Cuba to open La Habana luxury hotel towers over Havana despite tourism downturn

It’s hard to overlook the towering presence of the Selection La Habana hotel, the tallest building in Havana, rising 150 meters (490 feet) above the city’s colonial architecture.

With 542 luxury rooms and sweeping views of the city and the sea, the hotel is an impressive structure. Managed by the Spanish chain Iberostar, it is yet to be officially inaugurated. However, the hotel has already drawn significant criticism, not just for its striking design, but for the government’s decision to allocate millions of dollars toward luxury tourism. This move has raised concerns among Cubans, especially as the country faces a deep economic crisis and a sharp decline in tourism, with visitor numbers hitting historic lows.

Like all hotels in Cuba, the new Selection La Habana is state-owned and operates under GAESA, a conglomerate controlled by the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. GAESA has long been criticized for the lack of transparency in its operations. As a military-run entity, it is exempt from audits by the Comptroller General’s Office, and it has not revealed the amount invested in the construction of the 40-story hotel.