El Senador

El Senador was the original brand name of a luxury four-star resort located in Cayo Coco, an island destination in Cuba's Jardines del Rey archipelago. The property operated as a joint venture involving Cubanacan, a Cuban tourism company, and a syndicate of Canadian businesses. Its ownership structure also included Serge Savard, the former National Hockey League player and captain of the Montreal Canadiens. The resort's name referred to Savard's nickname, "Le Sénateur," or "The Senator." The property underwent several changes in ownership, management, and branding. In December 2005, the Canadian investors sold their interest to an Anglo-Dutch syndicate. Following the ownership change, the owners appointed the Spanish hospitality group NH Hotels to operate the resort. Under NH Hotels' management, the property was renamed NH Krystal Laguna Villas and Resort, ending the use of El Senador as the principal operating brand. NH Hotels ceased managing the resort in December 2010. In 2012, the hotel was divided into two separate operating sections, both placed under the management of the Iberostar group. One section became Iberostar Mojito, while the other operated as Iberostar Cayo Coco. These later operating identities replaced the original El Senador brand in the resort's commercial presentation. The legal company associated with ownership of the hotel was El Senador S.A. The available reference material does not provide a founding date, detailed architectural history, room inventory, financial results, or a current operating website. El Senador is therefore best understood as a discontinued resort brand and historical hotel identity rather than an active standalone international brand.

El Senador was the original operating identity of a luxury four-star resort in Cayo Coco, Cuba. Cayo Coco is part of the Jardines del Rey island group and developed as an international beach-tourism destination. The resort's brand name had a personal connection to Serge Savard, a former NHL star and captain of the Montreal Canadiens who was also among the property's part owners. Savard was known by the nickname "Le Sénateur," which was adapted into the Spanish name El Senador. The hotel was owned through El Senador S.A. and structured as a joint venture involving Cubanacan, a Cuban tourism company, and a syndicate of Canadian businesses. This arrangement reflected the resort's mixed ownership and international operating context. The available reference does not state the property's construction date, opening date, room count, or the precise terms of the ownership agreements. A significant change occurred in December 2005, when the Canadian investors sold their interest to an Anglo-Dutch syndicate. After the transaction, the owners selected NH Hotels, the Spanish hospitality group, to manage the resort. The change in management was accompanied by a rebranding: the property became NH Krystal Laguna Villas and Resort. The new name emphasized its accommodation format and resort positioning, while the original El Senador identity disappeared from the main commercial brand. NH Hotels' management lasted until December 2010, when the group stopped operating the hotel. The property subsequently underwent another structural and management change. In 2012, it was divided into two sections, with both parts placed under Iberostar management. One section operated as Iberostar Mojito and the other as Iberostar Cayo Coco. These identities represented the later evolution of the site and effectively marked the end of El Senador as an active resort brand. El Senador is consequently significant as a historical hotel name rather than as a continuing consumer brand. Its story illustrates how resort properties can change brand identity as ownership, management contracts, and physical operating structures evolve. The available sources do not document a separate product portfolio, advertising program, financial performance, or current corporate activity for El Senador.

• 2012

  Property is split into two Iberostar-managed sections

  [1]El Senadoren.wikipedia.org

  The former resort is separated into two parts, later operating as Iberostar Mojito and Iberostar Cayo Coco.

• 2010

  NH Hotels ends its management role

  [1]El Senadoren.wikipedia.org

  NH Hotels stops managing the resort in December 2010.

• 2005

  Canadian ownership interest is sold

  [1]El Senadoren.wikipedia.org

  In December 2005, the Canadian investors sell their interest in the resort to an Anglo-Dutch syndicate.

• 2005

  NH Hotels takes over management and rebrands the resort

  [1]El Senadoren.wikipedia.org

  The owners engage NH Hotels as operator, and the property becomes NH Krystal Laguna Villas and Resort.

• El Senador resort operates in Cayo Coco

  [1]El Senadoren.wikipedia.org

  The Cayo Coco luxury four-star resort operates under the El Senador name as a joint venture involving Cubanacan and Canadian business interests.

A luxury four-star leisure-resort brand serving visitors to Cayo Coco, Cuba, with an identity linked to its Caribbean destination and the ownership connection to Serge Savard.

• Luxury resort

  El Senador resort

  The original El Senador offering was a luxury four-star resort in Cayo Coco, Cuba. Its services centered on leisure accommodation and the broader amenities associated with a Caribbean destination resort. The available source identifies the property and its ownership and management history but does not provide a detailed list of rooms, restaurants, recreational facilities, or package offerings.

• Resort accommodation · 2005

  Laguna Villas and Resort

  Following the appointment of NH Hotels as operator, the property was marketed as NH Krystal Laguna Villas and Resort. This identity covered the resort's accommodation and leisure operation during the NH Hotels management period. It was later superseded after NH Hotels left the property.

• 2012

  Division into two Iberostar-managed propertiesStrategy

  Background

  After NH Hotels ended its management role in December 2010, the resort's operating structure was reorganized.

  Action taken

  The hotel was divided into two parts, both managed by Iberostar.

  Aftermath

  The two sections operated as Iberostar Mojito and Iberostar Cayo Coco, replacing the earlier El Senador and NH Krystal identities.

  Source

• 2005

  Change in ownership participationM&A

  Background

  The resort was held through a joint venture involving Cubanacan and Canadian business interests. In December 2005, the Canadian investors sold their interest to an Anglo-Dutch syndicate.

  Action taken

  The ownership interest was transferred to the Anglo-Dutch syndicate.

  Aftermath

  The owners engaged NH Hotels to operate the resort, and the property was renamed NH Krystal Laguna Villas and Resort.

  Source

• 2005

  Appointment of NH Hotels and resort rebrandingStrategy

  Background

  After the change in ownership participation, the resort owners sought a new international hotel operator.

  Action taken

  NH Hotels was appointed to manage the property, which was renamed NH Krystal Laguna Villas and Resort.

  Aftermath

  The El Senador name ceased to be the resort's principal operating identity during the NH Hotels period.

  Source

1. 1El Senadoren.wikipedia.org