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	You can take it a step further at hotels I’ve stayed at. Front desk, office, accounting, etc are supplied by a different ministry branch/company than the contracted service sector staff.In the end it is still the same pocket.

	Well I guess we lucked out. Our package has sold out. Our bags are packed!

A lot like here in Canada where few hotels actually own their properties. Big difference in Cuba is the staff, supplies, services, daily maintenance etc, etc are supplied by the owner of the property. Some hotels only have a few of their own corporate staff on premises.Here, that would be like a Sheraton Hotel, staffed and serviced by the Ontario Teacher’s Pension REIT.

Thanks for the update monctonguy.

Well Sunwing brand is putting their name on alot of resorts, whatever that entails.Under the Memories brand or Starfish etc.It’s an investment of something on Sunwings part…time, money, branding, promotion whatever.

I was simply notifying people on this board and thread that the RIU was now a Memories(Sunwing)

I don’t know all the details of how the contracts between Cuba and the hotel chains work, but in general, I think that Cuba owns the hotels, and the hotel chains have a management contract. There must be some cost to the hotel chain to obtain that contract–sort of like a franchise fee, I am guessing.Also, thee apparently is some expectation that the hotel chain is responsible for a certain amount of the maintenance costs.An example is that a few years back, Sandals had the contract to operate Beaches Varadero, with Cubanacan as the Cuban partner/owner. Sandals wanted to do some renovations and repairs, but they couldn’t come to an agreement on how the costs would be split between Sandals and Cubanacan. I think the story at the time was that each party felt the other party should pay all the costs.In the end, Sandals pulled out of the operation, and for a very short time, it was operated by Cubanacan, until Melia came in as the management partner.So, monctonguy, I hope that helps some to clarify how the contracts work. I don’t know if that applies in all cases, but I suspect it does. I have also read that in some cases there is a 51%/49% ownership split, but I’m not so sure I believe that, as I have always been under the impression that foreigners can’t own property in Cuba.Anyway, by way of a hotel name change, the former Beaches Varadero has been Melia Las Antillas now for about 10 years or so.

You know what I meant..Sorry I dont know all the legal ins and outs…I know that Sunwing is "taking" over many resorts in Cuba…but I also know they don’t actually own them.So whatever you want to call it….its a SUNWING brand now…sorry if I confused you and cant explain the process and costs invloved with these and the legal agreements in place they may or maynot have..

FFS…..this is a thread about name changes…I was contributing…

	Monctonguy – "Investing" – in what ? – do they even pay for the sign changes, or get the hotel owners to pay for those ?Anyone know what El Senador was called before it was El Senador ? It was apparantly half built before the Canadians got involved. I think NH Krystal had two or three official names for the resort.

Does that 100,000 include family visits, M ?

I suspect atht the actual number on those expensive tours was a lot less – and likely to wither away now that there is no need to jump through bureaucratic hoops to get an OFAC license.

“In 2013 more than 470,000 Cuban-Americans visited their ancestral home, in addition to almost 100,000 other U.S. citizens — many of whom pay $4,000 for a weeklong vacation.” “ … a further 50,000 Americans are estimated to visit “illegally,” each year …”
cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.ca/2014/04/al-jazeeera-overview-of-p2p-travel.htmlConsidering the number of P2P companies operating in the US, the numbers of Americans travelling on P2P trips could increase, with so many bird-watchers & saviours flocking in droves to explore the unknown and to save them. I would think that those P2P programs would be around for a while yet, although I do agree with you that they are in many ways superfluous. It’s all about marketing, and many of those companies aren’t finished yet.

Does that 100,000 include family visits, M ?

I suspect atht the actual number on those expensive tours was a lot less – and likely to wither away now that there is no need to jump through bureaucratic hoops to get an OFAC license.

"A big Reset for the resort workers who will change status from Ultra Rich to US Bartender and US Maid, paid at the local rate."

I would like to read further about this, if you could elaborate. I never thought of that! Eloisegirl

	I got a bottle at the Casa de Habano near Calle 36 on Avanida 1. 12 CUC. They have a lovely shaded patio on the side where we enjoyed a couple of frosty Cristals.

I am hoping for Warren or Cristal (YVRck). I visited a few sites that say this type of creature exists all over, so that’s why I am guessing. I took the picture not far off the beach down towards the western channel. The rest of the pictures were mostly inside the reef. The Blue Tang schools were outside. We went out through the channel once, but there was a fair bit of current……some big rollers coming in……and the other time we went out was on the Hobie. I usually see more inside the reef than out anyhow! Lots of lobsters this trip, and several eels.

	thanks Spunky that’s who I was thinking of. looks like his last post was in February 2015 so he is still around!

	Wossa (Warren) will see this. Not sure if I would have reached in and dragged it out, either, LOL

I hope he’s still kicking when Raul makes the deal with the Miami bunch that will purchase the old guard’s interests.Like Russia and China, those who take a chance on changes will win.

A big Reset for the resort workers who will change status from Ultra Rich to US Bartender and US Maid, paid at the local rate.

eeeefarm, wish I could help you, where is our diver from the Maldives. His user name evades me but I think his name is Terry bet you he would know.I have 30+ dives at this resort and snorkeled quite a bit in front by the big rock. Is that where you saw the "bobbit worm" or whatever it is? Definitely a new underwater species for me. The link you provided indicates that the worm is from Indonesia and the Phillipines. Would that make it odd to have one in the Caribbean. Once again great pictures in your album. so clear. thanks for sharing your diving experience. Hope someone out there can answer your question.

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