During a report promoting U.S. companies expanding business in Cuba, correspondent Margaret Brennan also lamented a downside: “Cuba remains one of the few countries in the world left virtually untapped by American corporations due to the long running trade embargo....But visitors like Manuel Leone fear that an influx of big businesses will endanger Cuba's unique charm.”
Leone, visiting Havana using the online travel service Airbnb, fretted: “Everything is going to change within a few years, so we want to take the last grasp of how it was before the big change.”
Brennan began the segment by touting the company’s success in the Communist nation: “Well, you would think that spotty internet access and a cash-reliant economy would make it impossible for an online company to do business in Cuba. But that is quickly changing as the Obama administration lifts restrictions to make it easier for American companies to do business here.”
Talking to Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, Brennan observed: “Since the U.S. loosened travel restrictions, more than 3.5 million visitors have flooded into Cuba, a country with only 63,000 hotel rooms.” She wondered: “Who’s booking Airbnb in Cuba?” Chesky replied: “We think about 10 to 20% of all Americans who coming to Cuba right now are actually staying in an Airbnb.”
Before hyping concerns capitalism would hurt island nation’s “charm,” Brennan noted: “Cuba scholar Peter Kornbluh says American businesses are lobbying the Obama administration to allow them into the Cuban market.” Kornbluh pleaded: “Let us go to Cuba. Let us make our money. Get government out of the way of U.S./Cuban relations because Cuba is no threat to the United States and their economy is opening.”
Near the end of the report, she did mention the dictatorial regime being an obstacle to business:
Still, the authoritarian Castro government has not made it easy for American companies to set up shop, especially for companies which operate primarily online. Access to the internet remains state-controlled, making Cuba one of the top five most restrictive countries in the world. And one hour of internet use can cost as much as 10% of the average monthly salary. So Cuba’s a country where there’s spotty internet service at best.
Following Brennan, co-host Gayle King joked that she and her co-hosts “can get a great deal at Airbnb” if the morning show ever goes on location to Cuba.
This Morning joined NBC and ABC in hailing President Obama’s “historic” trip to the country.
Here is a full transcript of the March 21 segment:
8:15 AM ET
ANTHONY MASON: American and Cuban business leaders meet today in Havana as part of the push to build economic ties during the President's historic visit. Travel and tourism are major areas of opportunity. Margaret Brennan spoke with the co-founder of Airbnb, one of the first U.S. companies to do businesses in Cuba. It’s an interview you'll see first on CBS This Morning. Martin Margaret, good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning. Well, you would think that spotty internet access and a cash-reliant economy would make it impossible for an online company to do business in Cuba. But that is quickly changing as the Obama administration lifts restrictions to make it easier for American companies to do business here.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Checking in to Cuba; Airbnb Opens More Doors as Obama Visits Havana]
A room with an ocean-front view anywhere in the Caribbean would cost top dollar. But for as little as $45 a night renters can reserve a suite like this using the online booking tool Airbnb.
BRIAN CHESKY: We can offer more complete experiences for people.
BRENNAN: Company co-founder Brian Chesky.
CHESKY: It’s been our fastest growing market in the world, with 4,000 homes, 2,700 here in Havana, Cuba.
BRENNAN: Since the U.S. loosened travel restrictions, more than 3.5 million visitors have flooded into Cuba, a country with only 63,000 hotel rooms. Who’s booking Airbnb in Cuba?
CHESKY: We think about 10 to 20% of all Americans who coming to Cuba right now are actually staying in an Airbnb.
BRENNAN: Manuel Leone and his family live in Los Angeles. They decided to rent a home in Playa Miramar to experience Cuba like locals.
MANUEL LEONE: In hotel, I'm not going to have that opportunity. I'm going to take a tour, but I'm not going to get in contact with real people, the people – the Cubans.
BRENNAN: Cuba remains one of the few countries in the world left virtually untapped by American corporations due to the long running trade embargo. But that is changing, Starwood Hotels will soon be the first U.S. hotel chain to operate in Cuba in nearly 60 years. Cuba scholar Peter Kornbluh says American businesses are lobbying the Obama administration to allow them into the Cuban market.
PETER KORNBLUH: Let us go to Cuba. Let us make our money. Get government out of the way of U.S./Cuban relations because Cuba is no threat to the United States and their economy is opening.
BRENNAN: But visitors like Manuel Leone fear that an influx of big businesses will endanger Cuba's unique charm.
LEONE: Everything is going to change within a few years, so we want to take the last grasp of how it was before the big change.
BRENNAN: Still, the authoritarian Castro government has not made it easy for American companies to set up shop, especially for companies which operate primarily online. Access to the internet remains state-controlled, making Cuba one of the top five most restrictive countries in the world. And one hour of internet use can cost as much as 10% of the average monthly salary. So Cuba’s a country where there’s spotty internet service at best.
CHESKY: Yeah.
BRENNAN: Credit cards don't work.
CHESKY: Right.
BRENNAN: How is Airbnb doing business here?
CHESKY: We didn't even know ourselves how we do business, but with very little internet there are a few people on the island that have internet access. And so, the way it works is we have 4,000 homes and there are people that are co-hosts with our hosts, they’re intermediaries. They accept payments, they do all the messaging online, and they work with the people's homes.
BRENNAN: Cubans have a long tradition of renting out their homes to visitors, so to sign up new hosts, the company simply introduced them to a 21st century platform.
CHESKY: It was viewed as a new idea. And, here, it was something that was already familiar to the culture. There were tens of thousands of people that were already sharing their homes. We felt like it wasn't that big of a risk. All we had to do is make sure that the community embraced Airbnb.
BRENNAN: Cuban homeowner Pedro Suarez and his girlfriend Gretel says bringing renters into their home provides more than a steady income, it’s broadened their world view.
GRETEL: We thought it was a very good chance to be in touch with people of another countries and so that wanted to have to experience to live in Cuba with Cuban families.
BRENNAN: Now this is just one of the small business ventures that the Obama administration’s trying to encourage in order to put money in the pocket of the average Cuban rather than the Castro government. And, Norah, later today President Obama will host an entrepreneurship summit at a beer factor here in Havana.
NORAH O’DONNELL: Really interesting. Margaret Brennan in Havana, thanks. It’s incredible to see what’s going on there.
MASON: And how quickly it’s all happening.
GAYLE KING: And now we know when [CBS This Morning executive producer] Chris [Licht] takes the show there we can have a place to stay. Hope you're paying attention, Chris Licht, we can get a great deal at Airbnb. I like it.
O’DONNELL: I like it, too.
