New Convention Centers in Amador and Boquete

[NewsLady]

From Newsroom Panama this morning (May 26)

Two new convention centers on stream

Posted on May 25, 2016 in Panama

 

 

PANAMA’S  ability to attract  conferences will get a shot in the arm  from the redesigning of the stalled Convention Center  in Amador and plans for a center in Boquete

The Panama Tourism Authority has announced that it has redesigned the Amador project, which has been suspended for a year after the original construction company ran out of money.

Authority Manager Gustavo Him said  that the building will be used for conventions and “not social events,” which he said will generate more revenue.

He explained that the new design includes more parking, more flor space and new entries. It will cost $193.7 million and be ready in mid-2018.

He also announced plans to build a convention center in Boquete.

The consortium CCA-COCIGE, which consists of CCA Building Panama, S.A., China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd. and Construcciones Civiles Generales, S.A., is now in charge of the project.

This controversial project was awarded to the consortium HPC-Contrata-P&V. But in December 2014 it informed the authorities that it did not have the liquidity to finish it.

The transfer to the new entity was approved in January.

[Danielle]

This was reported a few weeks ago in the other site. Ricardo Perez is involved. 

[Pat]

13 hours ago, Danielle said:

This was reported a few weeks ago in the other site. Ricardo Perez is involved. 

 

I prefer postings (like Penny's notice above plus what Keith and others do on CL) showing referenced or source data instead of rumors or hear say material.

i don't bother with the "other site" anymore.

[Penny]

Thank you Pat. There have been rumors and rumors about rumors floating around since Manolo Ruiz was mayor Boquete. This was really his dream. The fact that this project has been funded is the news. Hopefully it will be built in our lifetime. I don't think it will be a mammoth convention center like Atlapa in PTY. Probably a building with a few meeting rooms and (hopefully) a large auditorium.

[Roger B]

The convention center construction in Amador, Panama City was suspended for almost 18 months.  The new government of president Varela and the financial problem of the contracting company stopped the construction the minute they started as a new government.  I visited the project a couple of weeks ago and because it is located no more than 100 meters of the Pacific Ocean the rebars left uncovered were very rusted showing signs of corrosion but it is something that could be solved easily and quickly with no problems.  The last thing is that the Varela's government asked to the new contracting company to change the original design to another one according to their new specifications and intended use.

I guess that the other convention center planned for Chiriqui will be a small one in size and capacity.  It will be more aimed to small conventions that some Panama City companies do in far from the city places.  Companies like this far places to have a better and not distracting environment for their conventions, sales meetings, training, etc.

  

[Keith Woolford]

While searchers from SINAPROC and other agencies were out recovering a lost hiker on the weekend, the Minister of Tourism, Gustavo Him, was also in town and he announced that the Boquete Convention Center project is a reality which will soon be going out to tender.

He also hinted at a re-evaluation of direct flights from the U.S. to Chiriqui.

Un centro de convenciones ‘verde’ para Boquete

Luis Bellini 11 jul 2016 - 01:56h

With the objective of promoting the western area of the country (the Bocas del Toro region Ngäbe Buglé and Chiriqui), the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) is preparing to tender the construction of a convention center "green" in Boquete, Chiriqui.

The ATP said in a statement that the structure, which will have green areas, wastewater management and use a system that will allow energy savings, will be built in an area of 4 thousand square meters and will have a capacity for 2 thousand people.

Once the specifications are finalized, it is expected that the phase of construction will start next year.

"It will be a unique structure in the region to promote events, congresses and the green tourism that attracts visitors from Europe and the United States," said the administrator of the ATP, Gustavo Him.

Panama City, Boquete and Bocas del Toro sites are those most sought by tourists, according to Him, who also noted that evaluates the possibility of bringing direct flights from United States to Chiriqui.

The announcement of Him was given during the Annual Conference of Business Executives (CADE), in which the central theme was: "Challenges and opportunities of tourism in the western region".

