Prevue September/October 2011 - (Page 44)

“We have great outdoor venues for events, like creative dinners,” says Victor Pitti, director of sales/marketing. “Our cuisine is really, really good. We’ve had experienced planners come from New York, for instance, and they usually rave so much about our food, and that’s one of our strong points.” Pitti explains that it’s common for groups to do two nights in town and three on the beach. “With the new tower in the city coming online, that increases our capacity to handle groups of 120-150 participants in both properties,” he says. “The location of the Bristol Panama is wonderful. It’s very close to the financial district and the entertainment section called Calle Uruguay. It’s only four to five blocks from the hotel and it’s very famous in Panama for dining, bars and going out.” costa rica: ahead of the curve Remember the 80s? All of the sudden everyone was going to Costa Rica. It was affordable, it was exotic and unique, and trekking through rainforests seemed cooler to a new generation of experiential travelers than lounging by the pool with a pina colada and pulp fiction paperback. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. The country’s early commitment to sustainability resonate even more today for foreign groups. To date, over 25% of the land mass has been protected as natural reserves. “Many things have been impacted by this philosophy of sustainability created by the tourism sector,” says Pablo Solano, director of the costa rica convention Bureau. “It’s a big tradition we have. In the 1950s, we started writing laws for protecting the environment and creating national parks. In the 80s we started working with tour companies and DMCs, preparing people to become better nature guides, who could teach others about the importance of sustainability.” Costa Rica was the earliest adopter of an official ranking system to gauge hotels and their green commitment. The “Certification for Sustainable Tourism” awarded by the Tourism Board is presently being expanded to include vendors ranging from car rental companies to coffee plantations. rainforest adventures is one of the country’s most proactive suppliers in the area of sustainability. It was the first company in the world to offer aerial tram tours (through 1,200 acres of dense jungle) without cutting down a single tree. The company offers tram rides on both coasts for idyllic and educational rides through the tree canopies. Planners can combine the tram experience with ziplining, nature hikes, whitewater rafting and lunch at one of the gamboatours.com Rainforest Restaurants, each seating up to around 100 pax in the beating heart of the jungle. POST-MEETIN’ PANAMA Popular offsite experiences in Panama revolve around water, culture and the Canal. For the Canal, groups up to 400 pax can book the visitor’s center for private dinners while the massive freighters slide by. Smaller groups can go behind the scenes to see operators raise and lower the locks. For cultural tours, Jose Manuel Barreda at Trump Panama says, “We can make a combination of tours and spend a day with indigenous tribes like the Embera community, where you can take a group and learn how they live and how to interact with them. It’s one of the most interesting activities for groups.” To visit, it’s a 1-hour bus ride and 10-minute boat ride across a river. The Embera teach groups about henna painting, cooking, basic language, bow and arrow hunting, etc. Francisco Silva at The Westin Playa Bonita says fishing tournaments for up to 120 pax are popular around the two offshore islands: Taboga and Taboguilla. There’s also a daily ferry to Taboga, “The Island of Flowers,” for lunch, shopping and sightseeing around the pretty colonial town established in 1524. Silva works with Gamboa Tours for treks into interior villages and the San Blas Islands. At both, groups engage with local cultures and shop for handmade arts and crafts. 44 | prevue magazine http://www.gamboatours.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue September/October 2011

Back Bay, Boston
Manchester
Meliá Hotels & Resorts
San Francisco/Denver/Cleveland
HSMAI + Soles4Souls
IRF/MGM Resorts, Las Vegas
Daytona Beach
Sustainability: The Next Big Thing
Central America
India
Sweden
Barcelo Resorts/Samana, DR
Portland

Prevue September/October 2011