Mexico City Now Letting U.S. Hotel Stay Open

Mexico City authorities Wednesday lifted a closure order on a Sheraton hotel, a day after they demanded that it be shut amid a dispute over the U.S.-ordered expulsion of a group of Cubans meeting there.

“We are confident that in these few hours the hotel has rectified practically all the irregularities,” city official Virginia Jaramillo told reporters after hotel managers met with government officials and the local American Chamber of Commerce.

Mexico City authorities Tuesday slapped “closed down” stickers on the hotel, saying it had breached safety and licensing laws, but the Sheraton Maria Isabel remained open, arguing it could not kick out its 550 guests.

The closure order came after the Sheraton angered Mexican officials last month by obeying orders from Washington to throw out the group of officials from Cuba because of the U.S. embargo against the communist-run island. The Sheraton is owned by a U.S.-based company, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc.

The 755-room hotel, which overlooks the towering Angel of Independence monument, said it threw the Cubans out on the orders of the U.S. Treasury Department, cutting short an energy conference held by the U.S.-Cuba Trade Assn.

Mexican officials said their country’s sovereignty had been abused and sent a team of inspectors who reported that the hotel had carried out unauthorized construction work and lacked bar licenses, sufficient parking spaces and emergency exits.