Latin America. The AC Hotels by Marriott chain inaugurated today in Panama its first expansion in Central America, with an investment of 15 million dollars, an opening that is part of the ambitious strategy of international expansion in Latin America of the Spanish chain associated with the US group.
The manager of AC Hotel Panama City, the Brazilian Rodrigo Rozzi, said at a press conference that the establishment is the first of the brand in Central America and the sixth in Latin America, after those established in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Guadalajara and Querétaro in Mexico; Puerto Maravilla and Barra de Tijuca in Brazil.
Rozzi said the new hotel in Panama, which generates 40 direct and 50 indirect jobs, is because the country is considered a business hub for the region where there is a large influx of visitors from the United States and Europe.
"With the recent inauguration of the expansion of the Panama Canal and the rapid development of the city, along with the Government's plan to improve tourism, we believe that the brand will fit with this business city," said the representative.
He added that the AC Hotel brand will continue its expansion this year with the opening of new hotels in the Costa Rican capital, San Jose, Guatemala City and Santiago de Chile.
"The idea is to open about 38 hotels in the next 3 years throughout Latin America, which is the market of the future," said the manager.
Another sector that the brand is betting to grow is Asía, where according to Rozzi the possibility of opening hotels in India and China is being studied.
In a tour offered to journalists by the AC Hotel Panama City, the administrators showed the spaces of the 14-story hotel. It has 92 rooms divided into 64 standard, 24 doubles and 4 AC Hotel type suite of two floors.
The accommodation also has a restaurant, gym, bar, swimming pool, meeting rooms and bookstore to complement the stay of guests, mostly travelers, executives and businessmen "
The hotel complex of Spanish owners, was built with modern classic designs with European spirit and Spanish roots, arising from the vision of the renowned hotelier Antonio Catalán, who founded the brand in 1998 and made it one of the most respected hotel labels in Spain; and in 2011 a joint venture with Marriott International was established.
In Europe they have almost 100 hotels located in destinations such as Spain, Italy, Denmark, Germany, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom. And throughout America 30.
Marriott International, Inc., headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, United States, encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,000 properties from 30 leading hotel brands in 122 countries and territories. In turn, it operates and franchises hotels and holiday resort licenses.
