Family’s vacation turns traumatic amid allegations of assault by a 16-year-old
A family from Burlington, Ontario, is speaking out after their 16-year-old daughter was allegedly assaulted by a resort employee during a vacation in Cuba. The incident, which occurred in March 2024, has left the family frustrated with what they describe as a dismissive response from both the resort management and local authorities.
A dream vacation to Cuba shattered
The Woolvett family had traveled to a Cuban resort seeking a relaxing getaway. However, their trip took a distressing turn when their teenage daughter was reportedly accosted in an elevator by a male employee of the resort. According to the family’s account, the employee attempted to kiss her and touched her inappropriately. The teenager managed to escape and returned to her room, visibly shaken.
“I was walking around the room, with tears in my eyes, and she said to me: ‘I think I was just assaulted,’” recounted Greg Woolvett, the girl’s stepfather, in an interview. The family immediately reported the incident to the hotel management and their tour operator, Sunwing.
The Woolvetts expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of their complaint. They claim that the hotel did not take responsibility for the incident. When they approached the Cuban police, they were informed that filing formal charges would require them to stay in Cuba indefinitely, a commitment they couldn’t make. Consequently, they decided to return to Canada without pursuing legal action.
Family seeks justice
The family eventually left Cuba without seeing any real action taken against the resort employee. Now, back home, they are speaking out to raise awareness and ensure other families don’t face a similar ordeal.
Sunwing acknowledged the complaint and stated that their customer service team had contacted the hotel on behalf of the family. “The health and safety of our clients is of utmost importance throughout their journey, and we sincerely regret the incident that occurred at the hotel property,” the company stated. They offered to refund the portion of the trip related to the daughter, but the family is seeking a full refund, arguing that the experience has deeply affected them.
A broader issue
The incident highlights concerns about the safety of tourists in destinations like Cuba. Thousands of people travel to Cuba each year to enjoy its beaches and culture, with the vast majority of vacations occurring without issues. However, this particular case highlights the importance of being vigilant and aware of potential risks.
The Ontario family hopes that by sharing their story, they can spark a larger conversation about tourist safety and resort accountability. While they continue to push for justice for their daughter, they also want to see real changes made to ensure that no other family has to experience what they went through.
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