Panama News: Hotel Occupation and Tourism on the Rise

Panama, Casco Viejo
Casco Antiguo, San Felipe


Someone once told me that if he wanted to know who was going to win the elections he would ask a taxi driver. To know how a country is doing on the investment side, my taxi driver is called hotel occupation. Who is showing up and how frequently will tell you a lot about the current state and the future of a place. Check out the latest Panama news!

When I was studying my career in tourism back in the late 90´s (incredible but true, I actually went to the university to study tourism) reported hotel occupancy in Panama was between 40 to 50% for the luckiest guys. Back then, the "big names" where Hotel El Panama and the Caesar Park which later on was converted into a Marriott and then a Caesar Park again. Reports suggested the top occupancy to be at 54%. The main tourist was the business man and most hotels marketed themselves as corporate hotels. The only true “eco” hotel was the Canopy Tower and the Gamboa Resort was trying very hard to hit the mass market with the eco concept, hardly surviving with their huge infrastructure.

The peaks of the season were the conventions made at ATLAPA. Usually Expocomer, or ExpoAnythingWeCouldGet. The normal businessman stayed 2 or maybe 3 days.

Today, ten years later, it is a very different story. Panama recovered slowly after its Noriega affair and made it to the news as a place to invest. Since then, a lot has changed, the city is booming and forgotten places like Casco Viejo are being revitalized. It is a challenge to get a room in high season, but low season is also quite busy these days. According to the new reports, hotel occupancy is at 66.5% and hotels are quickly building more rooms, which makes me think they are not really at 66.5% at all but at least around the 80%. The Decameron group on its beach hotel claimed a year ago they were reaching the 90% occupancy (maybe more?) and by my own personal experience trying to get rooms for friends outside Casco Viejo I´m sure my guess isn´t too far off. Hotels are being marketed as lifestyle hotels with spas, casinos and a lot of other amenities. Oh, yes, they still have their business centers. Just in case!

An article came out in the Panama America today about this. They mentioned that, according to the Ministry of Tourism Bureau, the standard tourist stay is now 6 days. This means it is more of a real tourist, someone who is coming not for business (or not only for business) but to enjoy as well. According to the note (see below) there are 16,000 hotel rooms in Panama, from which at least 9,000 are in the main Panama City. Their goal is to reach 24,000 by year 2010.

For a complete list on where to stay in Casco Viejo, I have a travelblog post called "Where to Stay in Casco Viejo, Panama":

But here is the short list!

1. Stay at a private apartment:

You can rent private apartments in different locations in Casco Viejo. All of them are great, nicely furnished, well located. Most include breakfast service. For high season, most of them are over $150 + tax per night.

How to book:

Email Arco Properties at info@arcoproperties.com Or visit the page at www.arcoproperties.com The apartment called "Café de Asis" faces one of the cutest plazas: Plaza Bolivar. Is a 2 bedroom, with 2 queen size bed. Phone: (507) 211-2548.

You can also visit http://www.loscuatrotulipanes.com for more options on apartments.

2. The Backpackers option:

Hostal Casco Antiguo: Backpackers places in general don´t tend to take reservations. However, talk to Richo or the manager at Hostal Casco Antiguo ( http://www.centrodereservas.net/Default.asp?Page=204 ) . Rooms
Grand Hotel day version
Grand Hotel day version
go from $11 to 14. Write at: cascoviejo@centrodereservas.net or call (507) 269-6166

Luna´s Castle Hostel Casco Viejo: the most recent adquisition on the guys who own Mondo Taitu and Heike hostal in Bocas del Toro. They are expanding to Casco and the place is beautiful. Give them a call at: 262-1540. http://wakansadhana.blogspot.com/2007/07/blog-post.html


3. The higher end option: Canal House Panama

A beautifully restored colonial mansion at the heart of San Felipe. Ideal to rent the entire house, it has 3 suites, most of them with inner offices, all of them with internet. Fully staffed 24/7. Check it out at: www.canalhousepanama.com

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