The opening of Hyatt Regency Panama City marks more than the arrival of a new luxury hotel brand. As the first Hyatt Regency property in Central America, the project reflects growing international confidence in Panama’s economic stability, connectivity and expanding tourism sector.

The property, which reopened in 2025 following a US$35 million transformation of a former Marriott hotel, is now led by Diego Andrade, a hospitality executive whose career has spanned Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands and the Caribbean before arriving in Panama earlier this year.

For Hyatt, Panama offered a strategic combination few markets in the region can replicate. “Panama is the perfect place for business and leisure,” said Andrade. “People come for meetings, but the country naturally encourages them to stay longer.”

Located in the heart of Panama City’s financial district, the hotel features 382 rooms, four food and beverage concepts, extensive conference facilities and a Regency Club designed for premium corporate travelers. The strategy targets the country’s rapidly growing MICE segment while capitalizing on Panama’s broader appeal as a lifestyle destination.

Beyond infrastructure, Andrade points to the country’s long-term stability and international connectivity as decisive advantages. “What Panama has achieved generates admiration across Latin America,” he said. “The country has created the right conditions to attract investment and continue developing tourism.”

That outlook is shaping Hyatt’s regional ambitions. The group already operates multiple properties across Panama, ranging from luxury leisure resorts to high-end lifestyle hotels, and expects further expansion in the coming years. Rather than pursuing scale alone, the company is focusing on premium positioning. “We do not want the most hotels,” Andrade said. “We want the best hotels.”