Leadership in Challenging Circumstances Part 1

Running a hotel is always a challenge, but running a hotel in Cuba is a constant challenge. This beautiful island has very special circumstances that those who come to work here need to be aware of. Don't be scared; for those who aspire to manage in Cuba, I can tell you that here everything can be arranged and, above all, everything turns up.

The key is to know how to look for and ask the right people. The path is not always straight and direct as in other places, but with time, everything makes sense, and you begin to manage the operation with less difficulty. If there is one thing Cuba has, it is companionship: what you don't have, a colleague has, or if not, they know someone who does. Patience, contacts and good relations are fundamental.

This is where I want to pause to stress the importance of good relations and contacts. As I mentioned, even the impossible always comes up in Cuba. It is vital for your day-to-day operation to have solid relationships with suppliers, truck drivers and everyone else. Take care of them, be detailed, treat them well, and they will respond accordingly. If you can do this, you are already 50% of the way there. We'll talk about the other half in the next part.

Greetings!