Melià abandons the 15 hotels in Cuba after Trump's threats
The Mallorcan chain puts an end to the management and commercialization of the establishments amidst the Cuban tourism crisis and the pressure from the United States on foreign companies present on the island
PalmaThe Mallorcan hotel chain Melià Hotels International has decided to immediately end the management, commercialization, and brand licensing services for 15 hotels in Cuba. The decision comes in a context marked by pressure from the United States on foreign companies operating on the island and after the Donald Trump administration set June 5 as the deadline to take measures against companies linked to business with the Cuban military conglomerate Gaeasa.
As communicated by the company to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), the decision will be executed through its Portuguese subsidiary Ilha Bela and responds to a "combination of unforeseen circumstances beyond" its operational capacity. Melià had already notified the owners of the establishments of this decision on May 26, and officially confirmed it this Wednesday.
The affected hotels are Gran Hotel Bristol Habana Vieja, Innside Catedral Habana, Melià Buena Vista, Melià Cayo Santa María, Melià Jardines del Rey, Melià Las Dunas, Melià Península Varadero, Paradisus Los Cayos, Paradisus Princesa del Mar, Paradisus Río de Oro, Paradisus Varadero, Sol Caribe Beach, Sol Cayo Santa María, Sol Río de Luna y Mares, and Sol Varadero Beach.
The chain has emphasized that the economic impact of the measure will be limited, as most of these establishments were currently closed or operating with very reduced activity due to the energy crisis affecting Cuba and the sustained drop in tourist demand. Nevertheless, the company has activated specific plans to carry out an orderly disengagement from the hotels and information protocols for clients and suppliers.
Melià's withdrawal takes place in a particularly delicate context for the Cuban tourism sector. In the presentation of the first-quarter results, the company already warned that US intervention in the region had hindered access to fuel, a situation that has severely affected tourist activity. The lack of aviation fuel has also led to the cancellation of numerous international connections, including some from Canada, the main source market for tourists to Cuba.
This situation has forced Melià to progressively close establishments in recent months. By the end of the first quarter of 2026, it only maintained approximately half of its hotel capacity operational in the country.
The withdrawal of the Mallorcan company coincides with the worst moment for Cuban tourism in decades. Between January and April this year, the arrival of international visitors has plummeted by 55.8%, to 328,608 tourists. In April alone, 30,551 travelers arrived on the island.
Melià is not the only hotel company that has opted to leave the Cuban market. In recent months, other major international groups have also announced their departure. Iberostar has stopped operating 12 hotels after disengaging from Gaviota, while Minor Hotels abandoned the management of the two NH establishments it operated in Havana. Royalton Hotels & Resorts, for its part, has also suspended the management of 62 hotels on the island, citing the reduction of flights, operational difficulties, and the deterioration of the establishments' operating conditions.
Melià's decision represents a new setback for the Cuban tourism sector, which faces a combination of energy crisis, falling demand, and growing geopolitical pressure.