By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "For those Jazz fans outside Panama City or with friends coming down...... With our 2 new rooms now ready we still have some space for those that need a room during the Jazz Festival next month. Located in Balboa, the Balboa Inn is only 5 minutes away from the Casco Viejo. Saludos, Thorwald Westmaas, The Balboa Inn, www.thebalboainn.com"

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By Staff Writer (Press Release) - Jumeirah, a luxury hotel management group, said yesterday it has been appointed by Spain's Grupo Mall to manage a luxury property for the real estate developer in the Panama City. The Los Faros de Panama complex will consist of three towers, each boasting residences, offices and a luxury hotel, respectively. The hotel will comprise 400 hotel rooms and suites, along with Jumeirah's signature Talise spa. Maintaining its association with iconic structures, such as the Burj Al Arab, the Jumeirah Group-managed property will boast one of the tallest towers in Latin America, with the central building standing tall at 361 metres and 85 floors. The two lateral towers will reach 266 metres in height with 75 floors. The management agreement was signed by Julio Noval-García, President of Grupo Mall, and Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of Jumeirah Group. Over the past few years, Jumeirah Group has maintained an aggressive growth strategy internationally by expanding into London with the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel and into New York with the Jumeirah Essex House. (Editor's Comment: Now that's funny. The last thing I saw on the Los Faros project was that it was dead in the water - no construction or activity at the job site. It's interesting to see this press release coming out now. Maybe they are going to start it back up? Refinancing or something like that? Who knows...)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Recently one of our sponsors, Panama Corporate Living, was favorably reviewed on the TripAdvisor.com website:

• “So much better than a hotel” - Panama Corporate Living, by Grace0704 - I stayed in a full size apartment. It was so nice to have all the extra space that you just don't get in a hotel. The apartment was very conveniently located for my business meetings. It was comfortable, clean and well appointed. The kitchen included all the utensils I needed to be able cook my meals. There was even a washer and dryer in the apartment--talk about convenient. The furnishings were comfortable and the staff were great. I would definitely stay with Panama Corporate Living again.
  
  
• “Home away from home.” Panama Corporate Living, by ampboy - This Panama Corporate Living apartment was perfect for my business trip. The apartment is located in one of the new codo towers in the desireable San Francisco area ... close to downtown and restaurants. This two bedroom apartment was clean and well appointed with the usual features one would expect ... exactly as advertised, and a real bargain for two business travelers vs. a hotel stay.

To see these reviews for yourself, please click this link.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "I was in PC last week and stayed at the Balboa Inn. I truly enjoyed my time there...the rooms were immaculate, the beds comfortable, great pillows, and perfect air conditioning. Because I had my cats with me, I asked if I could check out late, and that was no problem with Thorwald. I wasn't even charged for the 3 p.m. check out. I will stay there next time I'm in PC. Thorwald even picked me up from Albrook...which really is only 5 minutes away."

And then another person added: "My husband and I stayed at the Balboa Inn Monday night while in PC getting our passports renewed. We, too, had a very positive experience. The service is far beyond what we expected, the premises clean, the water hot, and the breakfast great. Thorwald and his wife have put together an exceptional staff. The rooms are basic but comfortable, and we enjoyed being able to walk around the neighborhood and to a good restaurant without feeling insecure in any way. I also highly recommend it. Bonnie"

