What: IMEX Frankfurt
When: May 19-21, 2015
Where: Congress Center Messe, Frankfurt, Germany
Gearing up for the possible lifting of U.S. travel restrictions at the end of May, which indeed come to pass, meeting planners representing U.S.-based organizations were beating a path to the Cuba Convention Bureau’s stand at IMEX Frankfurt, according to the Cuban exhibitors.
“Since the beginning of the appointment period we’ve found a lot of interest from Americans,” said Frank Delgado Dominguez, a Havana-based meetings sales executive for Melia Hotels International Cuba. “At least more than half have been from America.”
Dominguez said that most of the U.S. planners are interested primarily in Havana, the capital of Cuba, which offers a wealth of cultural and historic sites befitting a city founded in 1515. Havana also boasts an authentically “retro” hotel product with top properties still standing from its pre-revolution heyday as a top U.S. Caribbean travel and entertainment destination, such as the National and Riviera, along with top non-U.S.-based brands such as Accor, Mercure, Barcelo, Iberostar and Melia.
Besides the obvious business ramifications of the possible lifting of U.S. travel restrictions, Dominguez said Cuba’s presence at IMEX Frankfurt also prompted an emotional response from some attendees.
“I had a guy tell me ‘I’ve been waiting 10 years for this to happen—to shake hands with Cuba,’” he said.
