The 22nd Habano Festival’s long-awaited auction, closing the event February 28, raised a record 4.27 million euros for Cuba’s national public health system, in a beautiful gesture of friendship and solidarity with the Cuban people.
Dalia Padilla and María Eugenia Álvarez, from Christie’s London auction house, one of the world’s most famous of its kind, hosted the sale of six original humidors during the event’s evening Gala, held at the Pabexpo Exhibition Center, representing a tribute to the world’s most renowned Cuban cigar brands.
More than 100 humidors have been sold in auctions held during Habano Festivals since 1999 to date, with which over 15 million euros have been raised for Cuba’s public health system.
The first humidor auctioned, sold for 380,000 euros, was donated by the family of the 1998 Habano Man in Communications, Britain’s Simon Chase, who conducted 16 auctions during Festivals.
It was followed by the H. Upmann humidor (with 355 cigars) sold for 270,000 euros; the Partagás with 390 cigars, €400,000; Romeo and Julieta with 380 cigars, €400,000; Montecristo with 450 cigars, €420,000; and the humidor that attracted the highest bid: the Cohiba, dedicated to the 500th anniversary of Havana, with 550 cigars including all the company’s vitolas, that went for 2.4 million euros.
Previously, Habanos S.A. Co-Presidents Inocente Núñez and Luís Sánchez Harguindey, presented trophies to the winners of Habano Man of the Year prizes: Servilio Jesús Córdova (Production) from Cuba; Jean-Claude Reichling (Business) from Luxembourg; and Alexandre de Lucidio Avellar (Communications) from Brazil.
Tarek Gamayel and Fadi Hammad, from the United Arab Emirates, were recognized as winners of the International Habanos World Challenge, a competition in which cigar lovers display their knowledge of the Habano world.
Also in attendance were Rodrigo Malmierca, minister of Foreign Trade and Investment; Gustavo Rodriguez, minister of Agriculture; and Jose Angel Portal, minister of Public Health, among others.
The Gala, dedicated to the Romeo and Julieta brand on its 145th anniversary and its three new Gold Line vitolas (Hidalgos, Dianas and Nobles), the brand’s top Premium lines, entirely handmade.
The night’s artistic program included performances by Cristian Alejandro, Shiina, Laritza Bacallao, Camerata Guido Lopez, Mimos Cuerpo Fusión Theater Company, Saeed Mohamed, Geydy Chapman, Max Max, Osdalgia, Arlenys, the Litz Alfonso company, dancer Vengsay Valdés and her partner, as well as the outstanding U.S. disco and soul singer Gloria Gaynor, who pleased those present with several of her hits, including the legendary “I Will Survive” (1979).
(Source: Granma)