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By ROBERTO GONZALEZ JIMENEZ for La Prensa - Depending on who you're talking to, they might be called "illegal hotels" or "executive apartments" but the activity is the same: the renting of apartments in residential buildings to tourists for a short period of time. Panama's Tourism Authority (ATP) received complaints from building managers due to the presence of strangers in their buildings. In addition, hoteliers in the country made it known to the ATP that their occupation rates were falling sharply, and not just due to the effects of the economic crisis. This fall in occupancy rate directly affects the financial capacity of the ATP, because part of their funding comes from the 10% tax charged to hotels. And these resources, in turn, are used to create the campaigns to promote tourism in Panama and abroad. On August 13, the administrator of the ATP, Solomon Shamah, signed a resolution forbidding the practice. His basic theory is that buildings are places intended for private accommodations, homes to families, and they are practicing public lodging, a practice which is reserved according to Panamanian law to hotels, hostels, hotels that rent suites, and other types of approved public facilities. The resolution, which was distributed among several building managers, will not be published in the Official Gazette, and therefore it will not enter into force. The ATP hit the brakes and decided to meet with the business leaders and companies who are involved in this practice of short term apartment rentals in order to find a solution so that the activity can be regulated by a new law. One of the options being discussed in government circles would be to establish a time limit between what is considered to be either public or private housing rental. The first would be regulated by the ATP, and the second by the Ministry of Housing. Thus, apartments in residential buildings could not be rented for less than 45 days. This solution, however, does not satisfy the companies who are engaged in vacation rentals, a business carried out by a small group of companies, mostly foreign nationals. In a conversation with La Prensa, several of these entrepreneurs - who preferred to remain anonymous - claimed that more than half of their customers, in many cases, corporate executives, stay in the apartments for less than 45 days. They say they are legally registered companies, which pay income tax, and although these payments are not reflected in the income of the ATP, they still contribute to state coffers. On the allegations of a lack of control over the people entering the buildings, they argue that every tourist is asked for a copy of their passport, and the companies inform the building management of who will be occupying the apartment. They also add that when a building does not want their apartments rented for short periods of time they respect that decision. This practice is common around the world. The website www.vrbo.com offers rentals of this kind in five continents. The journalist Pablo Mazarrasa, who is currently in Panama working on a report for the New York Times Magazine, is currently staying in Panama in an "executive apartment." "In an apartment we can install our office which gives up some flexibility," he says. One of the tourist segments which could be directly affected if this kind of activity is either limited or restricted is medical tourism, which is trying to take off in Panama. These tourists, who arrive to undergo medical treatment, often prefer to stay in an apartment, where they can be more relaxed. "This kind of measure would make us obsolete. Other countries we are taking the lead, "says Andres Caballero, the manager of Global Health of the Punta Pacifica Hospital, a center that has made a significant investment to promote Panama as medical tourism destination.   

The Balboa Inn is a small Bed & Breakfast at the foot of Panama's main landmark, Ancon Hill (Cerro Ancón) in Balboa. Conveniently located between the downtown area and the Amador Causeway and just minutes away from the domestic airport and the Panama Canal, guests are away from the city noise yet close enough to be able to easily access all that the city has to offer. The Balboa Inn is the ideal base from which to explore Panama and a great place to stay during stopovers in Panama City. We welcome families who will find our inn, its gardens and the surrounding neighborhood especially child-friendly and safe. (more)

   Click Here To Read The Full Article (494 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This afternoon I was discussing some more of the unintended consequences that will arise as a result of the resolution signed by the Director of Panama's Tourism Authority (ATP). Salomon Shamah (see: "Serious Problems With ATP's New Restrictions on Short Term Rentals" - 1 Sept 2009) Consider this - the hundreds of thousands of Panamanians and tourists who flock to the interior of the country every time there's a holiday or a long weekend very often rent houses or rooms from local owners. This is particularly true in Las Tablas where the population of that normally sleepy little town can grow to 100,000 or more, literally overnight. Well, not this year folks. This week representatives of companies involved in the business of short term property administration have been meeting with ATP officials to voice their concerns over the unintended consequences of this new broad and wide sweeping resolution, and they were told that "violators would be fined $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for the second offense." And of course, this resolution makes it illegal for anyone to rent any private property on a short term basis, which they define as anything less than a year. Therefore, during the traditional holiday periods when Panamanians flock to the interior, such as Carnival and Semana Santa (Holy Week), anyone who rents even a room for a few days will be subjected to possible fines and sanctions. I wonder how many hotel rooms there are in Las Tablas? (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (630 words)

My Michelle Dominguez for the Panama America - Despite the existence of 16,724 hotel rooms in Panama City and another 5,380 in the interior of the country, tourists prefer illegal hotel options. Jaime Campuzano, the manager of the Hotel El Panama and President of the Chamber of Tourism of Panama, said that hotels providing this illegal clandestine service are causing losses to the state. "In these places tourists do not receive the required guarantees of quality and safety," said Campuzano. According to José Thomas, the President of the Association of Small Hotels of Panama (HOPPAN) condominiums and apartments that before were rented for five or six months now are being rented for $40 per day. For Thomas, this is because many of these places have all the facilities of a normal residence, such as a kitchen and a living room, among others. The hotel industry in conjunction with the Tourism Authority of Panama is working to identify and punish these types of unauthorized establishments, that evade paying the 10% tax paid by hotels. "The goal is to eradicate these practices that are detrimental to the development of tourism in the country," said Campuzano. (See Comments)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (467 words)

