Travel updates: Cuba, New York and Connecticut

Cuba The US has given approval for ferry services to be restarted between Florida and Cuba after a hiatus of more than 50 years. Four companies have been granted licences by the US Treasury, as part of President Obama's strategy to ease travel restrictions and restore diplomatic relations. The companies, which plan to sail from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Key West to Havana, must now gain approval from the Cuban authorities, but say they are hopeful of starting services before the end of the year. Meanwhile, the airline JetBlue has announced it will begin operating weekly flights between New York and Havana on July 3, the first new services to be introduced since the restrictions were relaxed. jetblue.com

New York Ian Schrager, the veteran hotelier and co-founder of the nightclub Studio 54, will launch his latest hotel on Monday, the New York Edition. The 273-room property occupies the 213m-high "Clocktower" building on Madison Avenue, otherwise known as the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, which was the world's tallest building when completed in 1909. The property is the fourth in the Edition chain, a collaboration between Schrager and Marriott International, and has a lobby bar with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Madison Square Park and a restaurant overseen by British chef Jason Atherton. Bedrooms follow the restrained colour scheme of taupes, ivory and white that is a Schrager signature, though he has said this will be the last time he uses such a neutral palette. Double rooms cost from $725 per night. editionhotels.com

Connecticut While Marriott grows its Edition chain, its Connecticut-based rival, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, has launched a drive to encourage travellers to stay in independent hotels. In what seems a counter-intuitive move, the company - which owns or manages more than 1,200 hotels worldwide - is running advertisements under the strapline "Stay Independent" and says it intends to sign up 100 independent hotels to be part of its "Tribute Portfolio" collection over the next five years. Under the deal, the hotels would remain individually managed and owned, but give Starwood a percentage of revenue in return for marketing support. The properties would become bookable through Starwood's online reservation systems, and be part of its loyalty programme. starwood.com

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