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?