El Salvador is starting a housing development between subdivisions, residences and apartments, as well as commercial construction with hotels with different capacities and amenities.
CentralAmericaData's Commercial section provides an up-to-date list of public and private construction projects that have submitted Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) to the respective institutions in each country.
As a result of the sanitary crisis caused by the covid-19 outbreak, hotel occupancy in Panama has fallen to historic levels and business income has gone up in smoke, a situation that is forcing hotels to look for options to renegotiate their debts.
It is estimated that in this context of economic crisis, Panamanian hotels owe $630 million to financial institutions.
The international chain began to operate in the Santa Ana district of the country's capital a hotel that has 143 rooms and halls for social events.
The new Hilton Garden Inn Santa Ana, will focus on attracting clients from the international and local corporate sector, since the meeting rooms are equipped with the most advanced technology to hold meetings, trainings, seminars, among other activities.
Due to Costa Rica's estimated average hotel occupancy rate of 52% by 2020, well below the 95% recorded at the end of 2019, businessmen in the sector expect that in this context of crisis there will be no peak seasons next year.
The tourism sector is one of the hardest hit by the economic crisis generated by the outbreak of covid-19, because mobility restrictions, the closure of air terminals and the fear of tourists to be infected, have influenced the drastic fall in tourism activity.
As part of the process of economic reactivation, starting October 12, Panama will be allowed to reopen swimming pools, cinemas, theaters, museums, galleries, hotels, casinos and tourist sites with closed structures, at 50% of their capacity.
The National Government issued Executive Decree No. 1142 of October 7, 2020 in the Official Gazette, which authorizes the reactivation, operation and mobilization of people in hotels, motels, rural hostels, lodging sites and complementary services, details an official statement.
Disinfection of the room keys, deep cleaning of the facilities and the guests' luggage are some of the protocols that will be applied by the hotels in Costa Rica at the time of opening.
After being closed for two months due to the health crisis resulting from the covid-19 outbreak, since May 16 the country's hotels with less than 20 rooms were allowed to open their doors to the public, but with the condition that they only occupy 50% of their capacity.
Social Security is bidding for hotel service in the metropolitan area in order to house medical professionals in charge of the emergency care of covid-19.
The hotel facilities are required to guarantee privacy, comfort and security for the medical professionals staying there and the use of all the facilities by the Guatemalan Social Security Institute, except for the common areas, which must remain closed due to health security protocol.
Because of the restriction measures decreed in the country due to the covid-19 outbreak, between March and April of this year the average hotel rate for two people decreased from $160 to $120.
According to the "Monetary Policy Report" prepared by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR), in the face of the health crisis, hotel occupancy in the country has plummeted in the first four months of the year, from 90% in January to 15% in April.
Corporacion Camino Real, Radisson, Hyatt, Marriot, Adriatika, Hilton Garden and Holiday Inn are some of the large hotels that have suspended operations in Guatemala due to the health and economic crisis affecting the world.
As a result of the covid-19 outbreak, the Real Intercontinental Hotel suspended operations from April 1 and according to its managers, the reopening will depend on government regulations.
Adapting spaces in the restaurant area, selling themselves to tourists as a clean and safe establishment, are some of the strategies that hotel sector businessmen plan to apply in order to adjust to the new commercial reality resulting from the health emergency.
The spread of covid-19 has forced health authorities to restrict the mobility of people and to close several establishments, with hotels being one of the most affected.
Hoteliers believe that the government's recommendation to return the full amount to guests who had rooms reserved, who for the moment will not be able to enjoy the service because of the health crisis, is unworkable.
A report by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) details that consumers have the right to a refund or rescheduling without penalty, as opposed to cancellation of reservations at the national or international level.
Following the spread of covid-19 and the restrictions placed on people's mobility, the country's hotel sector warns that there is a risk of bankruptcy if a financial rescue plan is not implemented.
Managers of the Salvadoran Association of Small Hotels of El Salvador (Hopes) claim that hotels and the tourism sector were among the first to receive the economic impact of the crisis resulting from the health emergency, and will be among the last to recover.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts signed an agreement to open a new facility at the Captalino World Trade Center complex by mid-2020.
Hilton San Salvador will have 198 rooms, 27 meeting rooms, two ballrooms, two boardrooms and 16 meeting units. The building is located in Colonia Escalon.
Last year, hotels in Panama City reported an average daily occupancy of 4,571 rooms, 1% less than in 2018.
Reports from the General Comptroller of the Republic indicate that in December the daily average of occupied rooms did not register significant changes with respect to the same month last year, going from 4,307 to 4,281.
In order to increase hotel occupancy in Panama, business people believe that the country should focus on attracting clients in the segment of meetings, conferences, exhibitions and congresses, events that could become the lifeline of the sector.
According to reports from the General Comptroller of the Republic, in October 2019, hotels in Panama City reported an average daily occupation of 4,457 rooms, 5% less than the same month in 2018.