Above: Panama City (Photo: Panama Tourism)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has opened its second Westin hotel in Panama, the company announced today.

The property in Panama City’s Costa del Este corporate and financial centre is the third Starwood property developed by Panama developer Bern Hotels & Resorts.

Starwood now has seven hotels in the country.

“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Bern Hotels & Resorts and open another spectacular Westin hotel in Panama, Latin America’s fastest growing market and a strategic business hub,” said Osvaldo Librizzi, Co-President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Americas, in a statement. “In the past few years, Starwood has emerged as one of the leading global hospitality companies in Panama, which is experiencing an influx of foreign investment and large-scale infrastructure improvements, including the soon-to-be-completed enlargement of the Panama Canal.”

The new Westin Panama has 218 rooms, including 45 suites, along with a 14,460-square-foot meeting and function space.

“Global travelers now have the option of staying with Westin in more than one great location within Panama, as we continue to aggressively expand the brand throughout Latin America,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. “The phenomenal success of the Westin brand’s distinct wellness positioning has attracted great interest among owners and developers in many of the world’s fastest growing economies.”

Starwood has added more than 2,500 rooms to its Latin American portfolio in the last two years as part of a push to open new hotels outside of North America.
Starwood’s Aloft Panama hotel will open July 1.

Panama’s other Westin property is the Westin Playa Bonita Panama, also in Panama City.