The construction of two hotels in Costa Rica, two apartment towers in Guatemala and the expansion of an educational center in Panama are part of the projects planned for the coming months in the region.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects to be built in the coming months.
Because the facilities do not meet minimum quality standards, 79% of registered accommodations in Guatemala are classified as not recommended.
The Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT) reported that most hostels, pensions, small hotels and other hotel facilities in the country are considered as not recommended because "they do not meet quality standards and are not suitable for domestic and foreign tourists to visit."
A new 106-room hotel complex was inaugurated in the department of Retalhuleu, with the capacity to accommodate 440 guests.
The new resort, called "Hostal Aldea de la Selva" was built by the Institute for Recreation of Workers of Private Enterprise of Guatemala (IRTRA) on a 50,000 square meter property.
After Selina opened its first establishment in Antigua, Guatemala, the international chain announced that next year plans to open five new hotels in different parts of the country.
The chain's representatives informed that for the opening of the new hotels, which will be in the departments of Solola, Escuintla, Guatemala, Alta Verapaz and Peten, an investment of approximately $6 million will be made.
Starting from October 16, Hotel Vista Real, located at kilometer 9 of the road to El Salvador, will form part of the Hilton Hotels & Resorts chain.
As part of the change of brand the hotel underwent modifications to its infrastructure, with its 130 rooms having been completely remodeled as over the last ten monthsand the estimated investment in the works amounted to $4 million.
With 76 beds, a restaurant and 146 parking spaces, the hotel Suites Terraza Imperial has opened in zone 13 of the Guatemalan capital.
The hotel is being promoted as an ideal establishment for business travelers and for those who visit the capital of Guatemala for medical treatments.
Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "...Terraza Imperial is a hotel with executive focus, and is luxurious, comfortable and accessible, a concept that complements the services needed for short stays for business trips or long stays for those seeking medical treatment, for example."
The Mexican airline Volaris will be suspending its services as of July 1, and the luxury resort hotel Mukul, in Guacalito, has announced the indefinite closure of its operations.
The crisis that has been going on in the country for the last month continues to harm the tourism business sector.The airline Volaris reported that it will temporarily suspend services to Managua from next week, and the luxury hotel Mukul Auberge Resorts Collection, in the South Pacific, announced on Friday that it will close its operations indefinitely.
A highway in Panama, a tourist center in Costa Rica and a high rise residential complex in Guatemala, are some of the projects planned for the coming months in the region.
The interactive system "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects that are planned in the region.
Tailor made tourist packages, modifications in hotels, and learning the Mandarin language, are just some of the aspects that companies must work on in order to receive tourists from China.
The bilateral tourism promotion agreement signed between the governments of China and Panama, after they reestablished diplomatic relations in June 2017, involves much more than a simple framework to promote the arrival of tourists, but also contemplates the requirements that Panama must meet in order to be categorized as a country authorized to be visited by the citizens of China.
The Guatemalan association of small hotels has announced that they have started operating a web application that allows tourists to make reservations online and for hoteliers to publish their promotions.
María Renée Cárcamo, President of APEHGUA pointed out that "With this measure, the first step is being taken to make an active association and at the same time the aim is to encourage small hotels to optimize processes and services of the association towards hotels".
An environmental impact study has been submitted for construction of a complex of 3 mixed-use towers in Guatemala City, which will house commercial premises, offices, apartments and a hotel.
Data from the interactive platform "Construction in Central America" compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData indicates that, in September, Grupo Cuadra S.A. presented an Environmental Impact Study (EIA) to the Ministry of the Environment to build a mixed-use building in zone 10 of Guatemala City.
Businessmen from the Panamanian tourist sector welcome the arrival of Air China flights in March 2018, but consider it will be a challenge to attract a type of tourist that seems to prefer very different destinations than those offered by Central America.
In a region which for many years has specialized in serving North American tourists and more recently Europeans, preparing to provide the attention demanded by tourists from China will be a challenge, according to the Panamanian tourism entrepreneurs themselves.
Hotel renovations and the opening of new establishments are planned next year in Guatemala, in a market where the occupancy rate is around 60%.
Despite the fact that the occupancy rate has not exceeded 60% in the last two years, growth of the hotel market in Guatemala continues, especially in the metropolitan area.In this location, the areas of greatest demand continue to be those near the road to El Salvador, Cayalá and the sector near La Reforma Avenue.
Details of the ten most valuable construction projects in terms of investment, for which environmental impact studies were submitted in the last year.
Of the 10 largest construction projects submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources between August 2016 and July 2017, six environmental projects were processed in the department of Guatemala, with an estimated investment of $181 million.In terms of investment value, they were followed by two in Alta Verapaz, with an investment of close to $77 million, one in Chimaltenango, with an investment of $16 million, and another in Santa Rosa with an estimated investment of $15 million.
In the past 12 months, 78 environmental impact studies were submitted to develop hotels, marinas, clubs and beach residences in Central American countries.
Data from the interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: