With the arrival of Víctor Concepción Perén as president of the Panamanian Hotel Association (APATEL), the hotel industry announced an agenda of reforms focused on improving sector competitiveness, advancing sustainability, and promoting formal employment generation in the tourism industry.
During the inauguration ceremony of the new board of directors, Concepción Perén stated that tourism and hospitality are strategic sectors for the Panamanian economy and affirmed that his management will be oriented towards transparency, institutional modernization, and greater public-private articulation, with the aim of positioning Panama as a global tourist destination.
Among the announced axes, the strengthening of APATEL's role as a technical interlocutor before the State stands out, with greater presence in public policy formulation spaces and a more active representation of the different segments of the hotel industry.
The new administration also informed about an internal reform process of the guild, which contemplates the updating of the code of ethics, the revision of the statutes, and the implementation of more documented and participatory decision-making mechanisms.
In terms of alliances, APATEL confirmed progress in a cooperation agreement with the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE), aimed at promoting a national hotel competitiveness agenda.
Similarly, it reiterated its willingness to coordinate actions with the National Government, the Panama Tourism Authority, and PROMTUR Panama to strengthen international promotion, air connectivity, and meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism.
The agenda presented by the new board also includes a digital modernization process of the guild, with the implementation of platforms for membership management, the development of sectoral market intelligence, and training programs aimed at affiliated hotels.
In the area of sustainability, APATEL announced its adherence to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism of UNWTO and set a goal for at least 50% of affiliated hotels to have sustainability certifications by 2026, aligned with international standards.
One of the most impactful announcements was the push to create a special labor regime for the tourism industry, oriented towards the formalization of employment and the generation of new job positions, taking into account the operational seasonality of the sector and with the objective of expanding the base of contributors to social security.
During the event, APATEL also informed about the reincorporation of hotel groups into the guild, including Empresas Bern and the Hyatt Regency Hotel, which, according to the board, reflects the business sector's confidence in the new presidency of the guild.
