Cuban Cigar Reviews

Habanos S.A. Corporation is hosting the 11th International Habanos Festival, the most important event in the Habanos realm, between the dates of February 23rd and Feb 27th 2009 in Havana, Cuba.

From 23rd to 27th of February La Habana, venue of the Festival will become the meeting place of the distributors, specialists and lovers of the best cigar in the world. It will be a unique setting for presenting the novelties to be incorporated to the Habanos portfolio in 2009, which guarantee the dynamism of the Cuban cigar market.

Within the Habanos Festival, the Trade Fair and the International Seminar will provide a wide exchange of knowledge, experiences, products and ideas and create a unique atmosphere to fully enjoy the aroma, flavor and texture of the Habanos, the true stars of the Festival.

Cuban Lou’s Cigar Co. is looking forward to seeing you in Havana where you will find pleasure in the tradition and future of the Habanos.

GENERAL PROGRAM

Sunday 02/22

10:00- 16:00 hrs Registration at Havana International Conference Centre.

Monday 02/23

10:00- 16:00 hrs.  Registration at Havana International Conference Centre.
10:00- 17:00 hrs.  Preliminary of the Habanosommelier Contest at International Conference Centre (Room 5).
14:00 hrs.        Opening of Trade Fair.
15:30 hrs.         Combinations with Habanos at International Conference Centre. (Room 6).
19:00 hrs.         Welcome Night: New Products Launching (2009).

Tuesday 02/24

07:00- 16:00 hrs.  Visit to tobacco plantations at Vuelta Abajo Region. (Pinar del Río).
Free Night.

Wednesday 02/25

10:00- 10:30 hrs.  Opening of the International Seminar. Main commercial results of Habanos S.A. in 2008, by Manuel García Morejón, Commercial Vice President of Habanos S.A. (Room 4).
10:30- 11:00 hrs.  Launching of new products, 2009. (Room 4).
11:00- 11:30 hrs.  Coffee Break.
11:30- 12:30 hrs.  Tasting with Coffee, Rum and Habano. (Room 3).
12:30- 14:30 hrs.  Lunch at Bucan Restaurant.
14:30- 16:00 hrs.  Master class: Rolling a Habano totally by hand. (Room 4).
16:00- 17:00 hrs.  Tasting: Habanos with wines from Bodegas Torres. (Room 3).
20:00 hrs.         Night devoted to Trinidad Brand.  Its 40th anniversary and 10 years of the commercial launching. Habana Libre Tryp Hotel. Embajadores Room.

Thursday 02/26

09:00- 12:00 hrs.   Visit to Habanos Factories: H-Upmann & Laguito Cigar factories.
12:30- 14:00 hrs.   Lunch at Bucan Restaurant.
14:00- 15:30 hrs.   Combinations with Habanos. Final (Room 3).
15:30- 16:00 hrs.   Lecture: “The Habano in publications by Cesar Adames. (Room 4).
16:00- 16:30 hrs.   Lecture: “The Restoration in Cuba by Fernando Fernández. (Room 4).
16:30- 17:30 hrs.   Documental Projections: ¨With the chaveta´s Touch by Pamela Sporn¨, and ¨Habanos, Women and Cohiba by Niurka Pérez¨. (Room 3).
Free Night.

Friday 02/27

10:00- 11:30 hrs.  Habanosommelier Final Contest (Room3).
11:30- 12:00 hrs.  Lecture: “Habano Fermentation” by Luis Sorinas. (Room 4).
12:00- 13:00 hrs.  Closing Session. (Room 4). Awards: Best Stand (by category),  Habanosommelier contest winner.
13:00- hrs.         Final lunch at Bucán Restaurant.
20:00- hrs.         Gala Night: Launching of new product from Cohiba Brand. PABEXPO. (Room C).

Prices per Activities

ACTIVITIES PRICES IN CUC

Welcome Night  210.00 CUC
Visit to Plantations  80.00  CUC
International Seminar 315.00  CUC
Visit to Habanos Factories “H. Upmann” and “Laguito 15.00  CUC
Night of 40th anniversary of Trinidad Brand. 185.00   CUC
Gala Night 525.00   CUC

Full PROGRAM (Full Package) 1,330.00 CUC
ACCOMPANYING PROGRAM 1,230.00 CUC

The full package will have a 10% of discount

Important: DEADLINE for the Festival Social Activities

In order to get a better organization of the festival social activities we will be to receive their requests until January 20th, 2009. After that date, no request will be accepted.

