Hilton Hotels announces return to Panama

Hilton Hotels Corporation announces return to Panama with four properties
May 18, 09 1:54 am
Hilton Hotels Corporation announces its return to Panama with the signing of four multi-year agreements in Panama City, Panama: two management agreements for a brand-new Hilton and new build Embassy Suites by Hilton hotel, one franchise agreement for a Doubletree by HiltonTM conversion and one franchise agreement for a newly built Hilton Garden Inn. Each hotel will represent the first in the country for each brand.
"We are truly excited about these developments in Panama City and being back in such a great city," commented Daniel Hughes, senior vice president of operations, Caribbean, Mexico, and Latin America, for Hilton Hotels Corporation. "These newest additions reinforce our commitment to add a number of properties to our Central America portfolio and to have a presence in one of the region's fastest growing destinations. We're looking forward to being part of a thriving city that continues to offer some of the best tourist attractions in the region."
The 351-room Hilton Panama will be a first class property developed by Star Bay Group, Inc., and Hilton Hotels Corporation will operate the hotel under the terms of a multi-year management agreement. Led by F&F Properties and its president Saul Faskha, construction of the Hilton Panama has begun and completion is scheduled for 2011. Located in Panama City's financial district, the hotel marks the Hilton brand's return to the capital. Just 13 miles from Tocumen International Airport and five miles from the Panama Canal, the Hilton Panama will boast an array of recreational facilities including an 8,200 square-foot fitness center, a 10,750 square-foot world-class spa, outdoor terrace swimming pool, and a Las Vegas-style casino. The property will have more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 7,500 square-foot ballroom. Dining options will include an upscale specialty restaurant, a three-meal restaurant with outdoor terrace and ocean views, and lobby bar. The 27-floor hotel will form part of a 68-floor mixed-use complex with 650,000 square feet of office space.
The Embassy Suites by Hilton Panama City will be developed by Sabadell Investment Inc. and Hilton Hotels Corporation will operate the hotel under the terms of a multi-year management agreement. Construction of the 306-room upscale, all-suite full service Embassy Suites by Hilton Panama City is scheduled to begin in 2009 with an estimated completion date of October 2011. Located in the prime financial district of Panama City, the hotel is approximately 12 miles from Tocumen International Airport and will feature a number of recreational facilities including fitness center, spa, outdoor swimming pool, gift shops, and casino. The property will offer a business center and more than 15,500 square feet of meeting space, including a 12,750 square-foot ballroom. Dining options will include a signature restaurant, a lounge bar, complimentary breakfast and evening reception area, and Flying Spoons outlet. The 21-floor hotel will be part of 71-story building with premier office space.
The Doubletree by Hilton Panama City will be developed and operated by Blue Star Hospitality, S.A., under a franchise agreement with Hilton Hotels Corporation. The 213-room property is undergoing an extensive renovation to re-brand as a Doubletree by Hilton hotel in Spring 2010. The eight-story hotel is strategically located at one of the city's most important intersections in the business district - Via España and Avenida Federico Boyd - across from the architecturally striking Iglesia del Carmen. The Doubletree by Hilton Panama City will offer a rooftop fitness center, pool and spa, retail outlets, 2,000 square feet of meetings space, and a full-service restaurant.
Developed by Metropolitan Hotels SA, the Hilton Garden Inn Panama will feature 163 spacious guestrooms and seven suites offering the Garden Sleep System® bed; ergonomic Mirra® chair by Herman Miller; complimentary wired and Wi-Fi high speed Internet access; high definition flat screen television; MP3 capable clock radio. The hotel also features a complimentary 24-hour business center; a comfortable lounge area to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or unwind at the end of the day with a refreshing beverage; and a total of 160 square meters of flexible meeting space -- ideal for business meetings, social events and wedding receptions. For dining options, the hotel will feature the Great American Grill® restaurant offering freshly prepared breakfast and dinner; evening room service and the 24-hour Pavilion Pantry® convenience mart with a selection of beverages, snacks, and sundries. Recreational facilities at the hotel will include an outdoor rooftop heated whirlpool; complimentary fitness center featuring Precor® cardio and strength equipment; and Stay Fit Kits® that can be checked out from the hotel front desk and enable guests to do yoga, Pilates and core workouts in the privacy of their guestroom or in the workout facility.
All properties will participate in Hilton HHonors®, the only guest rewards program that allows members to earn Points & Miles® for the same stay and redeem points for free nights with No Blackout Dates.
Ted Middleton, senior vice president, development, the Americas, for Hilton Hotels Corporation commented, "Hilton's expansion in Panama City is part of our overall plan to grow our portfolio of properties in the Caribbean and Latin America. Owners and developers understand the value of our brands and we are very optimistic about our growth opportunities in the region."
Panama City is the political and cultural center of Panama, and the financial center of Central America. Located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, the city is well known as the home of some of the tallest skyscrapers in Latin America. Tourists can explore a variety of attractions including the famous Bridge of the Americas spanning over the Panama Canal, tropical forests, and the city's old quarter featuring a waterfront promenade, theaters, museums, restaurants, and the presidential palace.
Full text in http://ehotelier.com/hospitality-news/item.php?id=A16245_0_11_0_M

