Marriott International has announced plans to convert the hotel Bristol Buenaventura in Panama into the premier resort and premier hotel under their brand name in the country, according to a statement from the chain.

The future JW Marriott Panama Golf & Beach Resort has 118 rooms and is located in Buenaventura, near the town of Rio Hato, 80 miles southwest of Panama City on the Pacific coast.
The property will be operated by Marriott under an agreement with the Bristol Hospitality Group, which will retain ownership of the resort.

Marriott currently has a presence in Panama with the Panama City Marriott Hotel, 296 rooms, the Courtyard by Marriott Panama Real Hotel, 248, the Courtyard Panama City MetroMall, 120, and Marriott Executive Apartments Panama City, Finisterre, with 126 units .

The resort will feature five restaurants and services at the newly opened 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course. It also has a gym, spa, kids club, and 517 square meters for events and meeting rooms, including a large salon and four small ones.

The development director of Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America, Kousemaeker Laurent, said the group is honored to be part of this new partnership. "The Pacific coast of Panama has all the necessary ingredients to become a world class tourist destination and we are excited to be at the forefront of this effort with our main brand" he said.

More on this topic

AM Resorts hotel chain arrives at Panama

March 2014

An announcement has been made for the opening in 2016 of a luxury hotel with 450 rooms, of the Dreams brand, in the coastal town Buenaventura.

The firm is continuing its expansion in Panama with a luxury hotel under the brand name "Dreams Resorts & Spas" construction in the hotel zone of Buenaventura.

Another Investment by Riu Hotels in Panama

November 2012

With an investment of $67 million the Spanish chain Riu Hotels & Resorts will build a beach resort in the district of Rio Hato, Cocle Province.

The 520 room hotel under the name Riu Playa Blanca, will be the second in Panama owned by the chain, after having opened the Rui Plaza in 2010 which has 645 rooms in the capital.

More Marriott Hotels in Panama

April 2012

The hotel chain is to build a new premises and two existing ones are to be renamed to join the chain, meaning that there will be seven hotels in the canal country.

The economic boom around the Canal expansion and the expected arrival of more leisure and business tourists with high purchasing power, has attracted the attention of the multinational chain Marriott, which will soon have 7 hotels in Panama.

New Marriott Resort in Panama

July 2011

Situated on the Pacific, 55 kilometers from Panama City, will be the new Panama Marriott Resort Casamar, a 5 star hotel with 180 rooms in several interconnected buildings.

A press release from Marriot International reads:

Marriott Hotels & Resorts have announced plans to develop a 180-room hotel in the resort community Casamar on the Pacific coast of Panama.