By LUIS ALBERTO SIERRA for La Estrella - The interim report submitted by the Comptroller General of the Republic on Aug. 19 showed a decline of 9.3% in the daily average of occupied hotel rooms in the country, in contrast to an increase of 8.7% in the arrival of new tourists. The administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority (PTA), Solomon Shamah, told La Estrella that "clandestine hotels" are primarily responsible for this contrasting result, and that it is affecting the sector it represents. Given that the current financial crisis is making it more difficult for some real estate investors who purchased apartments to resell them, there were homeowners who chose to furnish them and use them as guest houses, creating competition for the hotels with these so-called "public accomodations." Shamah said the ATP will sit this week with representatives from the Ministry of Housing, and in addition they will talk to representatives from the tourism and construction industries, in order to find a solution to the problem which is considered to be "unfair competition". The institution would propose, the official said, a settlement which will prevent the creation of "public accomodations" while creating a solution that gives an opportunity to the real estate sector. They are considering to work together with two laws, of tourism and Real Estate, so that the ATP would regulate public lodgings providing stays of 45 days or less, and the Housing Ministry regulating weekly rentals of 45 or more days. "We are not going allow the use of a private apartment as public lodging," he said. Shamah said trying to regulate this activity is risky. Another objection comes from apartment owners who do not want to see strangers in the buildings where they live. The president of the Panamanian Association of Hotels (Apathel), Jorge Loaiza, considered it appropriate that the Tourism Authority should take action, because apartment owners are renting their apartments to tourists and not paying the 10% tax charged to the rest of the hotels in the tourism sector, and they also do not provide the proper guarantees, including security. "This is a totally unfair and unlawful competition," he said. Ana Royo for his part acknowledged that the sector of tourism operators, which he represents, has not yet recovered from the impact of the crisis. He emphasized that tourism from France was affected, to the point where Air Caribes has suspended flights to Panama. She recognized that those who rent their apartments as hotels find their customers through the Internet. She admitted this situation is affecting tourism operators. The Comptroller General's Office also noted in its latest report that was also a decrease of 11.9% in the average daily overnight, and 8.9% in hotel room occupancy. There was an 8.7% increase in passenger entrances. Expenditures reported by tourists increased by 3.2%.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (504 words)

La Critica - The Director of the Panamanian Tourism Authority (APT), Salo Shamah, said he would put an end to these illegal hotels. The APT intents to investigate a series of real estate (companies) that are competing unfairly with hotels by offering daily rentals to foreigners, which constitutes unfair competition. The director of the APT, Salo Shamah said he would put an end to these illegal hotels that do not pay the same taxes as hotels, and operate outside of law. The official explained that many developers who did not sell the buildings they built, due to the global crisis, have opted for this marginal practice. In another aspect, Shamah announced they are considering the possibility of holding the annual Carnival celebrations along the new Coastal Strip this year, but after a promotion to attract tourists. Furthermore he announced the budget allocated to the Government for these festivals is also intended to support the Carnival of the interior.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (167 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Hilton Hotels Corporation announces its return to Panama with the signing of four multi-year agreements in Panama City, Panama: two management agreements for a brand-new Hilton and new build Embassy Suites by Hilton hotel, one franchise agreement for a Doubletree by Hilton conversion and one franchise agreement for a newly built Hilton Garden Inn. Each hotel will represent the first in the country for each brand. “We are truly excited about these developments in Panama City and being back in such a great city,” commented Daniel Hughes, senior vice president of operations, Caribbean, Mexico, and Latin America, for Hilton Hotels Corporation. “These newest additions reinforce our commitment to add a number of properties to our Central America portfolio and to have a presence in one of the region’s fastest growing destinations. We’re looking forward to being part of a thriving city that continues to offer some of the best tourist attractions in the region.” (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (788 words)

By TAGNIA SHOCRÓN for La Estrella - More and more tourists are coming to Panama, but this growth in traffic is not going hand in hand with investments in new hotel rooms and rooms are scarce, primarily in high end and first class hotels. The crunch to at a point where executives are finding themselves forced to stay in very low quality residential units because there are not five star rooms available. Authorities hope the situation will stabilize in 2010 when several construction projects will be completed that will equip the country with 10,000 new hotel rooms. But in the meantime there is currently a deficit of 4,000 rooms which will continue being an obstacle for development of the industry.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (127 words)

Memphis Business Journal - Embassy Suites Hotels, one of the locally headquartered brands owned by Hilton Hotels Corp., is planning to open 62 franchised hotels in the next three years. Embassy Suites currently has 192 hotels, and officials say the planned properties represent the strongest development pipeline in the brand's 24-year history. New properties will include locations in Memphis, Denver, New Orleans, Houston, St. Louis and Miami. The Embassy Suites Jackson-Ridgeland will be the brand's first in Mississippi, which is scheduled to open in November. Embassy Suites is also expanding in Latin America, with properties in Valencia, Venezuela; San Jose, Costa Rica; Tijuana, Mexico; and Panama City, Panama. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (155 words)