IPAT reply on residential tourism

We thank IPAT for their reply to our July 29, 2007 post on residential tourism. Unlike newspapers in Panama, we encourage free discussion of ideas which is why http://lawyerfuture.blogspot.com/ has Comment icons for direct posting by IPAT and anybody else. We have eliminated the email addresses to avoid spambots:


------ Forwarded Message
From: Ruben Blades
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:05:08 -0500
To: Carl-Fredrik Nordstrom
Subject: Residential tourism


Send this to the person responsible for the
publication:

a) From what I read you do not dispute there is a
difference between tourist and resident; no part of
your blog argues against my basic assertion
b) your defense of the term seems to be based on the
fact that ,
"since other countries use it it must be right".
c) I suggest you read the "Louvre Museum-turned into
condos" example I placed on our Internet. It
graphically explains the differences, both economical
and existencial, between residence and tourism;
d) As a lawyer you obviously make money representing
clients interested in residential purchases and an
intermediary for all the legal consequences of
residential requests involving navegating the
burocratic oceans in any country of the world. You are
not a hotel owner, nor do you represent cab drivers,
restaurants, hotel personnel, guides,etc. My feeling
is you'd rather have residents than tourists since the
former represent your "bread and butter". That is not
my position.
I have no problem with people coming to live in
Panama. I welcome the possibility. What I do not
welcome is the notion that tourism and residence are
the same thing, nor that they should be considered as
a whole. They are different activities and should be
regulated differently. IPAT does not regulate
immigration, nor does it regulate taxes for instance.
You should know that and probably do. But your
arguments seems to be directed toward justifying the
notion of "residential tourism". It is absurd to mix
the two. I guess that's the lawyer in me.

Ruben Blades

Carl-Fredrik Nordström
Sub-Gerente General / Deputy General Manager
Instituto Panameño de Turismo -IPAT
Avenida Samuel Lewis y Calle Gerardo Ortega
Edificio Central, Nivel 100
( Teléfono: (507) 526-7110, (507) 526-7000
) Fax: (507) 526-7121
8 www.ipat.gob.pa



------ End of Forwarded Message

Panama tourism and investment meetings

Like every small country, who you know can make a difference in how easy is your entry into the Panamanian market. These 3 events provide opportunities to network with Panamanians and foreigners active in the foreign and private sectors.

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August 23, 2007
AmCham Events, Sponsorships and Notes
Telephone +507-301-3881; Fax +507-301-3882
Ocean Business Plaza, 17th Floor, Avenida Aquilino de la Guardia

AmCham’s Seventh Annual Tourism Forum will be held on September 19 at the InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort & Spa. This year we are inviting the renowned expert on global business for Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Dr. Rohit Talwar, to discuss trends in world tourism business. In addition, there will be five speakers from Panama and the United States, including Panama’s Minister of tourism Rubén Blades, who will participate in the round table discussion with Dr. Talwar at the end of their presentations. We will have two levels of sponsorship this year: The Gold Sponsorship will entitle the company to three tickets to the forum, its logo on all advertising, its banner in the event room and a table at the entrance to market its products; The Platinum Sponsorship will include 15 tickets to a private dinner with Dr. Talwar on the evening of the 19th and ten tickets to the event plus the logo, advertising and banner. The cost of tickets for the event is $50.00 per person. Payment must be made at the Chamber by September 17. Space is limited. For reservations, call Aileen at 301-3881 or e‑mail amcham @ panamcham.com.

Panama Week 2007 Conference. USPA will hold its annual Panama Week Conference in Washington DC on October 18-19 at the Westin Embassy Row Hotel. The conference will include Forums on Trade & Investment and Transportation & the Expansion of the Panama Canal, the traditional Gala “Friendship Dinner” at the Organization of American States, a Power Breakfast on the Trade Promotion Agreement, meetings at the U.S. Department of Commerce and lunch at the Embassy of Panama hosted by Panama’s Ambassador to Washington, H.E. Federico Humbert.
A rooming block has been reserved at the Westin Embassy Row hotel for participants at a special rate of $309 plus tax. Make reservations through USPA.