Payment by bank transfer will be accepted until February 13, 2009.

The requests for the Welcome Night will be in force until Monday February 23rd, 2009, 12.00 m . After this time, we’ll proceed with “last minute” sale, of those requests not previously paid.

The request for the Trinidad Night will be in force until Wednesday February 25th, 2009, 12.00m. After this time, we’ll proceed with “last minute” sale, of those requests not previously paid.

The request for the Gala Night will be in force until Thursday February 26th, 2009, 12.00 m . After this time, we’ll proceed with “last minute” sale, of those requests not previously paid.

Contact (for reservation of program and activities):

Mrs. Alina Leal
Habanos S.A.
Marketing Division
Tel. (53) (7) 204-0513 y 204-0514/ ext 550 Fax: (53) (7) 204 0549
Email: aleal@habanos.cu

Payment policy:

According to the provision for currency exchange issued by Banco Nacional de Cuba, in force in the Republic of Cuba, the payment policy for the 11th Habanos Festival will be as follow:

1- Cash Payments: They will only be accepted in CUC (Convertible Cuban pesos)
2- Bank transfers: They will only be accepted in EUROS, at the exchange rate in force on the LAST DAY of the month before that in which the bank transfer is issued, taking as a reference the European Central Bank. In all cases, this value will be given by Habanos S.A. (Deadline for bank transfer February 13rd, 2009).
3- Debits (Discounts) due to bank transfers will be borne in each case by the Party proceeding payment thereof. Habanos S.A will not assume discounts by bank transfers of the issuing bank and must receive the complete payment (without bank discounts) of the activity that has been bought or of the full package, as the case may be.
4- Participants from United States of America will have two choices for cash payments; as follows:
a)    On their arrival in Cuba, the USD dollars must be exchanged to CUC (convertible Cuban pesos).
b)    They could acquire Euros, Canadian Dollar, Sterling Pounds, Mexican Peso, Swiss Francs, Japanese ¥, in their countries and exchange them for CUC on their arrival in Cuba.
5-Payments through Credit Cards: Payments through credit cards backed by American banks or their branches will not be accepted. Credit cards will only be accepted: VISA, Master Card, CABAL, TRAVEL CARD, DELIVERY CARD, BF, RED AND SERCUBA. (The exchange rate applied should be 1.1124 vs. CUC).
6- Credit Cards supported by North American Banks will not be accepted.

PAYMENT IN EURO (BY TRANSFER BANK)

BENEFICIARY:          HABANOS S.A.
BANK OF BENEFICIARY:  BANCO INTERNACIONAL DE COMERCIO S.A. AYESTARAN Y 20 DE MAYO. CIUDAD DE LA HABANA, CUBA.
SWIFT NUMBER:         BIDCCUHH.
ACCOUNT NO.           EURO 32101021500 EURO
CORRESPONDANT BANK:   DRESDNER BANK AG FRANKFURT
ACCOUNT NUMBER:       499/080 89930/00/888.

Just thought I would write a very quick summary of my week at the 10th Annual Festival del Habano in Havana, Cuba from February 25th-29th 2008. As I could not attend last year due to some last minute circumstances, I was excited about going down this year, though it was a very last minute decision. I was not only looking forward to smoking some of the new releases, but getting out of the -20C temperatures was an added benefit. Myself and Jerry were going down and we were meeting a couple of friends there as well. I have to say the trip did not start off on the best note. We booked with Sunwing Vacations (be careful). Our flight was “suppose” to leave at 3:30pm…let’s just say we were the last flight out of Pearson Airport at 12:47am. I wasn’t too pleased with the 9 hour delay needless to say. Three and a half hours later we arrived in Varadero, Cuba…only a 2 hour bus ride to Havana remains. Oh, and by the way, the 9hr delay = $75 travel voucher.

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