From grass Tiki huts to high rise hotels construction is doing well in Cuba.. Made necessary because it supports 10% of the economy, Cuba has committed its limited resources to projects related to growing its expanding tourism business. Havana on the north, Varadero 90 miles to the east and Isle of Youth on the south side of the island, are bustling hubs of construction and tourism.

Despite the 40 year embargo, the Cuban / United States connection still exists. An ancient, but still functioning Otis elevator can be found in the Ambros Mundos Hotel, where Hemingway lived, just off Old Havana’s central plaza. Other familiar names like Rheem, Carrier, and York are commonly being seen as air conditioning is starting to make itself known in renovated Cuba.

$40,000,000 annually finances a massive restoration of Havana’s historical buildings. These funds come from boot strapped money from previously restored hotels, museums, and restaurants run by the government. With this funding is a mixture of foreign investment from Spain, Italy, Mexico and Canada; and from UNESCO grants.

This construction boom was initiated by a bold $1,000,000 investment in 1994, during the darkest days for the Cuban economy after a 70% collapse of the economy following the Russian pullout. Results can be seen in the steady improvement to the Havana skyline as the crumbling 400 year old buildings along the Malecon, the famous seawall drive that lines the Atlantic Ocean, are being brought back from the brink of collapse. In 1994, at least 75% of these three story buildings along what would be called the Gold Coast in Miami, were vacant. Today most have been restored or are in the process of being restored.

In Varadero, the former DuPont mansion, nationalized (some say stolen) by the Cuban government, has been renovated as the focal point of a golf course development. Toronto based Sherritt International Corp. maintains part ownership in hotels along the Varadero beach. On nearby Cayo Blanco, the Tiki huts are being increased to better accommodate the 150 tourists that daily visit this small mangrove island.