Hotel Occupancy Rates in Panama is High
Hotel occupancy rates are steady at 80 to 90% and the government of Panama has asked developers to build more hotels because their simply isn’t enough rooms to accommodate the increase in foreigners and businessmen.
Major hotel names have moved to Panama including Donald Trump, whom has begun building the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Casino, and has announced plans in 2009 to build a second project. The Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock International plans its first Latin American hotel in Panama, and Miami based Nikki Beach Hotels and Resorts has plans to build an oceanfront resort and city tower. “Panama is gaining from tough U.S security rules after September 11, 2001, which makes it more cumbersome for foreigners to obtain U.S visas and cross U.S gateways.” According to the president of Nikki Beach Hotels, “A lot of our international customers refuse to come to the United States now because of the hassles. It’s so much easier to get into other countries.” Jamaica’s all inclusive chain SuperClubs is opening its first Central American resort in Playa Blanca as well. Panama is also becoming more accessible, as of late 2008 Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines made Panama one of its home ports and Dutch airline KLM, now merged with Air France, has resumed direct flights from Amsterdam to Tocumen airport in Panama City in response to increasing demand.
