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Iván Nadelmann, president of Cariscan A.S.

Excellences Magazine had the opportunity of interviewing Mr. Ivan Nadelmann, president and CEO of Cariscan S.A. and founder –alongside the Ministry of Transportation of Cuba- of REX. He talked extensively about his company's origins, his working attitude and his plans for the near future.

“The official opening took place on October 24, 1995. At that time, we were very proud of counting on the presence of former Transportation Minister, the late Gen. Senen Casas Regueiro, who was a tremendous source of inspiration and a great advocate of this project from the word go. REX was born as an enterprise attached to the TRADEX Group –from the Ministry of Transportation (MITRANS)- out of negotiations carried out between Cuban execs from that same group and a couple of Swedish businessmen with whom I signed an agreement. The initial objective was the establishment and management of a deluxe car rental operation in Cuba, in keeping with international standards for that kind of service.

“From the very beginning, I was involved in looking for our first office on the island nation, in interviewing our first employees and in securing the very first training. Today, I'm very pleased and proud of the fact that many of those first employees are still here with us at REX.

“Nowadays, the relationship that makes the REX operation possible is between our Danish company Cariscan S.A. –that holds the management contract, sees to delivering the highest service levels and takes after all investment, including the vehicle fleet, their spare parts and all the equipment- and MITRANS, the part that guarantees access to the market and provides the employees, the facilities and the infrastructure for all complementary services. The startup of the company was pretty humble, with a fleet of less than a dozen deluxe cars and one limousine, all makes from the Volvo brand. The plan for the first five years was to put together a fleet of 50 deluxe vehicles. Well, that plan has been surpassed by a mighty long shot.”

Mr. Nadelmann also spoke the revamping of the car fleet and the shifting from the Volvo to the Audi brand back in the 1999, as well as the unveiling of other makes. He equally referred to his business experience and the ties with his Cuban associates.

“REX was weighing the use of Sweden-made cars from the Volvo brand. As years rolled by, we were forced to change the strategy because Ford Motors Co. bought out Volvo and that American company prevented its plants from selling Volvo cars to Cuba under the restrictions imposed by the U.S. embargo on the Caribbean island. As a result of a market research we conducted in pursuit of a new brand, we realized that Audi was the right choice for deluxe vehicles. Later on, the fleet expanded to other brands and VAG products, such as VW and Skoda.

“Perhaps you might be surprised if I tell you that I've been in the car rental business for 40 years now, from washing cars all the way to becoming general manager.

“Over the past ten years, we've had excellent relations with our Cuban partners. Meetings have always been very fruitful and discussions have been businesslike, in an atmosphere of mutual confidence and respect. We've worked in a well-structured way and always moving in the same direction. You must bear in mind that REX started out as a car rental company of deluxe cars and limos. Due to the expansion of the market and the ever-growing demand of customers, operations have expanded successfully to the rental of much smaller vehicles and to other areas as well, like the rental of cars and chauffeurs –a choice being offered to both tourists and businesspeople. We've also been able to establish the long-term car rental service for two to three years, an option international companies operating in Cuba, as well as joint ventures and foreign entrepreneurs benefit from.

“It wouldn't be fair to speak of REX's success without mentioning all those employees and members of our front office staff who have been with us for the past ten years, highly qualified and hardworking personnel that's so hard to find somewhere else in the world.”

Wrapping up his interview, Mr. Nadelmann touched on his company's current potentials and perspective for the near future. “REX has grown dramatically over the past ten years, from an initial fleet of eleven cars to the amassing of 850 vehicles for the 2005 travel season. As we speak, we're operating in 19 different points across the country, including the internationals airports of Havana, Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba.

“Last year, out of a logical decision made by the Cuban government, we were involved in a revamping process of car rental operations within the island nation's Ministry of Transportation in a bid to get more efficiency and transparency in the kind of service provided by existing companies, like REX and Panautos. I personally had the opportunity of discussing the details of this project with Cuban Transport Minister Carlos Manuel Pozo Torrado and REX riveted all its attention on the Ministry's efforts. As a result of this, we've now changed REX's social reason, so now our strategy includes the rental of all kinds of vehicles. We'll stick to the principle of being a national car rental operator that delivers top-notch efficiency and holds on tight to growth possibilities. I can say the results we've chalked up over the past six months have been very encouraging.

“Well continue developing the strategy of making the integrity and honesty of our staff, as well as of clinching the highest quality levels we could possibly deliver, the name of the game for our company. I'm also confident that the car rental business will keep on growing in Cuba, basically because tourism is on the rise on the island nation. We've worked with our competitors because I believe there are similar car rental operators on the island that provide top-quality service. We've signed some cooperation agreements to guarantee that both tourists and businesspeople traveling to Cuba could get the best service possible. Cariscan is also foreseeing a promising car rental business in Cuba and we're willing to make all necessary investment and provide all the know-how and expertise needed to keep REX growing and expanding itself as a top-of-the-line company in this particular business. I also hope our company will continue being a good job creator for many people and that our customers will continue hiring our services.”

On the other hand, we wanted to find out what Eduardo Rodríguez Davila, REX`s general manager, had to say about his company's tenth anniversary. This is what he told Caribbean Tourist Excellencies:

“As well as REX's other founders, I'm greatly pleased of seeing this company getting stronger with each passing year. We're also satisfied to see higher efficiency levels and be a part of a company that's continuously raising the bar in terms of quality, let alone the attitude of our personnel and employees that help make REX a good example to follow. We acknowledge the tremendous effort of our Danish partners in reaching these results. Both Mr. Nadelmann and his representatives in Cuba –Per Hundevad and Brian Kristoffersen- have shown their great human values and have always had a positive attitude toward our people. We highly appreciate the support provided by different Cuban entities at MITRANS, especially Minister Carlos Manuel Pozos. In such a special date like this one, I'd like to send out a huge bear hug to all REX's employees, without any exceptions. Each and every one of them, in their different workplaces, deserves this recognition.”

Information on the Company Mailing Address: Calle 194 e/ 15 y 17, Reparto Siboney, Municipio Playa. Havana Phone: 53 7 2739166 Fax: 53 7 273 91 67 E-mail: rex@rex.cu