News

By Jeff Barton 

A judge in New York has blocked legal filings by the Trump Organization over management of the hotel in the former Trump Ocean Club, which should mark one of the final chapters of the dispute over the hotel in Panama City’s best-known waterfront tower.

U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos ended the Trump’s attempt to pursue arbitration claims over their removal from managing the hotel earlier this month, according to coverage by the Associated Press (AP).  

While Trump’s lawyers may appeal, the judge’s ruling makes it clear that any uncertainty over the future management of the hotel is drawing to a close. The owners of the hotel units also defeated a Trump filing in Panama Courts, AP reports.

The dispute with the Trump Organization, which made international headlines, is already starting to fade in the rearview mirror. The building, which remains an icon of the city, has been renamed the Bahia Grand Panama and the owners have already started the process of reviving the hotel operation.

The Bahia name is only temporary and will serve as a placeholder while the owners confirm a new hotel affiliation. The new hotel operator will likely be an established international company, expanding the global profile of the tower.

As we discussed in our recent analysis, “What’s Next for the (Former) Trump Ocean Club,” this end of the dispute with the Trump managers is the signal for a new era for the building. New management will bring more focus, new ideas and new investment to help bolster the hotel operation.

Judge Ramos heard two hours of oral arguments before making his decision, AP reports. While deciding against the Trump Organization, the judge also allowed the claim by the current owners, Ithaca Capital, to move forward, the news service says.