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Melia CEO banned from US over Cuba hotels
Spanish hotel group Melia says its chief executive has been deemed persona non grata by the US administration.
Melia CEO Gabriel Escarrer has been banned from entering the US due to the company’s dealings in Cuba.
Melia Hotels International said up to 50 other companies have been sanctioned in this way but gave no details.
It is part of the administration’s strong arm tactics to enforce Title IV of the Helms-Burton act any way it can.
It relates to doing business in Cuba on land or property allegedly confiscated by the state after the 1959 revolution.
The US has no authority to kick Melia and other foreign firms out of Cuba.
A Spanish court threw out a $11 million lawsuit filed by a Cuban-American family over two hotels Melia manages in Holguin, Cuba.
Melia is now seeking assistance from Spain and the European Union to resolve the issue.
"We reiterate our respect and confidence in them … insisting once again on the loyalty, legality and responsibility with which our subsidiaries have always carried out their business management in Cuba," it said.
Melia owns no real estate assets in Cuba and only holds a management contract for hotels.
The EU says the US action is a violation of international; law.
The European Union’s ambassador in Havana, Alberto Navarro, criticized the US stance and told Reuters this was the only action against a European company that he was aware of so far.
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