Asia Travel Tips.com - Marriott is to open a Renaissance hotel in Panama in 2011 under a management agreement with Hotel Properties of Panama, Inc. In addition, Marriott plans to expand its existing properties and to add two additional hotels, tripling its presence in the country, over the next 30 months to five hotels and 1,200 rooms. The 300-room Renaissance Panama Hotel Financial District will be located in the heart of the financial district on a prime site immediately adjacent to the existing 295-room Panama City Marriott to which it will be physically joined, enabling guests to easily walk from hotel to the other. The hotel will be part of a mixed-use project that will include two towers above a podium. One of the towers will house the hotel and up to 150 unbranded residential condominiums on the floors above the hotel. The second tower will house offices. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (314 words)

By Kelvin Wong for (Bloomberg) -- Six Australian cities are among the 20 destinations with the highest hotel occupancy rates outside the U.S. last year, with Perth claiming the top spot, according to a report by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Perth had an occupancy rate of 85.1 percent, Deloitte said in a report released today. Next on the list, which tracks 7,800 hotels in 165 cities outside the U.S., was Panama with 84.7 percent followed by Dubai at 84.5 percent. Brisbane came in fourth with 84.3 percent. The other Australian cities in the top 20 were Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Cairns. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (186 words)

By Aet Elisa Tejera C. for La Critica - The shortage of hotel rooms compared to a significant increase in demand has become the Achilles Heel of Panamanian tourism. Starting in 2006 there is now no "low season" for hotels and the shortage of hotel rooms is now both a crisis and an open secret, according to Ana Royo, the President of the Panamanian Association of Tourism Operators (APOTUR.) In 2006, 1,358,000 tourists visited Panama and there has been a reported increase of 17% in these past two years with only two new hotels opening their doors, not enough to cover the demand, said Royo during her presentation in the Annual Conference of Business Executives (CADE 2008). This small crisis will be more evident when factors are added like: the beginning of operations in November of the Panama Home Port, the tourist promotion with a new advertising campaign of $39.5 million dollars, the new niches of markets with a focused 30% in Europe, the increase of airlines and flight frequencies, said Royo. Although during 2008 it is anticipated an additional 10 hotel projects will be completed in Panama City adding approximately 3.386 new hotel rooms to the market, for 2009 there are only four new hotels coming on line with an additional 1,088 rooms. In addition Royo thinks all ten of the new hotels will not actually be opening this year.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (260 words)

MIAMI, April 23 /PRNewswire/ -- For almost one hundred years, The Panama Canal has served to connect the East to the West; now, Buddha-Bar -- the unique concept that has become an international phenomenon, is set to accomplish the same goal. With their first Oriental inspired Luxury Hotel in the Americas set to open in fast growing Panama City, Buddha-Bar will expand on their vision, bringing a sumptuous hotel, restaurant and spa to this thriving metropolis. As seen with their monster success in Paris, Buddha-Bar creates an exotic journey that includes eclectic design, hypnotizing music, and magical food mixing the boldness of Asian flavors with the delicacies of France. The unique group will open their first hotel in Prague this summer. (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (342 words)

By Mónica Palm for La Prensa - A group of investors has been working to advance a project to build a new five-star, 139 room hotel on the site of the former Club Union in Casco Viejo, even though Panama's Attorney General issued an opinion more than a year ago saying the lands should revert to the nation because they are located on a beach. The land in question measures 5,512 square meters, and the group plans to build two buildings for a total constructed area of 15,848 square meters in five levels (including a basement and an attic), with a front that will rise a total of 80 meters. The hotel, which has not yet been named, will cost approximately $30 million dollars to build and supposedly it will be finished by the end of 2009. The land was the property of the Decameron Group, who also wanted to build a hotel on the site, but sold it in 2006 to Properties of the Bahia S.A. and American Paul Stallings who paid $7.5 million dollars. The company recently presented their environmental impact study to the ANAM for evaluation.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (344 words)

By Mireya Rodríguez for the Panama America - It's located close to the Colón 2000 cruise ship port. The Radisson Colón 2000 hotel is in its last phase of construction and is almost ready to begin operations. With an investment of more than $12 million dollars and located near the Colón Free Trade Zone and the cruise ship port, this hotel is part of the Radisson international chain of hotels which will help position the hotel in the market and will ensure high quality services, improved business services, and operational software. The hotel will have 102 rooms, and guests will have access to a restaurant with an international kitchen and cafeteria, the rooms will have wireless Internet connections, 24 hour room service, a lobby bar and a grand casino. In addition, the Radisson Colon 2000 offers meeting halls with capacity for 300 people and one terrace with swimming pool for adults and children. In this last stage 60 people are working to put the finishing touches on the hotel to prepare for their opening. During the construction more than 120 people worked for the past 18 months. Construction workers were drawn from the Colon area and they were trained and gained experience and improved their qualifications.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (218 words)

