Panama, home of the INTA Leadership Meeting: a special location more than ready to receive the world

By Marissa Lasso de la Vega F., Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez (AFRA), Panama INTA Leadership Project Team

The 2015 Leadership Meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA) will be hosted from November 17–20 in my country: Panama City, Panama.   As a member of the Meeting’s project team and as a witness of the great work done by INTA, it is my personal opinion that you should be part of this important event.   

Panama has been selected not only because of its political stability, but because of its economic relevance in the region and strategic location for global commerce and banking.  The Expansion of The Panama Canal will be almost finished by November 2015 and it will change the way of doing business in The Americas .

According to the World Economic Forum, Global Competitiveness Index for 2014-2015 Panama is ranking 1-7 (best).

Panama connects South America with North America and has access to both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Its main airport, Tocumen International, is Central America's largest airport, and the airport with the best connections in Latin America, making Panama City an ideal site to hold international meetings and a regional venue leader for congresses.   

The main airlines connect the world trough Panama by directs fly, including: from Europe: Iberia, KLM, Air France, TAP, British Airways, Alitalia, Lufthansa (it will start on November 16, 2015 direct fly from Frankfurt to Panama City); from Unites Sates of America and Canada: Delta, United Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Air Canada and from Latin America: COPA, TACA, Avianca, AeroMexico, Conviasa.

Our city offers every kind of  accommodation, from upscale luxury hotels to full service ones, historic inns, boutique hotels, focused or select service and economy and limited service.  Thus, you will find in Panama City the main chains of international Hotels like Hard Rock Café, Hilton, Radisson, Continental, Bristol, Holiday Inn, Trump, Waldorf Astoria, Riu, Le Meridien, Sheraton, Marriott, Hyatt and Westin. 

US dollar is since 1904 accepted as currency in free circulation and joint legal tender with the national currency “Balboa”. Credit cards are also an accepted form of payment in all cases, including American Express, Master Card and Visa.

Transport is mainly formed by private car ownerships, one of the reasons behind the inauguration on 2014 of the super modern Panama Metro (becoming the first country in Central America to operate a subway system) which stretches across the city to relieve traffic congestion. Bus services, yellow taxis and private services including Uber and major vehicle rental companies (located at the airports) are also widely available. 

Tropical weather, usually characterized in November by high temperatures (with daily highs around  33°C) should not be a concern for the visitors: in Panama City air conditioning is running in all buildings throughout the City. 

We promise you: Panama will make the 2015 Leadership Meeting an unforgettable event.  You must be there!