Cuba Travel Services

What Cuba Travel Services does

Cuba Travel Services, Inc. is a California-incorporated, privately held travel company founded in 1999 that designs, distributes, and supports OFAC-compliant Cuba itineraries for U.S. citizens, with additional registrations as a Florida Seller of Travel. The company operates from Newport Beach (headquarters), Coral Gables/Miami (regional), and Havana (on-the-ground operations), and has continuously served the U.S.–Cuba market through every policy cycle since inception, reporting more than one million American travelers and zero OFAC enforcement actions.

The core product is an integrated travel platform spanning accommodations (250+ casas particulares and boutique hotels), 126 curated cultural-exchange experiences, six guided tour packages (3- to 10-day formats priced from $380 to $648+ per person), concierge dining reservations across 41 paladares, visa and documentation services, and the Black Coral Select premium designation program. Underlying technology centers on a web-based booking platform augmented by a text-based, conversational AI Trip Builder that generates personalized, OFAC-compliant day-by-day itineraries from natural-language traveler inputs. Supporting tooling includes an automated OFAC travel affidavit documentation system and a self-service supply-side platform enabling Cuban property owners and experience hosts to onboard inventory.

The business model is primarily transaction-fee: commissions on accommodations, tours, experiences, transfers, and dining reservations, plus revenue from visa processing via the CubaVisaServices.com partnership and from white-label programs sold to tour operators, airlines/charters, and cruise lines. Go-to-market combines direct digital sales, a toll-free phone/email assisted-sales layer, an affiliate and travel-advisor commission program, and earned media coverage in major U.S. outlets. Ownership remains founder-led (Michael Zuccato, CEO) with no disclosed institutional capital, M&A, or restructuring.

Name

Cuba Travel Services

Legal name

Cuba Travel Services, Inc.

Website

https://cubatravelservices.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cuba Travel Services is an OFAC-licensed, Newport Beach–based travel company founded in 1999 that plans and books legal Cuba trips for U.S. citizens, offering accommodations, curated experiences, tours, dining, visas, and white-label operator programs supported by a continuous Havana office and an AI itinerary builder.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cuba Travel Services

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510), Tour Operators (561520), Travel Agencies (56151)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Travel Agencies (THAKAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hotel & Accommodation Booking Platforms (THALAFAB), Corporate Travel & Expense Booking Platforms (BPAMAIAI)

Keywords

• Cuba travel services
• OFAC-compliant travel
• Cuba tour packages
• Cuba visa services
• Cuba accommodations booking

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Accommodation Bookings: Commissions earned on bookings for casas particulares (private homestays) and boutique hotels, including the exclusive Black Coral Select portfolio.
2. Tour Packages: Pre-packaged cultural exchange programs ranging from 3-day weekend experiences to 10-day comprehensive Cuba journeys, priced per person.
3. Experiences and Activities: Commissions on 126 curated experiences including artisan workshops, culinary classes, cycling tours, and community projects, priced per person ($19-$44+ range).
4. Dining Reservations: Concierge dining service providing confirmed reservations at Cuba's top paladares and restaurants, with verified availability prior to travel.
5. Visa and Documentation Services: E-Visa processing and travel documentation services for US travelers to Cuba, operated through CubaVisaServices.com partnership.
6. White-Label Tour Programs: Turnkey branded, OFAC-compliant Cuba tour programs for tour operators, enabling them to launch under their own brand with CTS operational infrastructure.
7. Advisor Commission Program: Commissions for travel advisors on all Cuba bookings including accommodations, experiences, transfers, and visa services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cuba Travel Services is a US-licensed Cuba travel platform that books OFAC-compliant trips for American citizens, offering curated accommodations (casas particulares and boutique hotels), guided tour packages, cultural exchange experiences, dining reservations, and E-Visa processing. The company operates an AI-powered trip builder for personalized itinerary generation and runs white-label programs for tour operators, advisors, airlines, and cruise lines. Its core value is navigating complex US-Cuba regulations while connecting travelers with vetted Cuban suppliers via on-the-ground Havana operations.

