The Hotel Nacional de Cuba has more than eighty years of history and still keeps its prestige among those belonging to the Gran Caribe group. It’s considered as a classic for distinction.
The hotel has a privileged location in (the middle of Vedado) the center of Havana. It stands on a hill just a few meters from the sea and offers a great view of the Havana harbor, the sea-wall and the ancestral fortress called “El Morro”.
The land where today stands the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, was part of the area which in the early centuries of colonial rule was called Monte Vedado, since a decree banning the Spanish Government that this area be opened paths to the beach. The constant attacks by pirates and the capture of Havana by the English led the construction of various works to protect and defend the city, such as towers and batteries.
At the end of the 20’s the American firms: Mc Kim, Mead & White and Purdy Henderson Corporation were in charge of plans and implementation of this majestic building completed in 14 months over a hill called “Taganana.
On December 30th 1930, the Hotel Nacional de Cuba opens its doors to the World. It outstands by its refined elegance and ancient splendor due to its eclectic style. Its architecture shows a mixture of the Art-Deco features, the Arab influences, the Spanish-Moorish architecture, as well as neoclassical and neo-up environment are details from the California of centuries ago, becoming the hotel the most interesting and unique in the Caribbean region. It has a large garden having as a treasure, two big-cannons of the former battery called Santa Clara, they were named “Krupp” and “Ordoñez”, the last one was considered the biggest cannon at the time. Both were declared together with the historical center of Old Havana, a World Heritage Site in 1982 by UNESCO.
In 1992 the hotel goes through a general restoration preserving all its charms and bringing a large number of famous people in the world of art, science, and politics. Its vigorous construction strengthened by a modern concept of hotel comfort makes it the ideal site for conventions and events.
CHRONOLOGY
The 30's.
On October 2nd 1933, bombardment occurs at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, due to the revolt of junior officers, including Batista, against privileges of high ranking officers. This elite army, quartered in the hotel, responds only to the interests of the ousted President Gerardo Machado.
Some hotel’s guests in this decade: Johnny Weissmüller (Tarzan), Edward VIII (Prince of Wales), Jack Dempsey, Tom Mix, José Mujica, Buster Keaton, Emilio Roig, Amadeo Barletta, Rita Montaner, José Raúl Capablanca, Tito Guizart, Trio Matamoros, Ñico Saquito, Errol Flynn, and the gangsters Santos Traficante (father) and Meyer Lansky, the latter coordinated future business of gambling casinos with Batista.
The 40's.
In 1945, the International Air Transport Conference takes place in this hotel, with the participation of airlines’ delegates from all over the world, and they found the International Air Transport Association.
In February 1946, Sir Winston Churchill visits Cuba and receives protocol attention from the Cuban government and he stays as a distinguished guest at the “Apartment of the Republic” a special suit of the hotel.
In December 1946, a great meeting by the mafia takes place in the hotel and its doors are closed to accommodate the heads of the most notorious families of crime in the United States gathered in Havana.
The head of the Steel Clan, Bornemicza Thyssen stays as a guest for more than 12 years too.
Continues the avalanche of figures to the hotel: George Raft, Amanda Ledesma, Betty Grable, Romulo Gallegos, Maria Felix, Jorge Negrete. Pedro Vargas, the Duke of Windsor, Karol II of Romania, Mario Moreno (Cantinflas), Tyrone Power, Lucky Luciano, Rita Hayworth, Ali-Khan, Ernest Hemingway, Fred Astaire, the Trio Los Panchos, Ernesto Lecuona, Hugo del Carril, German Valdes (Tin Tan), Bola de Nieve, Cesar Romero and Gary Cooper.
The 50’s.
The Hotel Nacional de Cuba lives its glory years in tourism. Nat King Cole participates with his unforgettable shows at the hotel.
A racial scandal with Josephine Baker, a popular dancer, occurs just because blacks are not allowed as guests by the American management.
An exhibition of valuable jewelry created by Harry Winston Corporation takes place in one of the halls of the hotel named “Salon Vedado, gathering the most distinguished Northamerican families living in Havana.
A revolutionary cell, called July 26th Movement (M-26-7) is created and led by Fidel in this hotel.
On January 1st 1959, The Revolution triumphs and representatives of the U.S. Company who operate in the Hotel abandon the administration taking their place the employees themselves.
In 1956 the Cabaret Parisien is opened by Eartha Kitt and among the voices that harmonize this place are those of Vic Damone, Nat King Cole, René Cabel, Esther Borjas the quartet “Los Modernists”, Yma Sumac, with the excellent animation of Mario Martínez Casado, more recently Las d'Aida, the Aragon Orquesta, Jorrin Orquesta, Compay Segundo and Alberto Herrero among others, who have given life to the hotel’s nights.