The meeting of CADE took place this past weekend in Boquete, with the assistance of tourism entrepreneurs (hotels-restaurants), operators and tourist guides, corporate executives, transporters, universities, entrepreneurs, representatives of the Government, among others.

http://impresa.prensa.com/economia/centro-convenciones-verde-Boquete_0_4526547342.html

freetranslation.com

Edited July 11, 2016 by Keith Woolford

[Bud]

Quote

Panama: Convention Center Tender in Boquete

Tender documents are being prepared for the construction of the new center in the province of Chiriqui, which will have an area of 4,000 square meters and capacity for 2,000 people.

Monday, July 11, 2016

From a statement issued by the Tourism Authority of Panama:

The first green convention center in Central America will be built in Boquete, Chiriqui province, in an area of 4000 m2 and will have capacity for 2,000 people.

According to the manager of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), Gustavo Him, this convention center will have a short - term impact on the province and its structure will be different because it will have green areas, wastewater management and also will use an energy saving system."It will be a unique structure in the region to promote events, congresses and green tourism which will attract visitors from Europe and the US," he said.

http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Panama_Convention_Center_Tender_in_Boquete

[MarieElaine]

Article does not say where in Boquete this will be built.  Any idea?

[Keith Woolford]

On the east side of the Via Boquete highway near Los Molinos in El Francés.

[Keith Woolford]

Ricardo Perez today officially signed over the land in El Frances that he donated for the new Green Convention Centre which will be built there.

 

Edited May 31, 2017 by Keith Woolford

[Bonnie]

Why is it called the Green Convention Center?

[Keith Woolford]

According to previous ATP press releases, the design is mandated to be environmentally friendly and the Centre hopes to offer conventions and symposiums on ecology related topics.

"With the objective of promoting the western area of the country (the Bocas del Toro region Ngäbe Buglé and Chiriqui), the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) is preparing to tender the construction of a "green" convention center in Boquete, Chiriqui.

The ATP said in a statement that the structure, which will have green areas, wastewater management and use a system that will allow energy savings, will be built in an area of 4 thousand square meters and will have a capacity for 2 thousand people.

Once the specifications are finalized, it is expected that the phase of construction will start next year.

"It will be a unique structure in the region to promote events, congresses and the green tourism that attracts visitors from Europe and the United States," said the administrator of the ATP, Gustavo Him."

[JimAndNena]

Varela has 2 years left of his term. Expected construction begins next year. Any chance Varela will get a chance to inaugurate the project?  All presidents hope to have their name attached to something before leaving office for the history books.

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Tender for Convention Center in Panama

In order to encourage business tourism and congresses in the area, plans are being made to tender the design and construction of a convention center in Boquete, in the province of Chiriquí.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) has announced that they have already done the legal transfer of the lands where a "green" convention center will be built, with capacity for 2,000 people. The objective of the ATP is to boost the business of tourism and congresses in the province of Chiriquí.

From a statement issued by the Tourism Authority of Panama:

The administrator of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), Gustavo Him, and Chirican businessman Ricardo Perez signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, through which three properties will be transferred to the entity, located in the district of Boquete, in Chiriquí, where the first green convention center in Central America will be built.

The three plots of land cover about four hectares and have an economic value in the market of 800 thousand dollars. One of the points in the commitment act emphasizes that the design for the construction of the work must include all of the basic public services, access roads and green areas.

 

http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Tender_for_Convention_Center_in_Panama

[Roger B]

On 5/31/2017 at 6:51 PM, Bonnie said:

Why is it called the Green Convention Center?

Bonnie

There is a trend in the architectural world to design buildings that complies with some requirements of environmental issues.  For example the design must be one that could save electricity by having better ilumination elements in its design that allows sun light to illuminate in daytime and some special lamps located in some places that will give better illumination at night.  Other things are regarding the use of fixtures at toilets, bathrooms, etc that will save sustantially water any time you flush it.  Also the type of material used should be one that could be recycled or is recycled and wont contaminate.  Those norms and points are actually under what is called in the US    LEED. 

