Havana has just transformed the oldest lodging in Cuba, the Historic Telegraph Hotel -dates from 1860- in a most innovative establishment: the first hotel focused on LGBTQ+ public from the city.
In an enviable situation, in the very center of Havana (next to the National Capitol of Cuba, the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of the Revolution), the old building, duly restored, now has a restaurant and a lounge bar with a great gastronomic offer, a rooftop with pool and an extensive menu of snacks and drinks. In addition, it also has a wellness area with saunas , in which different activities related to fitness take place.
“This is a hotel for everyone, tourists and locals, with a positioning straight-friendly , in which we want everyone to have a good time and enjoy the experience offered by Axel Hotels, which is fresh, fun and authentic, like Havana”, they explain from the first hotel chain in the world aimed at the LGBTQ+ community.
SEXUAL DIVERSITY IN CUBA
The company has establishments in Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, San Sebastián, Ibiza, the Canary Islands, Miami, and now, in the Cuban capital. But how has the city taken the arrival of such a place? “ Cuba is making great progress in inclusion and Havana, especially. It is one of the tourist destinations par excellence worldwide, and this means that inclusion must be a fundamental aspect, due to the diversity of profiles that visit the city”, they begin from the company.
According to those responsible, the country is opening up to this group, which "It has a growing presence and impact on Cuban cultural and social life," which is also reflected in the arrival of this segment of tourism. “ Havana is the center of the LGBTQ+ community in Cuba , so the community is quite visible and the tourists of this group can feel comfortable and welcomed”.
So much so that the first contact of Axel Hotels with the diverse community of the capital came from Mariela Castro , “sexologist and LGBTIQ activist very committed to the group there through CENESEX, a center that has carried out important reforms in terms of rights and public visibility of the Cuban LGBTI community and she has sponsored various events for the acceptance of the rights of LGBTI people, such as the Cuban Days against Homophobia and Transphobia”, they detail from the company.
The facade of the old Telégrafo hotel, now Axel Hotel Havana
In the country, for now, there is no legal recognition of the right to marriage or unions between people of the same sex, despite the fact that these relationships have not been penalized since 1979. Homoparental adoption is also not allowed, but it is an issue that is currently being debated and voted on.
WHAT IS AN LGBTQ+ HOTEL LIKE?
The answer is given to us by the specialized chain, whose accommodations are conceived, developed and designed by and for the LGBTQ+ public, but open to everyone : “Axel Hotels was created so that our hotels were safe spaces for the community , open to anyone who values diversity and respect, our main values. For this reason, we do not want to define ourselves exclusively as gay-friendly , because we represent much more: our hotels are spaces created so that each person, regardless of her gender identity or sexual orientation, can be as it is and how it feels”, they conclude.