Open up Cuba and Mitt Romney stands to make a fortune

[FA_Q2]

So...

What was the point of the OP then? Somehow it is fine and dandy to open up relations with Cuba but not so fine and dandy when people profit from the decision? Or are we supposed to support the new relations because Romney is making money because, in all honesty, no one really gives a damn if Romney makes a few more bucks. You really should already know this.

The decision to open up relations with Cuba stands on its own merits - this is essentially meaningless.

 

[SwimExpert]

Mariott may think about opening a hotel in Cuba but they really can't since Mariott would not be able to own the hotel. The regime would own the hotel. Whatever money it made would go to the regime.

No, that is not how it actually works. Places like Cuba want more money and tourism brings in a lot of it so the host nations make deals so that major companies will come in and attract them. this happens all over the place and Cuba is not going to be any different.

What he does not realize is that no matter what, the chances are that Marriott won't own the hotel either way. Just like most of the Marriotts you see are not owned by Marriott.

 

[jwoodie]

Open up Cuba now and the Castros stand to make billions.

 

[SwimExpert]

By the way, am I the only one who is unsettled by the fact that apparently one of the early negotiating points in the initial talks between the US and Cuba was to have an imprisoned spy spank it into a cup and ship it back home so that his wife could dildo herself with a turkey baster?

 

[Calix]

It's actually worse than that. And this is what Marriott can expect, along with the bad press that will naturally ensue.
Sol Melia, a Spanish Hotel Company, has 25 Hotels throughout Cuba. Sol Melia must follow the strict rules of the Cuban Regime in order to operate. If they do not, their contract will be cancelled, and they will lose any investment they have in the country.
There are many rules, but the two that stand out are the following:
1-Sol Melia cannot pay their Cuban employees directly. The Hotel chain pays each employee salary directly to the Cuban Government, which in turn pays the Cuban employee of Sol Melia. Sol Melia pays the Cuban Government in Hard Currency, while the Cuban Govt pays the Cuban employee in worthless Cuban Pesos. The Cuban Government ends up keeping over 90% of each employee's salary.
2-Unlike every Sol Melia employee worldwide, the Cubans working for Sol Melia do not have the right to collective bargaining.

How is Marriott going to negotiate that public relations minefield? The Cuban Regime is not going to budge.

 

[PaintMyHouse]

By the way, am I the only one who is unsettled by the fact that apparently one of the early negotiating points in the initial talks between the US and Cuba was to have an imprisoned spy spank it into a cup and ship it back home so that his wife could dildo herself with a turkey baster?

Yes...

 

[PaintMyHouse]

Capitalism can ruin any system, the Castros don't stand a chance in hell. That said, I'm looking forward to going there in getting their cigars here. Smoked one on Friday when I was out of the country. Very good, as usual.

 

[FA_Q2]

It's actually worse than that. And this is what Marriott can expect, along with the bad press that will naturally ensue.
Sol Melia, a Spanish Hotel Company, has 25 Hotels throughout Cuba. Sol Melia must follow the strict rules of the Cuban Regime in order to operate. If they do not, their contract will be cancelled, and they will lose any investment they have in the country.
There are many rules, but the two that stand out are the following:
1-Sol Melia cannot pay their Cuban employees directly. The Hotel chain pays each employee salary directly to the Cuban Government, which in turn pays the Cuban employee of Sol Melia. Sol Melia pays the Cuban Government in Hard Currency, while the Cuban Govt pays the Cuban employee in worthless Cuban Pesos. The Cuban Government ends up keeping over 90% of each employee's salary.
2-Unlike every Sol Melia employee worldwide, the Cubans working for Sol Melia do not have the right to collective bargaining.

How is Marriott going to negotiate that public relations minefield? The Cuban Regime is not going to budge.

There is not public relations minefield. You act as though this is the first time a hotel has moved into a nation that is not free. It isn't.

The gist of it is that no one actually cares. How the deals end up being worked out is a matter for the host nation. I don't care what asinine process Meriott or any other company is put through - it is not my concern to try and change other nations. If the last few decades have proven anything it should be that we need to keep out of other nations governments if we are not asked.

 

[SwimExpert]

If the last few decades have proven anything it should be that we need to keep out of other nations governments if we are not asked.

And probably decline involvement in most situations when we are asked.