The grand opening of the Amador Convention Centre in 2015 will give Panama the largest facility of its kind in the country and one of the premier convention centres in the region.
Located on the banks of the Panama Canal near the recently opened Biodiversity Museum, renowned architect Frank Gehry’s only building in Latin America, the convention centre will be directly accessible from Tocumen International Airport and offers 16,154sqm of meeting space. The airport offers more than 80 direct flights to the Caribbean, Central and South America and 17 to North America.
Built at a cost of US$193m, the complex features a banquet hall, conference facilities and an exhibition hall, as well as a grand plaza, outdoor amphitheatre, and a 1,500-seat performing arts theatre with balcony and box seating.
Panama currently offers more than 50,000sqm of meeting space and more than 24,000 hotel rooms from leading international brands. The country hosted 126 congresses and conventions in 2012, a significant increase from the 66 held in 2011, according to Panama Tourism.
The authority claims meetings planners will benefit from the use of the US dollar as an official currency, as well as an IRS tax exemption that allows US companies to claim expenses from holding an international meeting in the country. Panama also ensures the comfort and safety of all visitors by offering free medical emergency insurance for 30 days upon entry.
The design, by architect RM+ LLC, is supposed to resemble a harpy eagle in flight; an homage to Panama’s national bird.
This was first published in issue 77 of CMW. Any comments? Email Zoe Vernor
