Superclubs Breezes is the first Jamaican chain development in Panama.

This new project joins the infrastructure of Coronado, Royal Decameron, Playa Blanca, Bristol Buenaventura and Nikki Beach, whose opening is planned for later this year.

The hotel is located within the residential complex Biajo, in the 108 kilometer of the Panamerican highway, and will occupy an area of 50,000 m2.

The company has another lot of similar size for a "future expansion or to add more services to hotel," said Victor Manjares, Deputy Chairman of SuperClubs.

The hotel will be operated under the modality of "all inclusive", with 294 rooms. Its operation will generate 600 jobs.

During the current launch phase, the nightly rate is $125 per person. Then it will be around $145.

The project has required an investment of about $40 million, made by a group of local businessmen. 

Manjares announced that the company is exploring the local market for possible new developments in other locations of the interior or in the city.

By Henry Kardonski - Managing Director

With ten new contracts signed since June, Panama Pacifico is firmly on track to becoming Latin America's largest logistic and business hub. London & Regional Panama is pleased to announce the company additions, which include telecommunications giant Cable & Wireless, popular mail solutions chain Mailboxes Etc., and Spanish ship services firm Yermont Enterprises, among others. All three are leasing space in the new International Business Park, bringing new jobs to Panama Pacifico and contributing to the synergy of this new business hub in Panama.

The IBP's first two flex-warehouse buildings complete construction this month, which London & Regional Panama plans to celebrate in the coming weeks with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. These new buildings are the first of their kind in Panama, including international style features built to accommodate a mix of office and warehouse operations. In addition to significant construction progress within the International Business Park, infrastructure work continues on three new major roads and in the PanAmerica Corporate Center.

The project reached a major milestone in July, hitting the $60 million mark in ongoing development, thus fulfilling the initial investment obligation requirement in London & Regional Panama's contract with the Republic of Panama.

From August 5th through August 8th, Panama Pacifico participated in the International Living "Live and Invest in Panama" Conference at Playa Bonita Resort. Over 250 attendees from the U.S., Canada and other countries traveled to Panama for the seminar, in which Panama Pacifico participated as a presenter and exhibitor. Interest in Panama Pacifico was high, with more than 60 attendees joining us for guided tours of the new community.

In September, Panama Pacifico participated as the largest sponsor in the CAPAC Expo Habitat. The expo is an event where the fields of construction, finishing and real estate merge into an industry-wide trade show over a five-day period at Atlapa Convention Center in Panama City. Expo Habitat attracted 22,000 visitors from around the world to this year's event.

Finally, Panama Pacifico contributed to the local community by donating 750 backpacks to two schools in the neighboring towns of Veracruz and Arraijan. As part of our commitment to education, the donation will help ensure these students have the school supplies they need for the new school year.

As this world-class project continues to move at a rapid pace, it is exciting to be at this stage with our first commercial facilities coming online. With London & Regional Panama's private financing in place and more than 1,000 Panamanians currently working on this exciting landmark project in design and construction, Panama Pacifico continues firmly on track. Many companies are seeing the value of establishing a location in Panama, in order to utilize the Law 41 benefits and access and expand into Panama and Latin America.

For more information about Panama Pacifico, please send an email to info@panamarealtor.com.

The Panama Canal is celebrating 95 years of service to the world and as a catalyst for national growth. Since the steamship Ancón’s inaugural Canal passage on August 15, 1914, the waterway has seen 983,000 “safe, reliable and efficient” transits. The Canal is expected to reach the significant mark of one million transits next year.

“Over the past 95 years, the Canal has witnessed, and been instrumental in events that will forever shape Panama’s destiny,” said ACP Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta. “The Canal has been a part of the evolution of transportation as a vehicle for bringing together nations around the world. Similarly, it has contributed to various orders of human progress and scientific advancements such as engineering, dredging, hydraulics, and especially, the successful management of strategic natural resources.”

On this anniversary, the Canal finds itself engaged in the largest project since its inauguration, the Expansion Program, which broke ground September 2007. The expansion of the Canal will permit the transit of larger ships carrying more cargo, which will affect economies of scale and increase the usage of the Panamanian waterway. Additionally, just like the construction of the Canal, expansion will contribute to technological advancement in the diverse fields of engineering and construction, among others.

“Biologically, 95 is a mature age, however institutionally it is only a step,” added Mr. Alemán Zubieta. “A step, that with regard to the Canal, Panamanians have taken with responsibility and vision. The ACP has the honor of representing each and every Panamanian in the task of operating efficiently, and administrating effectively, an asset that embodies the best of our nation. We look forward to the years ahead and continuing the Canal’s development for the benefit of Panama and the world.”

Analysts and executives of the international rating agency Standard & Poors (S & P) reiterated that Panama has since February 2008 to date the rating of BB + stable. This is due, inter alia, to the continuation of fiscal consolidation, economic diversification, institutional development and expansion of the Canal.

Also, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) announced that the number of visitors who entered through Tocumen International Airport in June is up 5.7% over May, when the swine flu pandemic was slowing down travel all over the world. Some 94,000 visitors arrived in June. But the 2009 figures so far are still lower than in 2008: 712,721 arrived last year to date compared to 670,481 this year. Statistics provided the Tourism Bureau (CAMTUR) offer a look at arrivals in Central American nations since the beginning of 2008. Panama’s visitor arrivals are shown to follow patterns similar to Central American nations.