The US warning to sanction companies that have relationships with the state-owned company linked to the Cuban military, Gaesa, beyond Friday, June 5, has left Meliá as the last major hotel chain with a prominent presence on the island.
The largest publicly traded hotel group in Spain has diversified its presence in the Caribbean in recent decades with other destinations such as Mexico or the Dominican Republic, so the economic cost of the current blockade imposed by the United States on the island is not the greatest risk. It is the possibility of clashing with the US administration that makes companies with Gaesa a legal risk. It would not be the first time for the Mallorcan company owned by the Escarrer family.
Iberostar, present in Cuba since 1990, has stopped including 12 hotels in shared management with Gaesa in its offer. The chain will maintain its presence in Cuba with establishments linked to entities not subject to US sanctions.
"As of June 1, 2026, these establishments will no longer be managed, marketed, or promoted under the Iberostar brand. Consequently, any reference to Iberostar Cuba Hotels & Resorts associated with these hotels will be ineffective from that date," the group stated in a press release.
Meanwhile, Meliá was still analyzing its situation and the legal risks it faces in the United States if the Administration finds that all or part of the approximately 30 establishments it operates on the island are susceptible to being included in the list of sanctioned entities starting from June 5.
The threat of sanctions targets companies that engage with the regime in areas such as energy, defense, metals, mining, financial services, or security. In a more general sense, it mentions the prohibition of "any contribution, provision of funds, or services" from individuals designated by the US Administration, such as Ana Guillermina Lastres, the military figure leading Gaesa.
The state conglomerate manages a hotel network, consisting of around 180 establishments, operated in partnership with foreign groups, mainly Spanish and Canadian.
Iberostar's severance of ties with Gaesa follows that of the Canadian chain Blue Diamond, which last week announced the cessation of its operations in Cuba, where it was involved in managing 62 establishments. Like the Mallorcan group, the Canadian company is trying to disassociate its name from Cuba out of fear of sanctions, which are a devastating blow to the island's economic pillar.
With the reduction and suspension of flights to Cuba and operational limitations, such as the lack of fuel supply, electricity, water, and other essential logistics like food and medicine, in addition to other restrictions, tourist arrivals have already plummeted drastically in recent years and in 2025 reached their lowest point since 2002, totaling 1.8 million, less than half of what they were in 2018, although they may decrease further this year.