Our waterfront paradise, the Careening Cay Resort and Cosmic Crab Café, is located on Isla Carenero in Bocas del Toro. Christopher Columbus repaired his ships here in our bay in 1503 before his last voyage home and named the island based on the Spanish verb "carenar" (to careen) - cause a vessel to lie on its side, as on a beach, in order to repair, clean, or otherwise work on its bottom. The resort is located in over six acres of lush tropical landscaping and over 600 feet of waterfront. Our backyard is verdant rainforest. Because of this location the resort captures the refreshing Caribbean breeze and offers fabulous sunsets. (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (752 words)

#1 - Expose yourself to the elements: Skin cancer and creepy tropical diseases carried by sand flies and mosquitoes (such as Dengue and Leishmaniasis) are not nice souvenirs to take home and show friends. Omitting sun block and bug spray because you like to pack light on vacations is fine. But failing to pick them up at a local Panama drugstore can be brutal.

Solution: Buy yourself some good bug spray (we prefer the industrial strength type) as well as some high SPF suntan lotion (at certain spots, Panama is only a few degrees from the equator). Try the Arrocha Farmacies for the best selection. (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (719 words)

HotelChatter.com - Our first clue that The Bristol in Panama City, Panama is the hot place to stay was the brand new Masarati parked out front. Our second clue was sitting down to check in and finding ourselves chatting with Judy Dench, who was checking out. The famed actress was in town for a week shooting her Q role for the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. (Funny enough, that portion of the film is actually supposed to take place in Haiti, so the Panamanians are not too thrilled.) Being the Oscar-winning lady she is, Ms. Dench won raves from the staff for her graciousness and lack of midnight diva demands. Tomorrow we'll feature a video tour of one of the Bristol's rooms, but this is the clear winner in town in terms of service, fine dining, and plush rooms. Note that there is no swimming pool though, an oddity in a city that is steaming hot all year. Plus the two front desk people have to go into a back room to print out anything, meaning the small lobby is often devoid of employees. There were a few marks of distinction that went beyond the norm though. A concierge pulled off a big flight change that avoided a change fee and a couple hours after check-in Bristol business cards arrived, printed with our name on them. Everyone can feel like a celeb--or at least an international banking kingpin.   

Panama City – The consortium Wyndham Hotels and Resorts has entered the Panamanian market, where it opened its first five-star hotel. The 300-room facility is part of the company's strategy to be present in major cities of the world. The hotel, which is located in Panama City's financial and business sector, will be run by Silver Entertainment. The hotel offers four restaurants, a full-service spa and fitness center, rooftop pool, business center, 15,000 square feet of meeting space and a Las Vegas-style casino with more than 40,000 square feet of gaming area, making it one of the largest casinos in Latin America.   

From inRich.com - Panama project - Richmonder Wayne Bryan is building a resort in Panama. His Lago Mar LLC development company is partnering with Hard Rock International to build the 550-room Hard Rock Hotel Panama. The luxury resort will be on 27 acres along the popular Playa Blanca beach on Panama's western shore, about 70 miles southwest of Panama City. The project will mark Hard Rock's entrée into Latin America's hotel market. It's slated to open in early 2010. Construction should start in the spring. Bryan, the chief executive of the Chesterfield County firm, said Lago Mar wants to capitalize on a rapidly increasing demand for hotel accommodations in that part of Panama. "We're excited about this project," said Bryan, part of a group of investors who developed Los Suenos Resort in Costa Rica in 1998.   

Panama America - The Gamboa Rainforest Resort has recently completed an expansion program, and there are now an additional 60 new rooms available at their hotel. For it, the group Bern Hotels & Resorts Panama invested more than $3.5 million dollars according to a spokesman. The rooms are deluxe, king suites, and thematic suites, among others. The Marriott in Panama is also going to build an expansion of their hotel, adding 77 new rooms, at a projected construction cost of between $8 to $10 million dollars. They expect the new rooms to be available for occupancy by 2009.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (287 words)

ORLANDO, Fla., Hard Rock International and Lagomar Resort, S.A. announced today plans to develop a Hard Rock Hotel in Farallon, Panama. Hard Rock Hotel Panama will be situated along Playa Blanca Beach in Farallon. The newest location will be reflective of the luxurious brand, as well as Hard Rock's ongoing strategy to accelerate expansion of their properties worldwide. With broad views of the Pacific Ocean, the resort will provide outstanding oceanfront views along 1,200 feet of Panama's coast. The tropical location, combined with Hard Rock's renowned, luxurious quality standard, offers another unique destination resort for one of the world's most globally recognized brands. This is Hard Rock's first hotel property in Latin America. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (665 words)

