BRIEFS: Tourism

12 hotel chains set sights on panama

At least 12 global hotel chains will be arriving in Panama, announced Fidel Reyes, general manager of Playa Bonita Resort & Spa and vice president of the Cámara de Turismo.

Among the companies planning to establish hotels in the country include Hyatt, Westin, Super Clubs Breezes Resort, Hard Rock, Renaissance, Hilton, Marriott Residence Inn, Four Seasons, Nation Hotels, Le Meridien, W Hotels Worldwide and Candlewood.

“The key question is whether or not we’re ready to receive these brands,” said Reyes. “We need to certify our services and, to date, no hotel in Panama is certified by the U.S. AAA rankings.”

So far this year, some $3.6 billion in hotel projects have been submitted to tourism officials for review and approval, according to reports from the Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá.

Of that total, at least $1.7 billion has been officially registered in the Registro Nacional de Turismo.