News

Panama tourism and business officials are starting to focus more on the potential of Panama’s convention and meeting industry, with the much-anticipated Amador Convention Center entering the final construction phases.

Construction of the new Amador center, which will be the largest in Panama, is almost 85 percent complete and should be operational by the spring, according to coverage in La Prensa. The convention center will have the capacity to handle 25,000 people and should be a game changer for the industry, in addition to spurring more activity and development on the Amador Causeway.

The potential for the convention industry is huge, creating the potential for another economic boost for the city. Despite the growth and beauty of Panama, the convention industry has been one of the under-developed aspects of the local business sector.

In meetings last week, officials from the tourism and convention industry gathered to discuss how to best grow the meeting business and address past issues. Panama City already has the hotel infrastructure to accommodate most business meetings, according to recent statements of executives of the Federation of Conferences and Related Organizations of Latin America (Cocal). Most international events are less than 1,000 participants, they noted.

Pablo Weil, president of Cocal, pointed the finger at the private sector for not doing more to attract events, according to coverage in La Prensa.

“As it happens in many countries of the region, in Panama the private sector does not go with a single voice before the authorities to make the country host an international event,” he said.

To attract more meetings and create an effective industry, Panama City must “offer personalized experiences to the attendees” and “demonstrate the identity of the destination to get the person to extend their stay or decide to return with a vacation plan,’ said Ana María Viscasillas, vice president of Cocal.

That potential for visitors to extend their stay “or return with a vacation plan,” is exactly why the meeting business is important to the tourism and real estate industry. Conventions expose business executives to the country and it more likely they will return and see the value of the growing property market or they simply decide it’s the perfect spot for a second home.

PPR represents Naos Harbour Island, one of the few properties on the Amador Causeway positioned to take advantage of the new Amador convention center. Not only will the center attract more meetings to Panama, but it will also serve as an introduction to the beauty of the Causeway and all it has to offer.

Even without the Atlapa convention center, there is enough space in the hotels to accommodate more than 10,000 people, official said. The takeaway from the number is that Panama shouldn’t wait to increase its promotions to attract more conventions, said Elizabeth Tovar, director of Cocal.

“The most important thing is that there is communication between the private sector, that all those involved, such as associations, professionals, hotels, and others, work together,” Tovar said.