Other guests and visitors such as: Nelson Rockefeller, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Sir Alexander Flemming, Arturo de Córdoba, Agustín Lara, Brothers Iturbide, Ferrucio Burco, Pedro Almendaris, Spencer Tracy, Marlon Brando, Pablo Casal, Lucho Gatica, John Wayne, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, and Baldwin Leopold of Belgium, Walt Disney, Sara Montiel, the kids in Spain, Libertad Lamarque, Porfirio Rubirosa, Esther Borja and Lola Flores.
The 60's.
Between 1960 and 1961 the Cuban revolutionary government reorganizes the administration of the hotel. The Commander Osmani Cienfuegos is responsible for leading on this task.
At this epoch tourism suffers a change; the hotel begins to receive Cuban guests, even people from the country side as a result of the revolutionary process.
In October 1960, the National Revolutionary Militia and the Defense Committees of the Revolution are founded in the hotel.
On January 12th, 1961, the workers of the hotel send a letter to the President, Osvaldo Dorticos Torrado, reaffirming their unconditional support to the measures taken by the Revolution so far.
On January 1961, the Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz creates a school for women farmers to study dressmaking called Ana Betancourt. Those women together with a group of hotel workers were mobilized during the mercenary invasion at Playa Giron on April 16, 1961.
Celia Sanchez Manduley visits frequently the Hotel as monitor the school, also Camilo Cienfuegos and Ernesto Che Guevara visit the hotel during chess tournaments.
On October 1962, the “October Crisis” or the well-known “Missile Crisis” takes place too. The anti-aircraft are stationed and trenches are built in the garden of the hotel, being a major engineering work at the time.
In this period the world´s first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin is one of the guests, as well as Jean Paul Sartre, Simon de Bouvan, Josephine Baker, Bola de Nieve, Esther Borja among others.
The 70's.
From 1974 on the hotel opens its doors to the international tourism again.
Alejo Carpentier, Wilfredo Lam and Gabriel Garcia Marquez are distinguished guests of the Hotel.
The Hotel is selected to be the journalism home of the Sixth Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement.
On December 1979, the 1st International Festival of New Latin American Cinema is held remaining until today.
The 80's and the 90's.
In 1982, the Old Havana and the fortification system created in the garden of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba are declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
An architectural and historic restoration of the hotel takes place, being recognized as a jewel of Cuban hotels. It reopens its doors in 1992.
Important personalities visit the hotel, such as: Geraldine Chaplin, Danielle Mitterrand, Harry Belafonte, Manuel Vázquez Frogs, Pierre Cardin, Paco Raban, Michelle Legrand, Robert de Niro, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Diego Armando Maradona, Alicia Alonso, Ana Belén, Víctor Manuel, Francis Ford Coppola, Mohamed Ali, lmanol Arias, Rubens de Falco, Adriana Estevez, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Victoria Abril, Henry Aaron, Javier Sotomayor, Teofilo Stevenson, Danny Glover, ex-Empress Soraya of Iran.
In 1994, the Hotel Nacional de Cuba is considered the ensign hotel of the Gran Caribe Group.
In 1997, the Flag of National Vanguard is granted to the hotel workforce, having that distinction 12 consecutive years.
In 1998 the first historic rooms are inaugurated: that of Maria Felix, Ava Gardner, Johnny Weissmüller (Tarzan), and Jorge Negrete.
In 1998, Alejandro Vargas, one of the sons of Pedro Vargas, famed singer, is hosted, also the top models: Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell (the best black model paid in Europe).
The National Monuments Commission awards to the Hotel Nacional de Cuba the distinction of National Monument, due to its link with the history of Cuba, the architectural value, treasuring equity values since 1930 as furniture, lamps, wall paintings and the ancient cannons display in the garden, the most significant national and international events that are celebrated in this place, the halls are used for major press conferences and business meetings worldwide and also by the extensive list of personalities who visit this hotel.
The hotel is the home for the IX Iberia-American Summit in 1999.
The 2000’s.
The hotel hosts habitual events, with an average of 65 annually, such as the International Festivals of New Latin American Cinema, the Jazz Festival, the Fair of Habanos Cigars, Tribute to Orchestras, Concerts, International Symposium on Tropical Fruit , Summer School of International Law (Jurists), Auctions of works of art, Congress of the Latin American Design, International Congress on Satisfactory Longevity, Activities of the International Fair of Havana and Tourism, Fair of Wine, Business Meeting between countries or Business Forum, Events of Public Health Ministry, International Parlatino’s Seminar , Gala dinners, Receptions and Presentations of Embassy Credentials. The headquarter of the South-South Summit (2000), the Sixth Summit on Desertification and Drought (2003), and VI of the Non-Aligned (2006). All these events take place in different halls of the hotel; they are called “Sala Vedado”, “Taganana”, “1930 or Compay Segundo" the latter is traditionally the site for concerts of the Buena Vista Social Club. Also in the Apartment of the Republic, this is composed by some halls. They are named: “Sala Santi Spiritus”, “Baracoa”, “Trinidad” and “Puerto Principe”.