Insert other media

[Bonnie]

Thanks, Roger. I haven't seen any evidence of such design in this area of Panama.

[JimAndNena]

11 hours ago, Roger B said:

Bonnie

There is a trend in the architectural world to design buildings that complies with some requirements of environmental issues.  For example the design must be one that could save electricity by having better ilumination elements in its design that allows sun light to illuminate in daytime and some special lamps located in some places that will give better illumination at night.  Other things are regarding the use of fixtures at toilets, bathrooms, etc that will save sustantially water any time you flush it.  Also the type of material used should be one that could be recycled or is recycled and wont contaminate.  Those norms and points are actually under what is called in the US    LEED. 

Insert other media

Hola Roger, I have been reading about a recycle project in Bocas for a couple of years.  Building with plastic bottles.  Interesting idea but probably not usable in very many areas.

Why live in a plastic bottle house?

Average humans can consume 15 or more drinks in plastic bottles a month. If you were born after 1978, and live until 80 years old, you will leave behind a minimum of 14,400 plastic bottles on this planet. These bottles take hundreds of years to break down into tiny pieces of plastic, never to completely disappear. Most of the waste is consumed by fish and birds, which has shortened their lifespans greatly.

The story is here: https://www.plasticbottlevillage.com/espanol/

jim

[Moderator_02]

Quote

“Green” convention center for Boquete

Posted on June 2, 2017 in Panama

Post Views: 204

BOQUETE  will become the home of the first  “green” convention in Central America with a capacity of 2,000 people and provide a mjor boost to the Chiriquí economy.

The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) has announced that they have already done the legal transfer of the lands the center will be built.

The objective of the ATP is to boost the business of tourism and congresses in the province of Chiriquí.

The administrator of the Authority of Panama Gustavo Him, and Chirican businessman Ricardo Perez have  signed a memorandum of understanding through which three properties will be transferred to the entity.

The three plots of land cover about four hectares and have an economic value in the market of $800,000. One of the points in the commitment act emphasizes that the design for the construction of the work must include all of the basic public services, access roads and green areas.

The convention center will provide a  major boost to a community already renowned for its ability to attract tourists to its coffee plantations, scenic walks and climbs, and bird watching supplemented by flower  and coffee fairs its own jazz and blues festival.

 

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/green-convention-center-boquete

[Roger B]

On 6/2/2017 at 8:37 PM, Bonnie said:

Thanks, Roger. I haven't seen any evidence of such design in this area of Panama.

Bonnie

Maybe because this type of design is not being used for small housing projects and/or small institutional buildings.   In Panama City  is being used mostly  for big buildings, industrial, commercial and institutional building projects. 

[Keith Woolford]

The government has been ramping up publicity for this site, and are actively seeking convention business for it, so I believe we can expect a quick start on construction and a rapid completion.

 

Edited June 29, 2017 by Keith Woolford

[JohnF13]

Think it will get finished before the Policlinica?

[Keith Woolford]

This communication announces that the ceremony marking 'the laying of the first stone'* will be held at the new Boquete Green Convention Centre in El Frances on August 7th at 9:30 a.m.

* a cornerstone in other cultures

An interesting conceptual drawing

[TwoSailors]

Wow! Kinda of crazy!

Edited July 28, 2017 by TwoSailors

[Keith Woolford]

On 7/28/2017 at 11:10 AM, Keith Woolford said:

This communication announces that the ceremony marking 'the laying of the first stone'* will be held at the new Boquete Green Convention Centre in El Frances on August 7th at 9:30 a.m.

* a cornerstone in other cultures

An interesting conceptual drawing

The ceremony is being held this morning at 9:30 a.m. at the site in El Francés.

[Keith Woolford]

Photos of the ceremony inaugurating construction.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1263211497123014&id=566693683441469