By Mireya Rodríguez for the Panama America - Sofia Restrepo had to wait almost two weeks to be able to find an available hotel room, which forced a delay in business plans she had made. For the past few months most of the hotels in Panama City have been booked full. The cost for a room varies depending on the hotel chosen by the visitor. For example, a single room costs between $78 and $175 dollars per night, plus a 10% hotel tax. According to Jorge Loaiza, the President of the Panamanian Association of Hotels (APATEL), the hotel occupation rate in the country has improved due to the economic activities which are being developed, new businesses, and to the promotion of Panama as tourist destination, among others. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (682 words)

By Doreen Hemlock | South Florida Sun-Sentinel - South Florida's Nikki Beach, known for its celebrity-studded, late-night parties at beach venues, is extending its hip brand to Central America. The company's new hotel division said it broke ground on an $80 million project at Panama's Pacific Coast beach known as Playa Blanca. The venture, which promoters call "the sexiest project in Panama," is due to open its first phase in December 2008, featuring a deluxe condo-resort with 144 rooms and suites, a spa, gym and other amenities. Panama-based RG Inmobiliaria will develop the Nikki Beach Resort & Residences Playa Blanca, which will eventually encompass 500 units. Nikki Beach said it also plans a second hotel later in Panama, in the capital of Panama City. The groundbreaking comes amid a real estate boom in Panama, with some analysts calling Panama City "the next Miami." Skyscrapers are rising fast across the capital's skyline, including one by Donald Trump. A nation of almost 3 million people, tropical Panama has boosted business incentives in recent years, partly to offset the loss of U.S. military revenues after the U.S. handover of the Panama Canal in 1999. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (109 words)

Hotel Interactive - Silver Entertainment, LLC (SE), a new hospitality and gaming company established in March by New York-based developer, The Andalex Group, acquired Veneto Hotel & Casino in Panama this week. SE’s gaming license application in Panama was deemed complete earlier this year and the Veneto acquisition is SE’s first venture in Latin America. Meridian Capital Group was broker to the financing which was led by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. The selling party was the partnership of Moisès Haskey, Alberto Daniel Btesh and Abraham Btesh. Full management of the property is expected to be transferred this month. The Veneto Hotel & Casino, built in 2005, is currently the most modern casino in Panama and Latin America and offers 301 guest rooms and 45,000 square feet of state of the art gaming space. The property which will be re-branded as ‘Veneto - A Wyndham Grand Hotel Veneto Casino’ is located on Via Veneto, 20 minutes away from Panama’s Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in the heart of the financial and banking center. Wyndham Grand Collection is the pinnacle brand in the Wyndham family. Each Wyndham Grand Hotel offers a unique, five-star experience while capturing the local flavor of the destination where it is located. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (558 words)

MIAMI-(Business Wire)-February 1, 2007 - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) (LON:IHG) (NYSE:IHG) (ADRs), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, today announced the groundbreaking of the Holiday Inn Panama Canal, in the Republic of Panama. The 115 room hotel will be located next to the Panama Canal in the City of Knowledge, a renowned international complex for education and research. It will be the fourth IHG hotel in the Republic of Panama through its affiliation with Panama City-based Bern Hotels & Resorts, the tourism division of Empresas Bern, one of the most respected commercial developers in Latin America. Currently the developer has the InterContinental Miramar, InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort & Spa and the Crowne Plaza Panama. The unique component of the project is that it will be adjacent to the first educational institution for Bern Hotels & Resorts and IHG Latin America, which will be named Panama International Hotel School. The new hotel and the school are both scheduled to open towards the beginning of 2008, and will add a hospitality-oriented educational component while building on the City of Knowledge's tradition of innovation and inspiring personal excellence. (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (458 words)

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a letter of understanding with Empresas Bern to open a hospitality training school in Panama called the Holiday Inn Hotel and School Panama Canal. The City of Knowledge, where the hotel and school will be located, is an international complex for education, research and innovation. The hotel and school, which in its initial phase will have 110 rooms, will be the first educational institution for IHG in Latin America. The Holiday Inn Hotel and School Panama Canal will feature learning spaces for the school’s hospitality programme, such as a lecture hall, several classrooms, group study/meeting rooms, a computer centre and an auditorium for large classroom lectures. The school will provide management-level instruction in a full range of hospitality disciplines. The existing homes located on the premises will be renovated for extended stay purposes and student housing. The hotel and school is slated for completion around mid 2008. Details: www.ihgplc.com   

