CHICAGO — When you think of Panama, what comes to mind? Is it the historic Panama Canal? Or is it the flavors of specialty coffee, its several national parks or Casco Viejo, the historic district of Panama City and a UNESCO World Heritage site? Or is the Panama Convention Center (PCC), the region’s largest venue that sits on the Gulf of Panama?
The PCC, which is managed by Legends Global, is located in Panama City, with views of the Bridge of the Americas and Cerro Ancón from its location on the Amador Causeway.
Located approximately 17 miles from the Tocumen International Airport, which welcomes direct flights from 87 cities around the world and serves as the hub for Copa Airlines, the PCC’s connectivity makes it easy to access for business travelers.
Trade Show Executive connected with Jim Peebles, Assistant General Manager & Director of Finance of the Panama Convention Center for Legends Global, to learn more about the facility and the destination.
Panama Convention Center Fast Facts
- 165,764 square feet that can be divided into three halls*
- 16 meeting rooms with 25,833 square feet of space*
- Holds the largest ballroom in Panama at 43,055 square feet, with capacity of 2,000 banquet guests and 4,000 attendees in an auditorium format*
- 10 loading zones*
*Data from Tourism Panama
PCC Highlights
Sustainability
Sustainability is a priority at the PCC, with offerings like six new charging stations, lots of glass and natural light to cut down on electric usage, and no single-use plastics on the campus. The venue also features an extensive recycling program.
Local F&B Offerings
“The PCC likes food trucks, and we have our concession stands. We have concessions that are painted to look like a colorful local bus, so it gives off the appearance that you’re being served out of a bus,” Peebles said. “What’s exotic in Panama is local here [in Texas and the U.S.], but we offer a variety like Chinese dishes; and we have Muslim food, and halal and kosher. My personal favorite is the short ribs with corn on the cob. Plus, we have an extensive kitchen and a lot of diversity in what we can produce.”
Enhanced WiFi
The PCC offers high-speed WiFi throughout the venue, along with advanced audio and video capabilities for live streaming and video conferencing.
“Your average event runs about 100 megabytes, and we have capacity for 100 gigabytes,” Peebles said. “We have direct fiber cable from four different providers, so that when event organizers are running their program, if there is a glitch, we have the electric backup, the full plant backup to keep things running smoothly.”
Special Offerings for Event Organizers
The country’s DMO, Promtur, is offering an incentive program for event organizers looking to bring their events to the venue. For events that generate 7,500-9,999 hotel nights booked, the convention center offers two event days free, with larger groups earning more free days.
For shows that generate between 10,000 and 12,499 hotel nights booked, three days are free, and for events that generate between 12,500 and 14,999 hotel nights booked, four days are free. Bookings that exceed 15,000 hotel nights booked qualify for customized incentives through this exclusive promotion.
And, because the PCC is owned by the government, it does not charge sales taxes.
Panama: A Cost Efficient and Welcoming Destination
“Panama is like the Singapore of Latin America. It’s very evolved, has great infrastructure with excellent logistics and excellent airlift,” Peebles said. “It’s a good quality of life, and it’s very international. Most multinational companies that do business in Latin America have their regional headquarters in Panama.”
Along with the access to local intellectual capital, Panama also offers ease of travel, with a one-to-one currency exchange with U.S. dollars, no visas necessary to enter for most countries, and affordable hotel rates and offerings through the convention center.
“Hotels are affordable in Panama, they’re mostly south of $200 a night,” Peebles said.
Local Flair
The culture of Panama is a result of the mixing of Indigenous peoples, African heritage and European influences, coming together to form a mosaic of flavors, celebrations and historical heritage.
In Panama, visitors can explore the archaeological site of Panama Viejo, visit coffee estates in the highlands, sail in the Gulf of Panama and check out natural parks.
Within 5-10 minutes of the PCC, the neighborhood of Casco Viejo, which is like the French Quarter in New Orleans, offers a strong F&B scene, and the Panama Sports Museum highlights national achievements. Also nearby is the Biomuseo, or the Biodiversity Museum, which highlights the country’s impact on global biodiversity as well as Panama’s environmental protection commitments.
“Casco Viejo is gorgeous. It has cobblestone streets and great food bistros, sidewalk cafes, and it’s just very neat,” Peebles said. “We [Panama City] also have seven of the highest skyscrapers in Latin America, so it’s a big skyline and very scenic.
“Coming to Panama is like going to your first rock concert. It exceeds your expectations, you’re not prepared for it, and you come home with lots of memories.”
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