near the famous Fifth Avenue, and close to the Miramar Trade Center.

“In Cayo Santa María, we have the Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas Beach Resort & Spa with 660 rooms, its Aston Fiesta section, a boutique hotel of 67 adult-only rooms, and its Aston Pueblo square.

“The Aston Costa Verde Beach Resort hotel is a paradise facing the sea with 749 rooms under an all-inclusive format in the coveted province of Holguín.

“And before the end of the year, we will open two more wonderful new hotels.

The first hotel to open its doors this summer will be the Grand Aston Cayo Paredón Beach Resort located in Cayo Coco, with 635 luxury rooms, and the long-awaited Grand Aston Varadero Beach Resort will open its doors in style at the end of this year with 531 rooms.

“Archipelago International is the largest private and independent hotel management group in Southeast Asia, operating more than 150 hotels, with 50 more under construction in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East. The company’s hotels enjoy a solid reputation with 20,000 rooms spread across 60 destinations, including leading brands such as ASTON, ASTON Collection, The Alana, Huxley, Kamuela, Harper, Quest, NEO, Favehotels and Nordi.

“These hotels in Cuba are the beginning of an exciting expansion in the American continent.”