El Panama Hotel in Panama City, Panama is a
remarkable, historical landmark. The facility was
created in an era during which there were few serious
competitors in Panama City’s hotel market. That isn’t
the case any longer. There are more than 250 high
rise buildings going up in Panama City as this is
being written.
One guest notes: “There were plenty of positive
aspects about this hotel. It really is in a great
location, and you can walk around the area without
worry, the breakfast buffet changes daily, and I
really can’t imagine not finding something you would
like on it every day. At the very least there’s plenty
of coffee, bread and fresh fruit. The staff in the
hotel restaurant is nice, too.”
However, then she added: “Then . . . there are the
negatives. I have NEVER NEVER NEVER slept so little on
vacation in my entire life. EVER. Panamanians honk
their horns while driving more than they breathe . . .
and being located close to a major avenue guarantees
that you will hear horns 24/7. I am not a light
sleeper, so I was amazed at how much trouble I had
sleeping there.”
“There is also a casino/disco attached to the hotel
that plays VERY VERY VERY loud music on the weekends
that goes until at least 12 a.m. Every time someone
walks past the hotel room it sounds like they are in
the room with you. It is UNBELIEVABLY loud.”
Okay, so we know that the hotelier’s have been turning
away the sales reps for all the acoustical engineering
companies, and apparently are receiving enough revenue
from their casino, that the sleeping ease of their
guests isn’t of concern. What is the real story..?
Have none of the management staff ever slept upstairs?
Or perhaps their penthouses have soundproofing?
This gentleman’s comment reflected my feelings:
“Hopefully one day the Hotel El Panama will quit
selling off its real estate…and restore its self back
to the glory days…”
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“A SUMMIT HOTELS & RESORTS PREFERRED HOTEL GROUP”
Gee, that sounds impressive eh…The El Panama Hotel has
been renowned for longer than most people in Panama
City remember; but time isn’t always kind to
structures and four stars won don’t necessarily mean
four stars forever to an hotelier.
El Panama Casino is glitzy, the costuming of the
employees in traditional ensembles is heart
warming…and yet there’s a smell of something in the
air, something moldy maybe.
In reviewing the real world traveler’s opinions of
their experiences in the El Panama Hotel, there were
some analysis that seem to have basis in fact
The saddest words I read were about a lack of simple
cleanliness and good maintenance that are
unfortunately very common in Panama. This Mom wasn’t
pleased. “The hotel has a pool area that COULD be
really nice . . . with about a full week of scrubbing.
Honestly, I’m not sure that they used chemicals in
their pool. I haven’t ever seen worse mold buildup on
the grout in the pool. This was especially
disappointing to me, because I was counting on taking
my son their every day.”
But some guests are really enjoying themselves. “It
was a great stay in El Panama hotel. The staff was
SUPER friendly and helpful. I would even have to say
it was very relaxing for a business trip. I would
recommend the hotel to any business traveler or
tourist. Thumbs up!”
You have to ask yourself – were these folks all
staying under the same roof?
Comparing client reality reports with marketing
messages about El Panama Hotel:
The marketing mavens say: “Business travelers benefit
from a wonderful exhibition center. Leisure travelers
enjoy the fitness room, spa, and the flora and fauna
of the nearby rainforest. El Panama is quite close to
the city’s shops and exciting nightlife, but it is no
surprise when guests wish never to leave the hotel’s
amazing private boutiques, casino and nightclub.”
This property in central Panama City is only twenty
minutes from Panama’s City’s Tocumen International
Airport. It’s known to the airline industry as PTY -
if you happen to be scouting airline ticketing later.
Traveler reviews aren’t so kind…but no criticism of
the marketer is realistic, since they probably never
sat poolside at the El Panama Hotel.
The most insightful analysis I discovered was the
guest paying $250 a night who commented: “The El
Panama still thinks she is the belle of the ball. She
is looking tired and service is lacking. I stayed in
the executive suite. The two remotes didn’t work, the
safety box didn’t work, the bathroom facet was broken,
and bath tub was worn. The decor was 1970’s hip in
black and white. Austin Powers would have been at home
here if he could get service from the bellman and all
the amenities worked. The location is good, the
service is slow to nonexistence, facilities worn, and
the price is on the high end for the value.”
Ouch! Even if she isn’t still the belle of the
ball….it seems reasonable to expect effective
maintenance in this four star property…unless of
course…there’s a plan to replace El Panama with a new
community of properties. Could there be a plan in the
old belle of the ball’s future?
The average front page review of Central American’s
renown El Panama Hotel reads like this:
“It is hard to believe that this deluxe
Caribbean-style hotel, set amidst acres of palm-laden
gardens, is located in the heart of Panama City. For
delicious dining, guests relish the elegant
surroundings of the renowned Portobello Restaurant or
a barbecue alfresco by the fabulous pool.”
However, floating along on the breezes aren’t just the
sweet scents of success, while this Summit property is
a four star hotel, the real world traveler reviews are
mixed.
One guest stated, “The pool is wonderful, huge, swim
up bar and I love the layout of this property. It has
so much potential if the right owners came along. The
food was bad, the furniture in the rooms is old, and
the disco stays open until 2 every night and it’s not
just loud, it’s blaring all over the place”.
Another reviewer noted that “the swim up bar is very
beautiful, but the pool bar has odd hours, as it isn’t
open in the afternoons, when the pool is open”. Now
that seems like a really unusual choice for hoteliers
to make…but maybe it wasn’t cost effective to keep the
pool bar staffed in the afternoons?
If hotels are considered as ladies, then this one may
be a grand old dame, but with so many remarkable new
properties being built in Panama City, her name and
her history may not hold her in her four star
position; with her skirts muddied.
