Why Cuba for C & I events?

A total exciting and interesting experience to be considered seriously by your clients from as little as GBP 400 or Euros 519 per participant*

Cuba is an increasingly popular unique Caribbean destination of choice for incentive events. A five day programme based on premium international hotels in Havana and Varadero with exclusive dine outs, excursions and entertainment.

Cuba Select Travel is a premium British DMC based in Cuba, approved by the Cuban Authorities and with many years of providing successful events for many multi-national companies. All ground arrangements are supervised by our resident onsite British management and a specialist team of Cuban tour managers, sales and operations staff that has extensive knowledge of the local travel industry and experience of C & I events. Please read on for more details, and see the example programme and recommend this amazing destination to your clients.

Incentify & Recognise - Motivate and thank those who have shown extraordinary effort and best results with the reward of an event in Cuba. Incentive travel is preferred by far as the choice for a sales award. Recognition is an effective way to incentify, attract their attention, inspire their performance, and generate outstanding results. An event in Cuba is the ultimate experience as it offers two awards in one: the pampering and the uniqueness of Cuba combined with the allure of travel to exotic destinations.

Cuba Select Travel will be at WTM on stand CA5050 next to the Cuban Tourist Board stand.

Country Profile

Cuba offers a new and exciting travel experience and has much to offer as an increasingly popular destination in the Caribbean for C & I events served by many international airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, Air France and Iberia. It is unique in the world and has met the expectations of top C & I clients having international standard hotels and conference facilities. Havana is the now the ‘in place’ to visit. Cuba is also one of the safest destinations in the world for travellers. Cuba has all the features and facilities of a tropical paradise island with many UNESCO World Heritage Sites featuring some stunning colonial architecture and some of natures beautiful marvels such as the Mogotes.

Havana & Varadero – a successful combination

Havana is the most interesting city in the Caribbean to see with its romantic colonial plazas, striking architecture and pastel colour buildings, vibrant street life and a great night scene. A good selection of hotels is available in Havana including modern and classic colonial hotels, some with conference facilities, swimming pool and cabaret nightclub.

Outside of Havana, Varadero is an excellent choice with many all-inclusive beach resort and spa hotels, conference and meeting rooms, watersports and entertainment. The beaches there are considered to be some of the best in the world and many excursion possibilities in the area.

Dine Arounds, Beach & Poolside Gala Dinners

We select some of the best restaurants providing both local and international cuisine for dine arounds. Recommended would be an exclusive evening of cocktails, canapés and gourmet cuisine at the DuPont Villa while the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico, or a traditional Cuban farm to savour some delicious Creole cuisine and horse riding included. At the hotels we can provide either a poolside dinner or a BBQ beach party. All suggested events can be provided with top quality entertainment.

Entertainment

There are many entertainment possibilities that can be added to dinner events or other activities. We can provide some of Cuba’s top artists such as the Havana Rakatan dance troupe, or a lively Salsa band when the participants can practice some of their dance, Maybe a fashion show followed by a classical performance by the Camerata Romeo all female string orchestra, or a quartet of top opera singers, or an AfroCuban folk show on the beach. There is a pulsating nightlife in Cuba and we can take you to places like the Tropicana Cabaret in Havana which is world famous with 200 artists on stage performing under the stars.. For a more classical experience a performance of the Cuban National Ballet at the Gran Teatro in Havana is awe inspiring.

The VIP Havana Connaisseur Service

As an alternative to hotels we offer our exclusive our ‘Havana Connaisseur’ package. Staying at a Tobacco Baron’s Mansion in Havana suitable for a small VIP group, plus a selection of luxury villas with swimming pools. Special in-house catering, entertainment, private limousines, private tour guides, entrance to the private members Club Habana, and reserved tables at selected restaurants. Try our VIP airport service to fast track participants through Immigration and Customs with refreshments in the VIP lounge while a valet collects and clears luggage through Customs and brings landside.

Cigars & Rum

Participants can have the opportunity to visit some of Cuba’s tobacco plantations, and cigar factories such as Romeo & Julieta where one can see the processes involved in hand rolled Havana cigars as part of their itinerary. We can also arrange for participants to try rolling their own cigars, Big yearly events include the February Cigar Festival.

Transportation with a difference

We use luxury air-conditioned tour coaches for all transfers. For a more select service we can provide a fleet of classic 50’s American cars. We also offer something very special using a fleet of Coco Taxis which carry two passengers in a three wheel vehicle shaped like a coconut. For a more traditional and romantic try horse-drawn carriages. An excursion on the Hershey ‘Chocolate’ Train through the Cuban countryside and sugar plantations is a fun event for participants. Onboard we provide an open bar, a Cuban band and dancing with cabaret gals and guys. Our classic 50’s American car excursion is also very popular. A typical half day trip would be driving to the main places of interest in Havana such as the Revolution Square, the Malecon seafront also known as the ‘sala’, or as a transfer to the Tropicana Show.

Catamaran Cruise, Swimming with Dolphins & Paradise Island

One of the highlights for added-value is a full day excursion in Varadero sailing aboard a catamaran with open bar, music, snorkeling on coral reefs, swimming with dolphins and a seafood lunch at a paradise island. Highly enjoyable and well recommended.

Famous & Infamous People

For something very special we can arrange a private audience with the Buena Vista Social Club, a visit to the Che Guevara Research & Community Centre which is managed by his son and daughter, or a talk by the ex-personal butler to Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, and Meyer Lanski, the ex-Mafia boss, among others. Take a private guided tour following the Hemingway Trail to some of Hemingway’s haunts where he perfected his art of drinking Daiquiris, Mojito’s and Cuba Libre’s, the hotel where he wrote his novels and a visit to his house which is now a museum. as well as visiting the fishing village where he and his boat captain spent many nostalgic days drinking and eating the days catch in the now famous La Terraza bar.

