Meliá Hotels ends management of 15 Cuban properties amid U.S. sanctions threat

Meliá Hotels International has decided to immediately cease management and marketing services, as well as brand licensing, for 15 hotels in Cuba through its Portuguese subsidiary Ilha Bela.

The decision comes within a geopolitical context marked by a U.S. ultimatum set for June 5 to sanction foreign companies operating in Cuba in connection with Gaeasa, a state-run military conglomerate. Meliá notified Spain's National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) of the withdrawal on Wednesday, June 3.

The company had previously informed the hotel owners of the decision on May 26, with formal confirmation provided on June 3. According to Meliá's filing, the withdrawal results from a combination of unforeseen circumstances beyond the control or management capacity of Ilha Bela.

The 15 affected properties include Gran Hotel Bristol Habana Vieja Member of The Meliá Collection, Innside Catedral Habana, Meliá Buena Vista, Meliá Cayo Santa María, and others across the island. The immediate cessation of services marks a significant pullback by the Spanish hospitality group from the Cuban market.

The withdrawal reflects broader pressures on international companies operating in Cuba. The U.S. threat of sanctions targeting foreign firms with ties to Gaeasa has prompted reassessment of business operations on the island by multinational corporations. Meliá's decision to exit management contracts rather than maintain operations under the current conditions underscores the operational and regulatory challenges facing international hotel operators in Cuba.