Convention Centers

Three new projects – two in Panama and one in Costa Rica, all opening in 2018 – seek to attract convention visitors.

With 58,000 square meters, Panama’s planned Amador Convention Center (Centro de Convenciones Amador) will be the biggest in Latin America, according to the Panama Tourism Authority, which is developing the project at a cost of $194 million.

The center is located in the Amador district of Panama City, next to the Canal and to the Frank Gehry-designed Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

Panama’s other project is the Green Convention Center, located in Boquete in north-western Chiriquí province.

Wastewater utilization and a renewable-energy system are some of the environmental aspects of the $12 million, 2,000 square meter center.

Located in Panama’s coffee-growing highlands, Boquete is halfway between David International Airport on the Pacific Coast, and the Bocas del Toro beaches on the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Costa Rica will open the $35 million, 16,000 square-meter National Convention Center, located 10 kilometers from San José, and 5 kilometers from Juan Santamaría International Airport.

Global convention tourism generates $11 billion a year from 120 million visitors, according to the International Congress and Convention Association.