Many celebrities (presidents of countries, 1st ministers, other political and social leaders, important filmmakers, Nobel laureates, scientists, artists, athletes) have distinguished themselves by their presence, including:
In 2000, Mr. Hugo R. Chavez Frias, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Mr. Abdelaziz Bouterflika, President of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria; Reverend Lucius Walker, creator and organizer of the caravans "Pastors for Peace”; Reverend Joan Brown Campbell, former Secretary Executive of the National Council of USA Churches accompanied by Gregory Craig, the American lawyer who played an important role in the return of the kidnapped boy to Cuba, Elian Gonzale; Daniel Boremboim, famous concert performer; Joan Manuel Serrat, Spanish singer.
In 2000, the Cabaret Parisien is repaired and reopens its doors again.
In 2001, The Flag of the City and the flag of La Giraldilla, the highest distinctions are awarded by the City.
In 2001 and 2004, the Awards Gala to the Best American Sports take place.
The visit of Jian Zemin, President of the Republic of China; Ms Nadja Neptula, President of the Parliamentary Summit; Joan Brown, American Reverend; Favio Assuncao, Brazilian actor; Benicio del Toro, Hollywood actor, Fito Páez, Argentine musician; Jonathan Demme and Kevin Costner, American film directors, plus the team making the film "13 Days" directed by him.
In 2002, the hotel receives: the members of the Backstreet Boys; Yudi Foster, Oliver Stone and Steven Spielberg, actors and directors of American cinema; Sara Montiel, Celia Sandys, grand-daughter of Winston Churchill;
Vilma Espin, president of Federation of Cuban Women, the president of the Italian region of Lombardy, President of ASTA (American Association of tourism), President of the Basque Government.
In 2003, Rigoberta Menchú, Nobel Peace Prize and Mr. Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil visited the Hotel.
In 2004, “The 120 Years Club” is created and chaired by Dr. Eugenio Selman.
The visit of Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China on the occasion of Trade and Investment Forum China Cuba.
Other historic rooms are opened: that of the Mafia, the Nat King Cole, the Compay Segundo, the Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra and the Errol Flynn.
In 2005, the Hotel is declared “Teaching Unit” by the School of Highest Hospitality Studies and Tourism.
In 2006, Summit of the Non-Aligned Countries, chaired by Coffi Anan, President of the United Nations visits the hotel as well as Evo Morales, President of Bolivia and Tomas Borges from Nicaragua.
In 2009, Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador; Michelle Bachelet, President of the Republic of Chile; Cristina Fernández de Kitchener, President of Argentina; Martín Torrijos, President of Panama, Alvaro Colom, President of Guatemala; Leonel Fernandez Reina, President of the Dominican Republic; Margaret Chan, General Director of the World Health Organization. Peter Coyote, Robert Dubal, American actors; Juan Esteban Aristizabal (Juanes) and Olga Tañon, who participate in the Concert “ Paz Sin Fronteras”; Frei Betto, Brazilian writer and ideologue and the American Group of musicians "Cool and the Gain".
From 2003 to 2009 wins the World Travel Awards "Oscars" of domestic travel and tourism.
In 2010, the Hotel Nacional de Cuba is declared “Memory of the World”, awards by UNESCO Cuban National Commission and the “Memory of the World” Cuban National Committee, due to the collection and preservation of the rich history of the Hotel, which is scanned in high resolution.
In this year, other important personalities visit the hotel, such as: Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico; Mr. Vicente Álvarez Areces, President of the Principality of Asturias; Zhores Ivanovich Alferov and David Gross, Nobel Prizes, Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister the State of Kuwait; Gedleyihlekisa Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa; Nikita Mijalkov, Russian film director; Álvaro Torres, Salvador singer and composer.
In 2011 was guest James Carter, ex farmer of Unites States of American, Gil Bellows, actor and manager of the film Gravity Pull, Claudia Palacios, reporter of CNN in Spanish, Sultan Kosen, the tallest man of the world, and others.
Pictures from each personality are exposed at the “Bay-View” Bar, also known as “Hall of Fame”, with the aim of showing panoramically all the distinguished guests or visitors of the hotel since 1930 until nowadays.
This extraordinary story experienced by the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, its clients and employees, is shared through the Historic Tours around the hotel at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm every day.
