News

Guests taking advantage of the short-term rentals on Naos Harbour Island Residences & Marina have made us a “superhost” on Airbnb, spotlighting our efforts to provide great customer service and a great stay while in Panama City.

Naos is one of the few residences in Panama City where short-term rentals are legal it a popular spot for travelers who want to enjoy the beauty of the Amador Causeway. For investors who have bought apartments in the waterfront complex, Airbnb and other similar sites have been supplying a steady stream of renters, who I’m proud to say are leaving as happy customers.

It’s not easy to obtain the superhost status, which is only bestowed on hosts that meet very specific criteria and maintain that criteria at all times throughout the year. The requirements include completing at least 10 trips in the listing in a year, achieving at least 80 percent 5-star reviews, honoring reservations and maintaining a quick response rate to queries of 90 percent or higher.

Update, 4/12: We just found out we’ve earned superhost status for second quarter in a row. According to Airbnb’s data, we’ve had 101 trips without a cancellation; 91 percent of the reviews are 5-star, and we’ve established a 100 percent response rate.

Source: Naos Harbour Island AirBnb Profile

My background is in hospitality and I’ve been working hard to make sure everyone’s stay at Naos is the best it can be. And I’m proud of the responses I’ve been receiving from guests (see below.) I live on the property—it’s my home—and I try to be available as much as possible for the guests. Travelers arrive in a new place, after a long journey, and they want to feel like they have support and someone to answer their questions and deal with any issues.

I especially like to hear how much the guests are enjoying their stays on  Amador. You can see in their comments references to biking along the Causeway, long sunset walks and time spent lounging on their balconies watching the ships sail through the Panama Canal. The common denominator in many of their comments is the realization that Naos is situated directly in front of the entrance to the Canal and that the ships are literally just meters off the shoreline in front of them.

Naos is one of the few places in Panama City where short-term rentals are allowed, making it is a very special experience for guests, who want to avoid the hotels. It’s a much different experience to have your own waterfront apartment for your stay in Panama, enjoying all the excitement of Panama City from your own quiet oasis.

The short-term rentals are also paying dividends for our investors. The shorter rentals typically produce 20 percent more than the average long-term rentals for some owners. There are barely any openings in the 12 units I manage through the end of January and into April. This is our “high season,” but short-term rentals are becoming increasingly full throughout the entire year.

The rental market in Naos should explode once the new convention center and cruise port are completed on Amador, which the government is turning into Panama City’s new tourist destination. The convention center, scheduled to open next year,  will be the largest in Latin America and the cruise port, which is scheduled to debut in 2019, will be large enough to serve as a home port for ships, ensuring many passengers will be extending their visits in Panama before and after their arrival,.much like Miami and Puerto Rico see an influx of guests staying extra days.

We’re ready for them at Naos. I really enjoy sharing this special place with people and I’m looking forward to doing whatever I can to maintain our superhost status.

A few recent reviews:

“This is my second time staying at Brian’s listing in Isla Naos and I highly recommend it to travelers seeking a quiet and scenic retreat minutes away from the heart of Panama City. The accuracy of the rooms, amenities, security, and scenery are totally worth the stay! It’s a home away from home in all aspects and Brian’s Super Host status is well deserved! Thank you again, Brian, for being so accommodating, until next time!” – Jonathan (Nov 2017 – Studio Rental)

“’Spectacular’ is a bit of an understatement with respect to Brian’s property here on Naos, just outside of Panama City: Thoughtfully appointed with the best of the best, fresh air, any of three pools to choose from, and the best views of the Canal on one side and Panama City on the other. And if you love walks or bike rides like we do, then you’ve found your paradise here! If not, you’re inside of 10 minutes from anything else you might desire in the gleaming city if Panama! I could not give a higher recommendation for space, but when it comes to hosts and hospitality, Brian resides among the elite: there when you need him, invisible when you don’t; Incredible. Don’t miss the chance to stay here!” – Niko (Oct 2017 – Studio Rental)

Source: Naos Harbour Island AirBnb Profile

“The view – WOW! Watching the ships pass by from the balcony and living room was beautiful. The apartment is lovely, and the pictures are accurate. There are plenty of restaurants nearby, and the causeway is a charming and relaxing area. Security is present and visible and we felt secure the entire time. Brian was helpful and responsive. Would love to stay here again.” -Tina (Oct 2017 – 1 Bed Rental)

“This is a wonderful location overlooking the Panama Canal. Brian was a responsive and informative host. I would recommend the Naos facility and a listing thru Brian to others seeking a unique stay in Panama.” – Craig (Jan 2017 – 2 Bed Rental)

“I’ve been to Panama City a few times but not recently so wanted to check out the changes on Amador Causeway – I’m also a bit of a nerd about the canal and wanted to enjoy the view. This was the perfect spot. My boyfriend and I stayed two nights at the end of our trip and it was a great, relaxed way to end the trip. Easy parking, easy to walk to anything you might like to see on the causeway. We rented bikes and rode to the Frank Gehry Biomuseo one sunny morning, relaxed by the pool for the rest of the day watching the ships pass, then walked to Mi Ranchito for our final Panamanian dinner. Brian lives on the property, so that makes check-in fairly easy. It’s a modern, new building with some of the quirks you might expect with new construction, but overall the whole experience was exactly what I expected and we enjoyed ourselves.”  – Julia (Aug 2017 – Studio Rental)”

“Brian was a great host and went the extra mile to help with any of our questions or problems. Could not have asked for more, especially when we left something in the apartment and moved onto our next destination, Brian collected the item and came and dropped off at our hotel. 5-star service, highly recommend.” – Cliff (Oct 2016 – Studio Rental)

Brian Kelly lives on-site and is the Project Manager for Naos Harbour Island Residences and Marina,  the premier development on the fast-growing Amador Causeway. Click to learn more: http://www.puntapacificarealty.com/naos-island/