By: Chris Walker - Our family went and stayed for 3 days / nights in the Banana’s resort on Isla Grande. Overall we enjoyed our stay. The scenery was beautiful, the staff was very friendly, and the accommodations were excellent. The group was running a pricing “lodging special” for kids to stay free. What was not included was transportation from Panama City, meal costs on the island (except for breakfast), and the water taxi to get to the island. Thankfully, we brought cash with us to cover the water taxi, as that charge was not a piece of information until we were in the van on the way. Trying to secure a reservation was a cumbersome process that involved emails, international phone calls, and international faxes. It was challenging to get it done, and the lack of information that we are used to having (confirmations, confirmation numbers, etc) left us wondering if we really were going. We used their taxi service to get there, as our planned arrangements to get there ourselves fell apart. The driver was nice, prompt, and did his best to avoid the potholes on the road beyond Portobello. (more...)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (381 words)

The Panamá Rey Hotel, under the same ownership for the past twenty-six (26) years, is presently in the midst of an amazing million dollar-remodeling project. With a history of solid successful business management behind it, and because the hotel is in David’s center of commerce, it is in an ideal location, and now is the perfect time to prepare the Panamá Rey Hotel as the premier hospitality center for the western highlands of Chiriqui. This modern renovation and major design improvement will give the hotel a highly contemporary, 21st century appearance. The renovations will involve a total revamping of the exterior and interior of the hotel from Accommodations, Guest Services, Restaurants Services, making it a hub for eco-tourism and attractive all-inclusive travel packages.    Click Here To Read The Full Article (912 words)

MIAMI (AP) - InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, on Friday announced an agreement with real estate firm Empresas Bern to open a hotel and school in City of Knowledge, Panama. Financial terms were not disclosed. The Holiday Inn Hotel and School Panama Canal, which in its initial phase will have 110 rooms, will be the first educational institution for InterContinental Hotels Group Latin America. It will be located at the City of Knowledge, an international education and research complex. The Holiday Inn Hotel and School Panama Canal will provide management-level instruction in hospitality disciplines and is slated for completion in 2008. American depositary shares of Intercontinental Hotels, which is based in the United Kingdom, rose 32 cents, or 2 percent, to $16.34 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.    

From: Ronald Miller [mailto:akraft@(snip).net], Sent: Monday, May 29, 2006 5:52 AM, To: americans_in_panama@yahoogroups.com, Subject: [americans_in_panama] Re: Albrook Inn - We have been to Panama 5 times in the last 4 years and the scariest event so far was when we stayed at the Albrook Inn before flying to Isla Contadora last year. When we arrived at the Albrook Inn, we were greeted by a very nice bilingual women who checked us in. Seemed like a good place to stay, close to the airport and reasonably priced. I should mention that the doors for the rooms are house style doors with no night lock or safety latch or dead bolt. The only lock on our room was the lock in the door knob. Apparently when the night clerk came on duty at 5:00 pm, he didn't know we were already checked in our room and about midnight I was awakened by a key unlocking our door! He had rented our room to someone else. The room was small (the bed was right next to the door) and not knowing if we were being robbed or what, I lunged towards the door as it was opening, screaming "Get out of here!" and slamming the door shut. My wife woke up screaming and the young woman with the guy opening the door screamed and the couple immediatly left. I got up, put on my pants and went to the office to ask what the hell was going on. "Lo siento" was all I got. Needless to say we both were tired the next day as we got up early to catch our flight. Any other suggestions for a hotel close to Albrook? Ron
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InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) (LSE:IHG) (NYSE:IHG) (ADRs), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announces the grand opening of the InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort&Spa, the first luxury beach resort in Panama. The 300-room resort is the second InterContinental hotel and the third IHG property in Panama. Owned by Empresas Bern under a license agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group (Nachrichten), the resort is situated on 20 acres of lush rainforest and is located just 20 minutes outside Panama City near the western entrance of the Panama Canal. It is the third alliance between IHG and Empresas Bern, one of Panama's most prosperous developers. Bern has had long-standing agreements with IHG; and his Miramar InterContinental Panama and the Crowne Plaza Panama properties are both located in Panama City. "This magnificent property is a marvelous complement to IHG's resorts across the globe," says Alvaro Diago, Area President of InterContinental Hotels Group Latin America. "Herman Bern's vision, once again, surpasses everyone's expectations. This resort is IHG's first in Central America and is destined to be one of the region's premier properties."    Click Here To Read The Full Article (689 words)

Panama City, Panama, March 23, 2006 - La Cresta de Oro, Panama Cities newest Luxury Bed and Breakfast will open its doors on April 1st, 2006, not only to discriminating travelers but to their canine and feline companions as well. This will help fill the need for pet friendly accommodations brought on by the influx of foreigners and retirees moving to Panama with their pets. Located in a quiet neighborhood, La Cresta de Oro is in the heart of Panama City only 25 minuets from Tocumen International Airport and only blocks from Via Espana, Calle 50 and Ave. Balboa, the citys’ main thoroughfares. The Spanish colonial mansion was built in the 1960's and features a expansive covered patio, swimming pool and sun deck, fenced grounds with mature fruit trees and beautiful city views. “We have an oasis in the city” says Chef and Proprietor Jennifer King, “you would never guess this beautiful mansion is in the city, it is so quiet here, yet you can grab a taxi and be anywhere within minutes!”.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (228 words)

