St Giles Hotels to be first UK hotel brand to open in Cuba
St Giles Hotels is to expand into Cuba, following its bid to take over the management of Hotel Deauville in Havana, becoming the first British hotel brand to open in Cuba.
The deal was negotiated by head of the St Giles Hotels Group Abigail Tan-Giroud (pictured), with advisory from Geskaria Real Estate Investment.
The Deauville is located along the MalecÁ³n coastline that stretches from Havana Harbour in Old Havana along the Centro Habana district and ending in the Vedado neighbourhood.
The hotel will feature a gym overlooking the capital and rooftop bar giving views of the Caribbean island.
St Giles is a company operated from the UK and owned by the Tan family's IGB Corp. It currently owns nine properties across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. IGB operates 18 hotels worldwide.
Tan aims to offer a portfolio of 20 hotels worldwide, by 2020.
She said: "We are incredibly excited and honoured to have been distinguished with this opportunity. Our success in hotel development, and management, vast experience in construction, and our brand's value of preserving culture and enhancing communities, puts St Giles Hotels in a prime situation to partner with the Cuban government on re-developing this gem in Havana. And of course, being the first UK hotel group to be granted entry is a bonus!"
St Giles Hotels is planning activity to support the local community in Cuba through its Hotels With Heart charity initiative. Last year, a team from St Giles London tackled the Tough Mudder Challenge to raise funds for the YMCA and Cancer Research. In 2014, $20,000 was raised by team members who ran the New York City marathon, which enabled the YMCA to start its after-school program for less-privileged children and troubled mothers.
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