Deep Sea Game Fishing, Cuban Country Jeep & Boat Safari or Round of Golf.

Offshore deep sea game fishing adventures and tournaments add a team competitive spirit to an event. The Gulf of Mexico has some of the best Marlin fishing. Alternatively, a self-drive jeep safari through the Cuban countryside is very exciting as a full day excursion that includes a typical Cuban farm lunch and later self-drive speed boats on the Canimar River. There is also an 18 hole international golf course located in Varadero where we can arrange a mini tournament and lashings of beer at the 19th Hole Bar.

Cuba Select Travel – Example Summarized 5 Day / 4 Night Programme

Day 1 Welcome to Cuba

Met and greeted at Havana International Airport with assistance by DMC staff.
Private transfer in airconditioned luxury tour coach to Varadero
Private check-in, welcome cocktail and orientation at hotel.
Welcome Dinner at hotel.
Overnight at Paradisus Varadero Hotel & Beach Resort - All inclusive 5 star (Garden View Junior Suite).

Day 2 Catamaran Cruise & BBQ Beach Party

Breakfast at hotel.
Add-on Option 1 - Exclusive catamaran day cruise with seafood lunch at a paradise island, open bar, music, snorkelling & swimming with dolphins.
with private return transfers in airconditioned luxury tour coach.
Add-on Option 2 - Exclusive BBQ Beach Party at hotel with entertainment.
Overnight at Paradisus Varadero Hotel & Beach Resort - All inclusive 5* (Garden View Junior Suite)

Day 3 Leisure Day & DuPont Villa

Breakfast at hotel.
Enjoy all the all inclusive facilities at the hotel and have meals at leisure.
Add-on Option 3 - Exclusive Gala Dinner and entertainment at DuPont Villa with private return transfer in airconditioned luxury tour coach.
Overnight at Paradisus Varadero Hotel & Beach Resort - All inclusive 5 star (Garden View Junior Suite)

Day 4 Havana

Breakfast at hotel.
Lunch at hotel.
Check-out.
Private transfer in luxury airconditioned tour coach to Havana.
Private check-in with welcome drink and orientation.
Dinner at hotel.
Add-on Option 4 - Exclusive transfer in classic 50’s American cars to Tropicana Cabaret Show.
A night under the stars at the world famous Tropicana with 200 artists performing on stage.
Private transfer in luxury airconditioned tour coach to hotel.
Overnight at NH Parque Central Hotel 5 star (Standard room)

Day 5 Havana & Departure

Breakfast at hotel.
Lunch at hotel.
Check-out.
Private transfer in airconditioned luxury tour coach to airport.
Check-in for outbound flight with assistance by DMC staff.
* Price per delegate based on min. 50 delegates sharing double room travelling May 2009 GBP 400 Euros 519 (Not including Add-on Options –see below)

Add-on Option Prices Per Participant

1. Exclusive catamaran day cruise with seafood lunch at a paradise island, open bar, snorkelling on coral reefs and swimming with dolphins including return transfers in luxury airconditioned tour coach – GBP 68 Euros 91
2. Exclusive BBQ Beach Party at hotel with entertainment – GBP 58 Euros 77
3. Exclusive Dinner and entertainment at DuPont Villa including return private transfers in airconditioned luxury tour coach– GBP 83 Euros 110
4. Classic 50’s American cars to Tropicana Cabaret Show and transfer on return to hotel by private airconditioned luxury tour coach– GBP 68 Euros 91

Cuba Select Travel Service Provision

We realise the need to provide fast and detailed proposals and quotations with all the ingredients of a ‘wow’ event and added-value to be successful in fulfilling the requirements of your brief. A designated C & I Co-ordinator will liaise with you throughout the pre-event preparations, be present at a site inspection to fine tune all aspects of the programme and also be available to manage the event with full support from our operations staff. Our service provision includes the following:

• Research & recommend the right product to meet your business objectives.
• Provide an experienced C & I Co-ordinator who will serve as your day-to-day liaison with yourself and service providers.
• Provide unlimited consulting throughout the entire planning stage.
• Customize private events, excursions, cocktail parties etc.
• Develop a written operational plan including event order and timelines.
• Manage a database of participants complete with manifests, registrations forms, invitations, and financial reconciliation.
• Provide a C & I Co-ordinator and other staff to assist with the site inspection and your group throughout there stay.
• Arrange visits to multiple destinations within Cuba with all-inclusive pricing that provides a better budget control.
• Offer activity programmes which offer variety for not only the participants, but their spouses, and children without extra planning or cost.

An accolade from an appreciative client:

…All (the participants) had a great time and loved Cuba. Both hotels were great and the service we received was excellent. The NH Parque Central was totally on the ball and earned a lot of praise from the guests. Once we arrived at the Paradisus Varadero it all went perfectly and the staff were helpful and enthusiastic. The train journey was a riot with far too much rum being drunk - no doubt Carlos told you about the communal dunking in the lake at Hershey Park! The catamaran was fabulous and we had a wonderful day on the water. The DuPont Villa was absolutely brilliant - the chef came up trumps with a beautiful meal. The staff were attentive and the service was excellent. The entertainment was top rate. It was an amazing evening. All in all everything went very smoothly. So thank you CST. You've got a great team Joe…. (Nicky Stoner – Complete Liason UK)

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