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Blog / Hola Sun kicks off the winter season with a special dinner for Travel Agents and exciting prizes!
Hola Sun Holidays, the Cuba Specialist
Last week, Hola Sun Holidays held its annual Product Launch and Agent Appreciation dinner to launch the winter season, featuring new hotels, destinations, exclusive beyond-the-beach specials, and more.
The evening included updates from well-known Cuba hotel suppliers such as Iberostar Cuba Hotels & Resorts, Sirenis Hotels & Resorts, Barcelo Hotel Group, Blue Diamond Hotels, Blau Hotels, and the Cuba Tourist Board, which also participated in the festivities.
Additionally, Hola Sun delighted agents with impressive performances showcasing Cuban music and dancing, and offered 10 exciting giveaways.
What’s New:
- Brochure 2024-2025 digital brochure will be available soon! Check on holasunholidays.ca
- The air carrier of the winter and spring seasons will remain Air Transat with Option Plus and other services available for booking
- 12 destinations and over 200+ hotels across the islands will be available for you this upcoming season! Ranging from budget hotels to high-end properties, you can find something for every type of travellers
New Destinations:
In recent years, Cuba has developed new islands and resort areas specifically for the tourism industry, including Cayo Paredon, which features popular hotels such as Grand Aston Paredon, Vila Gale Cayo Paredon, and Woovo Cayo Paredon. Additionally, Cayo Cruz, which is home to the newly established Sanctuary White Sands, an adults-only resort for guests aged 18 and over.
Grand Aston Paredon, Cayo Paredon, Cuba
Holguin has also introduced a new destination known as the Ramon de Antilla peninsula, which includes two hotels: Grand Memories Holguin, which opened in 2022, and the upcoming Sierra Cristal Resort, set to open in November 2024. Furthermore, additional hotels are currently under construction.
Hola Sun’s top five best-selling properties include Playa Cayo Santa Maria, Selectum Varadero, Grand Aston Cayo Paredon, Rancho Luna, and Gran Muthu Almirante, where Global Agents stayed a few years ago. 😉
Hola Sun recommends booking these properties as soon as possible to take advantage of early booking discounts and, more importantly, to secure space for your customers. Some VIP categories are already reported as sold out for the peak season.
Eco Tours For Nature Lovers:
In response to the growing interest in eco-tourism, Hola Sun has developed exclusive trips to meet your clients' desire for nature experiences. The tour operator is expanding its portfolio by adding more hotels in remote locations, allowing travelers to explore Cuba beyond its beaches.
“Hola Sun is the Cuba Specialist, which means we know the destination better than anyone else. Our staff and our preferred retail partners have experienced the nature tours that we are offering. For example, our last FAM trip was focused on the Viñales area. We know what attractions and activities are more suitable for Canadians and which ones don’t work, so we have tweaked those same tours with the certainty they will comply with the motivations, needs and expectations of our customers,” says Hugo Rocha, Director of Sales at Hola Sun Holidays.
The new itineraries include 2 nights in Havana, 2 nights in Vinales, and 3 nights in sunny Varadero. Hotel options feature Royalton Habana, Los Jazmines, Grand Memories Melia Habana, Sol Varadero Beach, Mystique Vinales Central, Royalton Hicacos, Hotel Selection Parque Central, Hotel Central, and Iberostar Selection Varadero. These trips can be complemented with nature and history excursions, such as exploring underground caves in Vinales, enjoying a boat ride in Matanzas, or taking a must-see city tour of Havana.
Vinales, Cuba
Global Agents just did this trip and let us tell you it was AMAZING. Here’s additional content for you to explore:
Venture Beyond the Tourist Trail: Explore Cuba’s Hidden Gem – Viñales – with Hola Sun
Hola Sun's Annual FAM Trip Lets Travel Agents Explore Cuba Like Never Before
Additionally, an exciting destination to keep an eye on for 2024-2025 is Punta Gorda in Santiago de Cuba, where you can experience a variety of nautical and diving adventures. This Natural nautical area is best enjoyed at your own pace.
