Panama Business

Panama Business News / LaTour Hotels & Resorts Enters Property Management Agreement with Las Olas Resort in Panama. LaTour Hotels & Resorts, a standout in the vacation property management arena, announced that it has entered into a management agreement with Las Olas Resort in Playa La Barqueta, Panama which is set to go into effect on February 1st, 2016. 
LaTour Hotels & Resorts will provide a turn-key solution for the developers of Las Olas Resort. They will provide management oversight for all finance and accounting functions, specifically in the areas of planning, budgeting, and forecasting. From a customer standpoint, LaTour will be handling reservations, rentals, and marketing for the property. Additionally, the company will administer the day to day operations including front-desk check-in, housekeeping, and unit maintenance. LaTour will implement employee management programs through its human resources solutions center. The company plans to put a capital improvemen…

Panama Business News.TopLogistics lleva cabo alianza con Cervecerías Barú Panamá.  Cervecerías Barú Panamá se alió a su nuevo y único agente distribuidor, TopLogistics, con la finalidad de mejorar el servicio al cliente, los procedimientos logísticos de comercialización y que la entrega de sus productos sea más eficiente mediante la renovada flota de camiones.
Desde el 2002, Cervecerías Barú Panamá forma parte de la familia Heineken, lo que repercute en que la compañía local cumpla con diversos estándares de calidad, entre ellos la disminución de la huella de carbono a través de camiones de entrega más ahorrativos, así como canales de entrega eficiente e inmediata.
Johann Schauer, gerente de la Cadena de Suministro de Cervecerías Barú Panamá, y Ricardo Janson, gerente general de TopLogistics, explicaron los detalles para hacer posible la alianza de distribución eficiente y sustentable.
Para Johann Schauer, gerente de Cadena de Suministro de Cervecerías Barú Panamá, el acuerdo les ha perm…

Panama Business News. Canal Bank S.A. adquiere al Banco Universal. La Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá autorizó la venta del 70% de las acciones de Banco Universal a Canal Bank. Así consta en una resolución con fecha del 25 de enero hecha pública esta tarde. En otras dos resoluciones, el regulador autorizó el cambio de licencia de Canal Bank, que pasará de tener una licencia para microfinanzas a una de banca general, y extendió por 30 días el período de reorganización de Banco Universal.
El 70% de las acciones de Banco Universal le pertenecen, desde el pasado 25 de enero, a la entidad bancaria Canal Bank, S.A.
La venta ha sido producto de un extenso proceso de reorganización durante seis meses, dirigido por la Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá (SBP).
‘Una vez satisfechos los requerimientos del Acuerdo 1-2004 y luego de emitirse los correspondientes avisos al público, la SBP autorizó la adquisición por parte de Canal Bank, S.A. de cerca del 70% de las acciones de Banco Universal, S…

Panama Business News. Generali y Uber pactan alianza. Generali, empresa de seguros en Panamá, firmó una alianza con la empresa Uber con la finalidad de que los clientes puedan recibir un reembolso por asistencia de traslado en Uber, en caso de que su auto quede averiado por una colisión o sufra un desperfecto mecánico. Con esta alianza, Generali Panamá reafirma su compromiso de innovación que ofrece a sus clientes soluciones prácticas de acuerdo con sus necesidades.
Gracias a este acuerdo, los clientes de la asegurador podrán recibir un reembolso por asistencia de traslado en Uber, en caso de que su auto quede averiado por una colisión o sufra un desperfecto mecánico.
La firma del acuerdo se llevó a cabo entre Fátima Valles, VPA de Mercado No Vida de Generali y Juan Pablo Restrepo, Gerente General de Uber Panamá.

Con esta alianza, Generali Panamá reafirma su compromiso de ser una empresa innovadora, que ofrece a sus clientes soluciones prácticas, de acuerdo a sus necesidades.

Panama Business News. Del Monte logra acuerdo con el Gobierno de Panamá para reactivar bananeras. Del Monte y el Gobierno de Panamá anunciaron recientemente que establecieron las bases para un acuerdo de entendimiento para el establecimiento de la transnacional en Barú, para retomar la producción bananera.
Del Monte deberá presentar estudio de impacto ambiental, y el Ministerio de Ambiente inspeccionará los diferentes puntos de los canales de riego para proceder a dar la concesión de agua. La Autoridad Nacional de Administración de Tierras (Anati) evaluará los terrenos individuales, colectivos y estatales.
El Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas realizará una concesión a la empresa por toda la infraestructura que la empresa utilice a través de un arrendamiento de aproximadamente 20 años.
Unos 1,200 extrabajadores de las bananeras acordaron con Del Monte vender en $7,500 cada hectárea de terreno que le entregó el Gobierno tras el cierre de las operaciones de Coosemupar. La empresa requiere m…

Panama Business News. PlanetBeach Spray & Spa Set to Open inPanama. The health and wellness industry is projected to be a trillion dollar industry by 2017. PlanetBeach spray & spa is a unique and innovative membership-based franchising corporation. Founded in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1996 the spa has grown to 175+ locations worldwide. In 2007 PlanetBeach decided to expand the concept abroad through the International Master Franchise Program and has awarded the rights to develop the concept in Canada, Egypt, Ireland, Poland, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK and most recently the Republic of Panama.
Yvonne N. Kilborn and her husband Carlos A. Gonzales along with their business partner Alvaro E. Villanueva decided they wanted to become Masters in the Republic of Panama after discovering the PlanetBeach franchise system while attending a franchise expo in Jacksonville, Florida.
“We were really sold by the fact that PlanetBeach had an innovative and efficient service model. It allows cu…

