Panama City, July 27, 2023 - Panama Convention Center Reinforcing its commitment in the convention tourism industry and as a key engine for the economic and social development of Panama, through a circle of progress it generated more than 2700 direct and indirect jobs and received a total of 86,704 visitors during the first semester of 2023.
Meeting and convention tourism has proven to be a key engine for the economic and social development of Panama. In this sense, our strategy is aimed at positioning Panama as an emerging destination, which has allowed us to generate employment opportunities and contribute to the growth of the local economy, said Rodolfo Del Valle, General Director of Panama Convention Center.
The more than 2700 direct and indirect jobs generated by Panama Convention Center injected more than $600,000 into the country's economy reflect the positive impact it has had on the community. These job openings not only provide stability and professional growth to employees, but also have a multiplier effect in other sectors, promoting job creation in associated companies, suppliers and related services.
During this period, the Panama Convention Center It has witnessed a constant flow of visitors, becoming the place of choice for holding large-scale events. In total, we have received a staggering 86,704 visitors, demonstrating the trust and preference event planners have for our top-notch facilities. This boom in activities has left a significant economic impact on the country, estimated at approximately $1.2 million. The flow of visitors has generated a considerable economic benefit that has benefited various sectors, from tourism to local commerce, consolidating the PCC as a key engine for economic growth and sustainable development in our region.
These achievements strengthen the commitment of the Panama Convention Center of being a circle of progress for the country, since we constantly strive to provide a cutting-edge space, adapted to the changing needs of the industry, which encourages the exchange of knowledge, innovation and sustainable economic growth, Del Valle added.
Also, the Panama Convention Center has hosted a wide variety of events of various kinds, reaching a total of 37 events successfully held during this first semester of 2023. From international conferences to trade fairs and local conventions, the Panama Convention Center has been the ideal setting for the realization of meetings that promote interaction, the exchange of knowledge and business development. Some notable events during this period of the year were the IDB Board of Governors, Our Oceans 2023, Expocomer, Latin Tire Expo and the SRI Congress 2023.
In addition to its economic impact, the Panama Convention Center, As a socially responsible center, it continues to implement different actions as part of its commitment to the environment and sustainability roadmap. In this sense, from January to June 2023, a total of 9,657 pounds of recyclable materials have been collected and processed. These efforts include the collection and recycling of paper, plastic, glass and other materials, demonstrating our commitment to conserving natural resources and reducing our carbon footprint. It has also installed 6 chargers for electric vehicles.
In that same line, the Panama Convention Center, in all its events it replaced the use of plastic water bottles, opting for the incorporation of Tetra Pak containers, more friendly to the environment. Approximately 5000 square meters of smoked paper were also installed to reduce thermal load and optimize energy consumption.
El Panama Convention Center is proud of its role as a leading convention center in the region, which not only offers world-class facilities, but also drives economic growth, creates employment and promotes sustainability. The center will continue to work hard to stay at the forefront of the convention industry, providing an environment conducive to the exchange of ideas, business collaboration, and growth across all sectors.
ABOUT THE PANAMA CONVENTION CENTER
Considered one of the largest structures in the region for congresses and conventions, the Panama Convention Center, with a privileged location and unbeatable value, is a building that has 15,400 square meters of exhibition area, a 4,000-square-meter banquet hall and 2,400 square meters in total of 16 meeting rooms, 1,700 parking spaces and a kitchen with the capacity to serve up to 5,000 diners. This building is operated by SMG Latin America, a subsidiary of ASM Global, a leading company in the management of convention centers, arenas, and stadiums.