OPENING OF THE XXI HABANOS FESTIVAL

Havana, the Cuban capital that is celebrating its 500^th Anniversary, is getting ready to host once again the XXI Habanos Festival.

The biggest international event of the world’s best tobacco, the Habano, will be held from 18 to 22 February.

Enthusiasts of this unique product from all corners of the world will participate in a Festival that will see the San Cristóbal de La Habana, Hoyo de Monterrey and Trinidad brands taking centre stage. 

Attendees from more than 60 countries are expected will enjoy a comprehensive programme full of activities designed to explore some aspects of the Habanos culture: tours of plantations in Vuelta Abajo*, in the Pinar del Río* region, as well as visits to the factories responsible for producing this year’s biggest launches. 

Other highlights include three evenings of the best live music from renowned international artists, the finest gastronomy in Cuba, Habanos tastings and a wide range of beverages from different corners of the world.

The Trade Fair and the Welcome Evening, will mark the start of the Habanos Festival.

The Trade Fair is the meeting and interchange point for professionals in the tobacco industry and the Welcome Evening, held in the Antiguo Almacén de la Madera y el Tabaco at the Havana port, will pay tribute to San Cristobal de La Habana brand for its 20 years.

The programme will feature master classes and keynote speeches, led by recognised experts in the world of Habanos at the International Seminar.

The XXI edition of the Habanos Festival will organise, for the second year in a row, the Habanos World Challenge.

The evening dedicated to Hoyo de Monterrey Gran Reserva Double Coronas Cosecha 2013 will be held at the El Laguito Reception Hall on Wednesday 20 de February, with a cocktail dinner.

The Gala Evening, held on February 22, will be the grand finale to the Festival and will pay tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the Trinidad brand. The event will conclude with the Hombre Habano Awards and the traditional Humidors Auction, with all proceeds going to the Cuban Public Health System.

03:03 21st Habanos Festival opening

04:32 Press conference

05:20 Havana footage

05:36 Tobacco crops

06:34 Habanos cigar factories

Interviews

Luis Sánchez-Harguindey, Co-chairman of Habanos, SA. (in Spanish)

00:00 2018 ha sido un año fantástico para Habanos. En 2017 había sido ya muy bueno en donde alcanzamos la cifra de 500 millones de dólares y el año pasado alcanzamos la cifra record de 537 millones de dólares que representa un 7% de incremento frente al año anterior.

Luis Sánchez-Harguindey, Co-chairman of Habanos, S.A. (in English)

00:15 2018 has been a fantastic year for Habanos. In 2017 we already grew to 500 million dollars our revenues and in 2018 we reached the record figure of 537 million, which represents a 7% increase.

00:30 Well, Habanos had a fantastic year last year. In 2017 we already reached 500 million dollars and this year we reached 537 million, which is a great figure outperforming the luxury sector.

José María López Inchaurbe, Vicepresident of Development of Habanos, S.A. (in English)

00:45 The main region for Habanos continued to be Europe, which is our traditional market. And in this year it had an impressive growth of 13% in value sales, which for traditional and mature markets is a significant figure. Then we have Asia-Pacific, with a growth of 9% in terms of value. Africa and Middle East grew 5% during last year and Latin America grew 2% in 2018. So all our regions have experienced growth during last year.

In terms of markets, Spain continued to be the first market for Habanos and had an impressive 22% growth in value during last year and China has become our second market overpassing France with an incredible growth of 55% versus last year. Of course is an emerging market and the habanos culture is arriving to China in a very rapid rate so we are also encouraging a lot our investments in China. And the third market is France, the fourth market is Germany and the fifth market continued to be Cuba.

Inocente Núñez, Co-chairman of Habanos, S.A. (in Spanish)

01:57 Después de 20 ediciones del Festival del Habano que indudablemente han sido todo un éxito continuamos teniendo unas expectativas tremendísimas por parte de los aficionados de los puros habanos precisamente porque hay dos grandes protagonistas. Primeramente el propio habano y en segundo lugar todas las personas que lo aman, que lo apasionan y que están muy a tono con lo que estamos haciendo y por supuesto nuestros equipos que están constantemente diseñando, elaborando y novedando cosas para atraer la atención de nuestros clientes y aficionados.

02:35 Vamos a presentar varias novedades en San Cristóbal de La Habana y en Trinidad porque son dos marcas que cumplen aniversario. Además vamos también a tener novedades en la marca Hoyo de Monterrey que vamos a sacar la gran reserva 2013 con hojas añejadas de 5 años.