Panama Business News. Odebrecht and Tocumen to negotiate contract addenda.Panama's state airport operator (Aitsa) and Brazil's Odebrecht met last week to negotiate payments for additional works carried out.
Tocumen´s  Manager Joseph Fidanque III and André Luis Rabello, Panama director of the construction company Norberto Odebrecht, met to discuss a proposed $84 million price adjustment on the redesign of the South Terminal project at the airport.
That money will be used to build a pedestrian bridge to the current terminal, a new baggage handling system and an area for passengers arriving from countries with security controls that are different than Panama's.
Fidanque III said that during the meeting he told Rabello that he was not comfortable with the new price. "I don't feel comfortable with that amount and that is why we are going to negotiate with the contractor," said the airport manager.

That position is shared by Comptroller Federico Humbert, who also toure…

Panama Business News. Panama Canal Authority plans Volume-based incentives among plans for expanded Canal.Panama Canal officials are looking to offer volume-based incentives to containership operators as part of plans to encourage full use of the expanded waterway after it opens – an event now eyed for “early the second part of this year.”
“Our objective is to fill the new capacity as soon as possible,” Francisco Miguez, executive vice president of finance and administration of the Panama Canal Authority, said Jan. 18 at the SMC3 Jump Start 2016 conference in Atlanta.
Miguez described the discounts as “incentives in our toll structure for bringing in volume… as an airline, with loyalty points.”
He declined to provide details, just as he was somewhat imprecise about when commerce will be able to begin moving through the new locks, which will allow passage of containerships carrying as many as 14,000 twenty-foot-equivalent container units.
“Early the second part of this year” was as specif…

Panama Business News / Secrets Resort Opens in Panama. AMResorts has kicked off 2016 with its latest hotel opening in the CaribbeanBasin: the new Secrets Playa Bonita Panama Resort.
The 310-room, adults-only property is the 42nd resort in the company’s collection and the 15th Secrets-branded hotel. It is the first Secrets hotel in Panama.
“AMResorts is excited to bring SecretsResorts & Spas to Panama and expand our footprint into new destinations.Panama provides a beautiful setting and a multitude of opportunities for guests to experience the destination’s eco, cultural and adventure offerings,” said Gonzalo del Peòn, President of AMResorts.
The property includes four bars, four a la carte restaurants and a 10,000-square-foot Pevonia spa.
“More than ever, travelers are seeking premium all-inclusive experiences, and Panama serves as an ideal backdrop for the Secrets Resorts & Spas brand and its guests,” said Alex Zozaya, CEO of Apple Leisure Group. “As we continue to grow our Centr…

Panama Business News / Avis Budget Group Named Car Rental Provider for Copa Airlines. Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAR) and Copa Airlines, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA) and member of the Star Alliance global airline network, announced recently the signing of a new partnership agreement.
As part of the multi-year agreement, Avis Car Rental and Budget Car Rental have been named car rental partners for Copa Airlines’ ConnectMiles loyalty program. Members of ConnectMiles can now save money on Avis and Budget rentals around the globe and earn 100 miles per day when they rent an Avis or Budget vehicle. In addition, Avis and Budget will promote products, services and money-saving offers in marketing channels for ConnectMiles members, including emails, e-statements, the airline’s in-flight magazine and online.
“Copa Airlines is well-established and highly respected across Latin America,” said Stephen Wright, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Latin America/Asi…

Panama Business News. A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Mapfre Panamá S.A.. A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a” of Mapfre Panamá S.A. (Mapfre Panamá) (Panama City, Panama). The outlook for both ratings is stable.
The ratings of Mapfre Panamá reflect its excellent risk-adjusted capitalization and its geographic importance to MAPFRE S.A. (Mapfre Group) in the Central American market, as well as the incorporation of the Mapfre Group’s practices and procedures into Mapfre Panamá. The company has been able to maintain its good operating performance and to improve its underwriting results by reacting properly to business opportunities and appropriately making improvements to its products. Offsetting these positive rating factors is the recent highly competitive environment for its core businesses.
Mapfre Panamá is the third-largest insurer in Panama, the market leader in the individual life and auto segments and the third most…

Panama Business News. Panama Ports Company establishes Cristóbal as the first rice re-export center in Panama. The port of Cristobal, Colon, administered by Panama Ports Company (PPC) has created a new industry in Panama – bagging bulk rice for re-export.
The new activity advances the objectives of the operator to help position Panama as a global logistics center. The service consists in bringing the product to Panama in bulk and bagging it before re-export to various countries in South America and the Caribbean through the port. This added value implies a lower cost for shipping lines and creates a number of specialized jobs for the people of Colon.
With the clear objective of helping to turning Panama into a world-class logistics center, PPC has initiated a series of strategies aimed at training port personnel to cope with these new challenges and offer a wide range of services which will attract more attention of the maritime industry.
For Aitor Ibarreche, PPC Executive President, t…