Hotel El Panama

For many years, this former jewel of the Hilton Hotel chain was situated atop a hill in the center of a great green grove.  While the passing years have changed the surrounding landscape, flickers of the hotel’s splendor still remain.

The year was 1946 and Panama was experiencing a commercial boom. The need for a hotel became apparent when hundreds of businessmen and visitors all began to arrive.  These guests would require a comfortable and safe place that was centrally located, on par with the other cities in the world.  To accomplish this goal, a group of visionary businessmen acquired a plot of land of 60 hectares, paying between 10 and 15 cents per square meter.  The presiding president of Panama at the time, Enrique Jimenez, after being informed about the new project, requested that the developers yield a part of the extensive plot to create the University of Panama.

The hotel was inaugurated on January 15, 1951.  After almost 60 years, the hotel that raised the name of the country with pride has evolved into an edifice with modern facilities that contain 330 standard rooms and suites.  It is the only hotel in the country with its own convention center and with 35 different parlors in various sizes and capacities.

Famed American architect Edward D. Stone, who had built embassies for the United States in Belgium and India, designed the concept and plans for the hotel.  He also designed the General Motors Building in New York and a part of the Museum of Modern Art as well as others.  Norwegian engineer Fred N. Severand was responsible for the civil works.  Together, their designs garnered the Gold Medal for Mr. Stone at the 55th Annual Exhibit of the New York Architectural League.