Tourism Minister Salome Shamah
The Panama Tourism Authority and Aeroperlas held a joint press conference this past Friday to inaugurate the flights to Pedasi.  ATP head Salome Shamah was in attendance, along with Pedasi area investors and Aeroperlas executives.  Rolando Pereira of Aeroperlas Airline gave a short presentation about the history of the airline and his [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics on March 1st, 2010 | No Comments »

Panama Tourism’s New Top Boss, Salome Shamah
Today I had a very positive meeting with Salome Shamah, Panama’s new Minister of Tourism (ATP).  Also in attendance were Adolfo Linares (head of Panama Chamber of Commerce), Rolando Pereira (Aeroperlas) and Jose Goldner (Pedasi area investor).  The subject of the sit-down was to discuss the need for a [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics on February 1st, 2010 | 6 Comments »

what surprises does 2010 hold for Panama?
I asked a few friends and fellow bloggers for their predictions for Panama in 2010.   Here’s a compilation of their opinions, which are as varied and colorful as my uncle Doc’s 8 kids.
Sam Taliferro, Real Estate Developer & Blogger
PrimaPanama
I foresee relatively strong employment, political stability and higher International profile.  [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics on January 20th, 2010 | 6 Comments »

will national parks such as Pedasi’s Isla Iguana become a focal point?
With another tourism forum on the horizon (see end of article), I thought it was time for me to review my notes of the annual AMCHAM tourism forum, which was held in September of this year.  Nancy Hannah, the chair of the tourism committee [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics on November 18th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

is an indoor ski resort what Panama tourism needs?
I have compared Panama to Dubai several times in previous articles, rarely intending flattery. After attending the annual AMCHAM Tourism Forum a few weeks ago (report on the way!), it became clear to me that there are two distinctive theories competing for the future direction of Panama [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics, Real Estate on September 27th, 2009 | 9 Comments »

Panama put the real estate cart before the tourism horse
For the past 5 years, I have shouted to the rafters my beliefs on the vital role that tourism must play in Panama’s economic development.  When putting forth this concept here in Panama, I am often met with the following reactions:

Blank stares
Laughter
Anger

Some of these reactions seem [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics, Real Estate on August 27th, 2009 | 3 Comments »

Panama tourism needs a minister who is crazy for change
Dear Mr. Shamah:
“Los Locos Somos” was a great slogan for President Martinelli’s campaign.  I heard that you and your advertising team were behind that concept.  As a fellow marketing guy, I am hoping that you and I speak the same language.  Despite our differences of [...]

Filed under: Business, News, Politics on August 13th, 2009 | 13 Comments »

View of Panama City from Casco Viejo
As I approach my mid-30s, in addition to a nagging rotator cuff and vanishing hairline, I have also lived long enough to witness three economic downturns.  My first experience was the stock market collapse of 1987.  I remember “Black Monday” distinctly, because my 8th grade Civics teacher spent the [...]

Filed under: Business, Living & Retirement, Politics, Real Estate on April 6th, 2009 | 22 Comments »

Obama’s tax hikes on the wealthy may benefit Panama
Right or wrong, Presidential Candidate Barack Obama has a lot of wealthy folks worried. Nobody likes to have their taxes raised, particularly not corporations or fat cats. Unfortunately for the U.S. Treasury, the ultra rich and big corporations share a common secret: they both understand [...]

Filed under: Politics on November 4th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

Obama and McCain: which would benefit Panama?
They say everyone votes in their own self interest. With the U.S. presidential election in it’s final weeks and the global financial crunch hitting hard, it leaves an expat like me here in Panama wondering, “which guy would be better for Panama’s future?”
PREFACE: I’m not taking sides here [...]

Filed under: Politics on September 25th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

PRD Presidential Hopeful Balbina Herrera
Panama’s ruling political party has chosen Balbina Herrera to represent them in next years elections. The Partido Revolucionario Democratico (PRD) members voted yesterday and chose Herrera over Juan Carlos Navarro and Laurentino Cortizo.

Filed under: News, Politics on September 8th, 2008 | 4 Comments »

Panama Has Some Important Choices To Make
Panama is currently dealing with a number of issues that will determine whether or not the country will continue to be a top destination for tourists and retirees. Much of the future will depend on who is elected to run the country next year.

Filed under: Culture, Living & Retirement, News, Politics, Real Estate on July 29th, 2008 | 17 Comments »

Actor, Singer, Composer, Politico Ruben Blades
I went in to my meeting with sitting IPAT Tourism Minister Ruben Blades not quite sure what to expect. After his response to a blog I’d written and my retort, did Mr. Blades bring me in to continue the debate? To convince me that his Tourism Master Plan would allay [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics on June 18th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

“Sr. Halloran, this is Ruben Blades.”
The Internet, and the Blog phenomenon specifically never ceases to amaze me. Surely, plenty of companies and most politicians loathe them as it’s allowed schmoes like me a forum. How else could I land a meeting with Mr. Ruben Blades?
YES, it’s true. I am pleased and surprised to [...]

Filed under: News, Politics on June 16th, 2008 | 8 Comments »

Panama’s Minister of Tourism, Ruben Blades

Actor/Singer and Politician Ruben Blades recently replied to an article I wrote on Panama’s tourism industry. To anyone familiar with my writing, public speeches and opinions, these ideas are not new. Apparently however, both my ideas and persona are unfamiliar to Mr. Blades. Puzzling, given that he has met me on [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics, Real Estate on June 5th, 2008 | 8 Comments »