Product overview

Cuba Travel Services operates as a comprehensive OFAC-compliant Cuba travel platform for U.S. citizens, offering a unified ecosystem of travel services centered around its AI Trip Builder for itinerary creation. The core product portfolio includes: an AI-powered trip planning tool (AI Trip Builder), a marketplace of 126 cultural exchange experiences, six guided tour packages ranging from 3-10 days, dining reservation services at 41 restaurants, and accommodations booking for casas particulares and boutique hotels. Supporting services include Black Coral Select (premium designation), Cuba Visa Services (documentation), partner programs for travel advisors/operators, an affiliate program, property listing services for Cuban homeowners, and local host experience programs. The company also provides transportation coordination (transfers and car rentals) and maintains an extensive destination guide network covering 9 Cuban cities. All services are designed to comply with OFAC regulations under the 'Support for the Cuban People' authorized travel category.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AI Trip Builder An AI-powered trip planning tool that creates personalized, OFAC-compliant Cuban itineraries through conversational interaction, generating day-by-day plans based on user preferences for travel style, duration, interests, and budget.
• Cuba Experiences Platform A curated marketplace offering 126 authentic cultural exchange experiences across 12 Cuban destinations, including art workshops, culinary experiences, music and dance programs, nature excursions, and community-based activities supporting independent Cuban entrepreneurs.
• Guided Tour Packages OFAC-compliant guided tour packages including Havana Community Impact Journey, Havana Cultural Exchange Weekend, Havana & Viñales Explorer, Classic Cuba Colonial Cities Explorer, Complete Cuba Experience, and Black Coral 3-Night Havana Experience, ranging from 3 to 10 days.
• Dining Reservation Service A concierge dining service that secures confirmed reservations at 41 of Cuba's finest paladares and restaurants, including San Cristóbal, Ajiaco Café, Iván Chef Justo, and Finca Concha y Paco.
• Black Coral Select An exclusive designation identifying the most exceptional accommodations, dining experiences, and curated tours in Cuba, vetted for superior service, refined ambiance, and consistent excellence.
• Cuba Visa Services Travel documentation services including E-Visa processing, tourist cards, D'Viajeros health declarations, and specialty visas for business, religious, and educational travel to Cuba, operated in partnership with CubaVisaServices.com.
• Accommodations Booking Curated mix of accommodations including 250+ casa particulares (private homestays) and boutique hotels, with focus on comfort, location, and authentic local connection.
• Transportation Services Private transfers and car rental bookings across all Cuban provinces, coordinated as part of trip planning services.
• Partner Programs (White-Label Tours, Aviation, Cruise) White-label tour programs, airline charter support, and cruise line operational support for tour operators, airlines, and cruise lines seeking OFAC-compliant Cuba market entry using CTS infrastructure and supplier network.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CubaVisaServices.comcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered visa processing service for E-Visa applications, Cuban passport services, and specialty visa categories. Cuba Travel Services directs customers to CubaVisaServices.com for reliable and efficient visa processing with standard 72-hour and express 15-minute options.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Central Holidays: Caribbean-destination tour operator with active Cuba programs; comparable in destination specialization across the Caribbean/Cuba region and similar mix of group tours, FIT, and packaged cultural offerings.
• Insight Cuba: Long-running US operator focused exclusively on legal Cuba travel under OFAC categories; offers group tours, cultural immersion programs, and educational exchanges. Most directly comparable to CTS on destination specialization, regulatory positioning, and US-traveller customer base.
• iVisa: Online visa and travel documentation services platform offering e-visas, tourist cards, and travel declarations for restricted destinations; directly comparable to CTS's CubaVisaServices.com partnership for visa processing and affiliate integration.
• Kensington Tours: Bespoke luxury tour operator with custom Cuba itineraries and high-touch concierge planning; comparable to CTS's Black Coral Select tier and bespoke advisor workflow for high-spend travelers.
• SmarTours: US tour operator running guided Cuba programs alongside a broader international catalog; comparable in delivery of mid-length cultural packages, group sizing, and direct-to-consumer Cuba marketing to US travelers.

Broad incumbents

• Viator: Global experiences marketplace where travelers book tours, activities, and cultural experiences; directly comparable to CTS's curated Cuba Experiences marketplace (126 listings across 12 destinations) as a category peer in experiences distribution.
• Exodus Travels: UK-based small-group adventure tour operator offering Cuba itineraries focused on cultural immersion; comparable as a multi-destination tour operator with adventure/cultural tour packaging similar to CTS's guided Cuba tours.
• G Adventures: Global small-group adventure tour operator offering Cuba among its destinations; comparable as a multi-destination tour operator with cultural/exchange framing, though not Cuba-specialized.
• Intrepid Travel: Global small-group tour operator with Cuba itineraries emphasizing responsible travel and local community engagement; comparable in tour packaging style and community-impact framing.
• Audley Travel: Bespoke luxury tailor-made travel specialist with destination experts and curated itineraries; comparable in personalized advisor-driven trip planning and luxury customer segment positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cubatravelserv

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cuba Travel Services