Expedia Group, Inc.;Hotelbeds USA, Inc.;and Cubasphere, Inc.and an Individual
6/13/2019
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
OFAC today announced a $325,406 settlement with Expedia Group, Inc. (“Expedia”).
Expedia, headquartered in Bellevue,Washington,
has agreed to pay $325,406 to settle its potential civil liability for providing Cuba-related travel services in apparent violation of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 515 (CACR).
Specifically, between on or about April 22, 2011 and on or about October 16, 2014, Expedia dealt in property or interests in property of Cuba or Cuban nationals by assisting 2,221 persons — some of whom were Cuban nationals — with travel or travel-related services for travel within Cuba or between Cuba and locations outside the United States.
These transactions appear to have violated § 515.201(b) of the CACR.
OFAC determined that the apparent violations were voluntarily self-disclosed to OFAC and occurred prior to agency notice.
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20190613.aspx