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FIABCI’s 2007 Congress of the Americas will take place in Panama City 31 October – 2nd November. FIABCI is an international real estate federation of 100 real estate associations and represented by chapters in 48 countries according to the FIABCI website, including FIABCI-Panama.
The Congress will be held at the Sheraton Panama Hotel and Convention Centre. Early registration fees for members will be US$ 300. Early registration fees for Young Members will be US$ 150.
Additional information is available from USPA.

Minister Blades corrects "residential tourism" aberration

Tourism Minister Ruben Blades explains in a letter published in the July 8 La Prensa (with an English translation in the IPAT site), how he has tried to correct the aberration which the term "residential tourism" has become.

The Former Papa Egoro Presidential candidate blames daily La Prensa for being an example of how twisted ("enredados") some people still are when trying to report about tourism, and about second residence; the mistake is made of affirming the "new tourist visa affects real estate sector". His response is addressed at July 5 articles by La Prensa journalist Raul Bernal and PrimaPanama general manager Paul McBride.

He points out that the insistence in confusing both circumstances, that of tourism and that of who seeks a temporary or permanent residence in Panama, is responsible for all the confusions and apparent contradictions which circulate on the Internet.

This blogger is concerned that the Minister will have an uphill battle in correcting the aberration which residential tourism. The term has 89, 400 hits in Google, quoted by sites such as:

Wikipedia: the economy of the region is turning towards "residential tourism" in which many people from northern European countries have a second home in sunny Murcia.
Government of Montserrat National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP): Much good land has been transferred for residential tourism and other development but there remains an ample supply for agriculture.
Egyptian officials: The minister added that obstacles surrounding visas, property ownership and even public transportation have all been eliminated, fuelling increased interest in residential tourism offerings, new luxury resorts and recently introduced services.
World Wildlife Fund: Second-house tourism has the greatest growth potential in the tourist industry of the Spanish southeast: of every 100 houses built in Alicante, 60 are for the second house market. Foreign tourists (80% from Germany and UK) own 240,000 houses in the province of Alicante, which is the province in Spain with the highest numbers of residents coming from other EU countries. This residential tourism, is normally characterised by high acquisition power.
Governor General of Antigua & Barbuda: My government also recognises that a huge opportunity exists for residential tourism. Both wealthy persons and retired persons in North America and Europe are seeking residences in tropical countries to escape harsh winters. In this connection, one hundred acres of land will be identified for development by major developers with the capacity to build and market such homes. Similar developments have taken place in Barbados, Jamaica and The Bahamas and they have resulted in large scale employment for locals in the service industry, expanded sales to the business community for the supply of goods, and increased and sustainable revenue to the government from property taxes. My government expects to launch this development project within the next few months bringing over thirty million dollars in revenue after all the lands are sold and earning almost four million a year in property taxes once the project is completed.
My government's objective for land-based tourism is to position Antigua and Barbuda so that within the next few years it emerges as one of the principal tourism destinations in the world. It recognises that, to do so, we need a trained and competent work force in all aspects of the hospitality industry including fluency in languages, expertise in the highest levels of culinary art, catering and management. .... The Investment Promotion Agency will work closely with our missions abroad to promote Antigua and Barbuda as a centre for foreign investment in tourism, residential tourism, financial services, e-commerce including internet gaming, and niche agriculture production.
Dimitris Avramopoulos, Tourism Development Minister, Greece: he and other senior officials or businessmen in the tourism industry believe that a largely untapped potential for development exists in integrated resort complexes, combining health tourism (thalassotherapy, spas, beauty parlours, rehabilitation facilities), conference centres, marinas, residential tourism (real estate sales or leases, including group retirement schemes), casinos and golf courses.
Invest in Golf: It is not rocket science, which is why other counties are starting to develop their residential tourism markets. Croatia, Turkey, Egypt and Bulgaria are all trying to develop their residential markets and attract foreign investors.
ProExport Colombia: FID and Residential Tourism: Seeking Retirees
Amazon: Books
III Conference on Residential Tourism: 1 whole day of panels and speakers about this aberration.
Cajamar Institute: Study on possibilities of residential tourism in Malaga
Tax Studies Institute: Study on tax barriers to residential tourism
Malaga on the web: Study on residential tourism
University of Madrid: Online course on residential tourism in Andalucia
Promotur: Powerpoint presentations and news from the Andalucia Association of Residential Tourism

Obviously, governments in Greece, Antigua, Colombia and other countries do believe in the benefits of residential tourism. We truly believe that taxpayer moneys would be better spent in immigration control technologies which do not require prospective buyers of US$250K homes to spend 4 hours every 30 days sitting at the overcrowded Avenida Cuba facilities of the Immigration department, if these controls are truly necessary to deter illegal immigration.