What’s up and coming in Havana? Stillwell Partners, the American company that organizes Advertising Week in London, Tokyo and New York City has announced they will hold the next Advertising Week in Havana.
Fast Company and JetBlue are partnering with Advertising Week in the organization of the event. Havana’s most symbolic and historic hotel, the grand Hotel Nacional will be the venue. Advertising Week – Cuba x Creativity – a celebration of the power of creativity, will take place this November 28 to December 1, 2016.
Everybody involved in the organization of Advertising Week: Cuba x Creativity is very excited about this opportunity. The CEO of Stillwell Partners Matt Scheckner said, “This is a unique moment in history, when the door to go to Cuba opened a crack—the embargo is still in place; we’re in a very interesting transition period and as an American, there has been 53 years that we have not been able to go to Cuba—we went down there right away to see if an event was possible.”
He added that “Havana is the last great creative frontier…. It is the jewel of the Americas and we believe there is no better place for a world fair of creativity than Cuba.”
Fast Company Managing Director and Editor, Bob Safian said, “It’s hard to imagine a destination with more intrigue than Havana. We look forward to a completely unique experience sure to incent our creativity, inspire and enlighten.”
JetBlue who flew the first commercial flights to Cuba this past August is also happy to be a partner for Advertising Week in Havana. JetBlue will provide two flights to Havana for the event. Marty St. George, JetBlue’s Executive Vice President, Commercial and Planning said “JetBlue is thrilled to be leading the way to Cuba and we are proud to partner with Advertising Week and Fast Company in this inaugural celebration of creativity in Havana”.
General Director, Antonio Martínez Rodríguez of the Hotel Nacional said, “The Nacional is proud to host this gathering of leaders from creative industries from the international community and we look forward to welcoming all to Havana this coming November.”
Other event venues include well known sites in Old Havana such as the Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso, El Floridita, Jose Marti Square, Plaza de San Francisco, Fabrica del Arte, Old Havana, and the Tropicana.
The Cuban salsa musician Isaac Delgado is Chairman of the organizing body in Havana. Delgado who led the Cuban delegation for Advertising Week in New York City in 2015 said, “Cuba will be ready and we are proud to see Havana alongside New York, London and Tokyo… The passion and energy of the Cuban people will infuse everything we do here.”
Mirco Gatti of Musicapuntocero will assist Delgado in coordinating the team in Havana for Advertising Week: Cuba x Creativity.
Advertising Week – Cuba x Creativity offers four days of creativity and thought leadership set against the backdrop of one of the most creative and stimulating cities in the world: Havana.
