CubaPLUS Magazine

As they say in good Cuban, the Royalton Hicacos hotel in Varadero is ready for the “party” because it already has all the conditions created for a good high season starting on November 1, not only in terms of logistics, but also because of the good omens regarding the number of clients who will come to this facility to vacation in the coming months.

In a recent visit to the facility, it was possible to confirm that this accommodation, with 22 years of established and operation by the Canadian chain Blue Diamond Resorts, continues in very good conditions to satisfy the requirements of its clientele and, in fact, is undergoing an arduous remodeling work on all the rooms.

It already has 84 ready and renovated -12 will be finished next month- of the 404 that the property has. Considered the best All Inclusive in Cuba, this hotel is located in one of the most attractive stretches of beach in the incomparable Varadero, where the fine sand and the beautiful blue of the crystalline waters are an attraction for lovers of a vacation in direct contact with the sea and for those seeking tranquility and relaxation, as it is an adults-only hotel.

With 8 restaurants, 6 bars, a spa, a gym and several swimming pools, the Royalton Hicacos also offers its guests a wide range of possibilities, including non-motorized water sports - kayaking, windsurfing, pedal boating, as well as catamaran rides, beach activities, fitness facilities, tennis and squash courts. Vacationers can also enjoy a magnificent party every week and daily beach volleyball, dance and Spanish classes and fashion shows, different live bands and pianists, nightly shows and a disco.

For Jaime Capó, its General Manager, the prospects for the arrival of vacationers are very good, even in the low season. In October, the facility will close with 75% occupancy, while he expects that in the next months, until January, this index will reach 85%. Regarding the acceptance of tourists who stay at the resort, he said that “we have many repeaters. Every week we have around 30 or 40 repeat clients, between 6 and 7%, a fairly high index.

He mentioned Canada as the first tourist-issuing market for his facility –also for the group's hotels in general-, followed by Russia, Germany, Spain, France, Italy and Greece. However, he warned, “Blue Diamond is exploring and looking for all markets everywhere, which is what the country needs for the entry of foreign currency.”

With a portfolio of more than 80 properties and more than 20,000 rooms since its debut in 2011, Blue Diamond Resorts is the most dynamic and rapidly expanding resort company in the Caribbean, with a presence in such important destinations as Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Saint Lucia and Grenada.

In the largest of the Antilles, it has just over 58 hotels with 12,972 rooms, located in the main tourist centers: Varadero, Havana, Cayo Santa María, Cayo Guillermo and Holguín, among others.