(By: Clyde Jenkins) I've been staying at Hospedaje Casco Viejo for over two months now and I thought it was time to let the rest of you fine folks know what a great place it is. If you're looking for a five star hotel or must have air conditioning, hot water and a TV in your room this is definitely NOT the place for you. But, if you are on a budget, like to meet people from all over the world and still have a sense of adventure, I can't think of a better place to stay. Hospedaje Casco Viejo is definitely worth checking out, if only to know a great place to recommend to your friends who visit. Located in historic Casco Viejo on Calle 8 at Avenida A next to the famous "church with the golden alter", a half a block from the bay, it is well located for exploring this unique part of Panama City and is only a $1.25 cab ride to downtown, the same fare from any other part of PC. The rates are $12 with private bath, $10 with shared bath, the beds are good, the rooms large with ceiling fans and the place is kept spotless.

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Ese encantador aire de nostalgia, riqueza histórica y comodidad, hacen del Caesar Park Panamá uno de los hoteles de negocios de mayor preferencia en la ciudad. Su arquitectura, diseñada con el encanto colonial de Panamá, refleja el espíritu de la cultura latina. Aquí los huéspedes encontrarán un casino al estilo europeo, tres extraordinarios restaurantes, un bar en el lobby para disfrutar noches inolvidables y un exuberante ambiente tropical más parecido al de un resort, que al de un hotel de negocios. Sus lujosas habitaciones, su conveniente ubicación frente al Centro de Convenciones Atlapa y su proximidad al Aeropuerto y al Área Bancaria le convierten el Caesar Park Panamáel lugar ideal para el viajero de negocios.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (784 words)

Golden sands fringed by an emerald ocean, beautiful sunrises and the most stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, provide the perfect setting for The InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort and Spa. Nestled on a private beach and surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, the Resort has been designed as an enchanted enclave of infinite pools, cascades and exotic gardens with an impressive architecture inspired by a fusion of Mediterranean, Colonial and Panamanian styles offering the perfect facilities and services to conveniently enjoy this Paradise.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (581 words)

On Behalf Of Charles A. Garcia: Here is the information on El Valle. If you go to files on most of these forums you will find the information posted by me there on El Valle including the Panama Guide. You can find out much about Panama quicker if you visit the files of these different forums and look. You would be surprised how much effort has been put in by the members to make it easier for the newcomers to find information which has previously been asked. Better Hotels to stay at in El Valle. These prices vary and may be less or more than what is mentioned below.
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A rich, historic past with every modern convenience. Caesar Park Panama is one of the most favored hotels in Panama City. The architecture is reminiscent of Panama's colonial charm, and the personality within reflects the high-spirited Latin culture. Here guests will find a European-style casino and three outstanding restaurants, all set in a lush tropical setting more like a resort than a business hotel. Luxurious accommodations and convenient proximity to the Atlapa Convention Center, airport and business center make Caesar Park Panama ideal for the business traveler.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (787 words)

Leisure and adventure travelers get ready: Cheryl Andrews Marketing Communications will be aiming for you to visit Panama. The Coral Gables-based agency has added two resort clients there. The two properties, Gamboa Rainforest Resort at the Panama Canal and InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort & Spa, are the firm's first accounts in Central America.
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"Ideally located only a few minutes from downtown Boquete, the Oasis Hotel has charming and relaxing accommodations.
This pleasant riverside hotel is situated next to the Caldera River, not far from the Boquete fairgrounds and offers attractive and scenic surroundings, as well as a centrally located base for your Chiriqui highlands holiday.
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Has anyone stayed at the new Coral Lodge resort?    Click Here To Read The Full Article (160 words)

We spent the weekend out on Isla Grande at the Banana's Resort. Here's a quick trip report. (Note: It seems like the link we had for Banana's in Panama Guide already is broken. I'll find their new webpage and fix the broken link later...)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (1,514 words)

Michael Taylor owns this very nice three bedroom townhouse on the golf course at the Costa Blanca Royal Decameron Resort in Farallon, Panama. He rents out the three bedrooms in the Villa to guests.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (1,598 words)

The Hacienda del Mar vacation resort in the Perlas Islands sure sounds nice. I haven't been out there myself to check it out yet...   Click Here To Read The Full Article (1,125 words)

We just spent the weekend at the Los Capitanes hotel in El Valle. What a wonderful place...

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