Long Stays:
Another well-known offering from Hola Sun is long stays. The tour operator provides ideal destinations for stays ranging from 18 to 180 days:
- Camaguey: Club Amigo Caracol and Brosas Santa
- Cienfuegos: Hola Club Rancho Luna, Club Amigo Ancon, and Memories Trinidad del Mar
- Santiago de Cuba: Club Amigo Carisol Los Coral, and Brisas Sierra Mar
- Havana: Blau Arenal Habana Beach, and Royalton Habana
Add VIP:
Enhance your clients' experience with VIP treatment by opting for the premium services available at many hotels on the island.
- Melia Hotels International Cuba - Level service
- Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts - Diamond Club
- Grand Aston – VIP
- MGM Muthu Hotels – Adults Only
- Gaviota - Premium
- Iberostar Cuba Hotels & Resorts – Coral
Don’t forget about Hola Sun’s additional offerings like the Safety Ring Plan which allows your clients to cancel their trip 3 days before the departure, Travel Agent Loyalty Program which offers cash for each traveller booked with Hola Sun and Perks for Group Bookings.
Supplier News:
The event would not be without the hotel suppliers who participated and informed the agents about the latest developments and upcoming openings.
The renowned Kempinski hotel chain showcased its three exquisite properties in Cuba: Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana, Gran Hotel Bristol La Habana Cuba, and the newest addition, Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski Cuba, which Global Agents toured earlier this year.
Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski Cuba, Cayo Guillermo, Cuba
Sirenis Hotels & Resorts presented properties they have on the islands: Sirenis Tropical Varadero, Grand Sirenis Cayo Santa Maria, and Sirenis Park View expected to open late winter season.
Discover Grand Sirenis Cayo Santa Maria, located on Cuba's northern islands known for stunning beaches. An all-inclusive resort that's perfect for families, couples' romantic getaways or destination weddings.
Sirenis Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba
Blau Hotels offers travellers 2 resort options in Cuba: Blau Varadero Adults Only and Blau Arenal Habana Beach. The Varadero property has been rated as one of the best hotels on Varadero beach and offers an exceptional stay in a unique setting. Meanwhile, Blau Arenal Habana Beach offers an excellent beachfront hotel along the fine white sands of Playas del Este.
Blau Varadero Adults Only Blau Arenal Habana Beach
Barceló offers Canadians 3 properties all located in Varadero: Allegro Palma Real, Occidental Arenas Blancas, and Barceló Solymar. Occidental Arenas Blancas and Barceló Solymar are both front beach hotels and offer “Stay At One, Play At Both” service for guests staying at either one of the hotels.
Blue Diamond Resorts offers 58 hotels, 12,976 rooms, and 8 brands: Royalton Luxury, Mystique Resorts, Memories Resorts, Grand Memories Resorts, Starfish Resorts, The Villas, Inglaterra, and brand-new Resonance.
In November 2024, travellers can look forward to an exciting new development. A unique brand is set to debut in Cuba: Resonance. This innovative brand from Blue Diamond Resorts will introduce a new concept, offering two distinct vacation experiences: relaxation and wellness versus a vibrant party atmosphere. Each hotel will feature two sections: one dedicated to lively music, entertainment, and energetic activities, while the other will focus on relaxation, wellness programs, and spa services, including a premium club. Resonance will launch in four locations: Varadero, Cayo Santa Maria, Santa Lucia, and Marea del Portillo by the end of 2024.
Iberostar Cuba Hotels & Resorts offers clients 3 hotels in the heart of Havana and 14 hotels on the shores of beaches in places such as Varadero, Cayo Cruz, Cayo Ensenachos, Cayo Guillermo and Holguín.
Coming soon! In November 2024, Iberostar Cuba will open Iberostar Selection La Habana, the hotel will be the tallest building in Cuba!
Iberostar Selection La Habana, Havana, Cuba
Cuba truly has something to offer every type of traveller, given the multitude of destinations available. Lessner Gomez, Director of the Cuba Tourist Board, highlighted the ongoing 'Unica' campaign, emphasizing why you should consider booking Cuba for your next vacation.
“Cuba is more than sun and beach, Cuba is culture, music, rum, cigars, people. Cuba is eco-friendly Vinales, Cuba is historical Santiago, Cuba is Camaguey, Trinidad, the cays ... Cuba is truly UNICA”.
