WINTER PARK, Fla. – President Obama announced this week that after more than 50 years the United States would be opening relations with Cuba. That decision could mean new business opportunities for many, including one Central Florida woman.
Serena Robison has been waiting a long time for this announcement. She bought a web address a decade ago, hoping one day she'd build a new business with it. Her hopes of helping people travel from Orlando to Cuba is finally in reach.
Inside Robison's Winter Park home, her book shelves are full of literature about Cuba and she has handmade souvenirs she bought. The world traveler said she's been waiting for the day she could go back freely and legally to what she says is the most beautiful place she's ever seen.
"This has been a dream of mine for years," said Robison.
Robison last traveled to Cuba in 2002 on a humanitarian trip. Since then, her dream has evolved and it now involved giving others the chance to see what she's been able to.
"I thought, well, I'm going to think ahead and dream about, you know, it may take forever, I may not even see it in my lifetime, but I thought that I would secure a website," said Robison.
The website is Cubatraveladventures.com and Robison bought the domain 10 years ago.
"I've paid my fee, you know, every year but I haven't been able to do anything with it because of the embargo," said Robison.
The news Obama announced this week gave her renewed hope and Robison said she hopes to soon be able to work with the Cuban people as they work toward opening their country up to American visitors.
"It would involve helping Americans go over and see some of the parts of Cuba that aren't so readily there. I'm really interested in doing something to also help them learn how to deal with tourism," said Robison.
Robison has never worked as a travel agent before and she's really just been sitting on the website domain. She said she's monitoring the politics and conversations closely before developing the site and business more.