Prensa Latina

Cuban hotel group Gaviota S.A. will operate an inventory of 10,176 rooms by 2006 for international tourism, the company has projected.

Gaviota President Jose Pantin explained that at the end of 2004 his company had 8,826 rooms throughout the island and by next year they will exceed the 10,000 mark.

Of the mentioned total, 4,174 are managed or operated directly by Gaviota, while the remaining 6,002 are under foreign management by chains associated to Gaviota.

The executive said that several extra-hotel facilities of different types and marinas are included in perspective plans. Gaviota already has big projects under construction like hotels at Varadero beach resort, 140 kilometers east of Havana.

On that beach, the number one tourist resort of the country, they plan to construct in Hicacos Point.

There are also plans for Cayo Santa Maria and Cayo Coco, in the north central keys off the coast of Villa Clara and Ciego de Avila, respectively.
Gaviota will likewise operate the Aparthotel Montehabana, inaugurated last Wednesday for long-stay tourists.

The tourism group also announced the opening in 2005 of Barcelo Marina Palace, a five-star lodging in Varadero and the Occidental Royal Hideaway Ensenachos, also a five-star hotel in the northern keys of Villa Clara.