News

The Panama government formally gave U.S.-company SMG World the go ahead this week to ramp up promoting and operating the long-awaited Amador Convention Center.

The Convention Center construction has been delayed several times, but it is expected to be a game-changer for the business travel and tourism industry, giving Panama City a state-of-the-art meeting facility. It will also draw more attention to the Amador Causeway, which is developing as a new tourist center for the city.

The convention center is “95 percent complete,” according to the Panama Tourism Authority. The group said there would be “coordination between the Tourism Promotion Fund and the SMG company to promote the center abroad, to attract corporate congresses, consumer events, banquets, meetings, among others,” according to coverage in Telemetro.

The contract for the convention center was formally awarded last July. The new announcement will allow SMG to move forward on a wide array of services, including developing the brand, promoting the center around the world and hiring and training staff, the publication reports.

Event organizers are already showing interest in Panama, SMG vice president of operations for Latin America Michael Godoy told reporters. He called the new convention center a “very open structure,” with large spaces and the type of setting that will appeal to international events.

SMG recently merged with AEG Facilities, the venue management affiliate of Anschutz Entertainment Group, Inc, to create a new, standalone global facility management and venue services company, ASM Global. The new entity manages “a portfolio of more than 300 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues,” according to a recent press release.

The company’s portfolio includes McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s Reliant Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.