The JW Marriott Panama (formerly The Bahia Grand Panama, before that Trump International Hotel & Tower Panama, and before that Trump Ocean Club) is a 70 floor, 2,710,000 sq ft (252,000 m2), mixed-use waterfront hotel and condominium tower development in Panama City, Panama, in the area of Punta Pacifica. It opened in 2011 as the first international "named branded development" of The Trump Organization. At 284 meters, it is the tallest building in Panama[2] and the tallest building in Central America.[3]
The project was designed by Colombian architects Arias - Serna - Saravia S.A.[4] It includes a five-star hotel of 369 hotel condominium units, 628 residential condominium units, 1500 parking spaces, 36 retail shops, 10-story office tower, a 75,000-square-foot (7,000 m2) casino operated by Sun International,[5] daily ferry service to the Pearl Islands, yacht club and pier, wellness spa, gym, pool deck, meeting and event spaces, and a business center.[6]
Construction began in May 2007.[10] When built, the tower was the tallest building in Latin America; as of 2008[update] it remains the tallest in Central America and still remains the largest mixed use building of its kind in Latin America.[6]
Donald Trump arranged financing for the project from the investment bankBear Stearns - a $230 million bond offering[11] - for which he received a $2.2 million commission.[10][12] During the financing, Ivanka Trump falsely claimed that over 90% of the units had been sold, and that their sale price was five times that of comparable units.[10][13] Ivanka Trump also exaggerated demand for the units, claiming in 2009 they were selling out even as potential buyers were being offered substantial discounts.[10][14] During the development, Donald Trump falsely implied that the Trump Organization had a financial stake in the project, and that it was acting as the developer, neither of which were true.[10]
The building was developed by Roger Khafif, President of the K Group, a Panama resort developer and three Colombian partners by Newland International Properties Corp. Khafif first conceptualized the project in 2005, and arranged a meeting with Donald Trump via Marvin Traub.[10][11] A contract was signed initiating the project in New York City in 2006.[11] Ivanka Trump was given a lead role in developing the project.[10]
The hotel opened on July 6, 2011, approximately one year behind schedule, in a ceremony attended by PresidentRicardo Martinelli.[10][1][15] In September 2011 Fitch Ratings downgraded $220 million in bonds that Newland International Properties Corp. was using to finance construction of the building from B-sf to CCsf because of "continued uncertainty over the willingness and ability" of buyers to take possession of apartment units.[16]
Newland licensed the Trump brand name for an initial fee of $1 million,[10][8] the hotel was the first international Trump "name branded" development to open.[7][9] Donald Trump reportedly personally profited between $30 million and $55 million from the project.[10]
The Trump Organization managed the hotel under contract until March 2018, when Cypriot businessman Orestes Fintiklis, who had bought a majority stake in the hotel condominium association, legally ousted them and had the Trump name removed from the building in 2015 and from the hotel March 5, 2018.[17] The hotel was temporarily renamed The Bahia Grand Panama prior to Marriott’s involvement.[18]
On March 22, the Panamanian law firm Britton and Iglesias unsuccessfully petitioned Panamanian PresidentJuan Carlos Varela to intercede and restore the Trump Organization's management team.[19][20]
On June 28, 2018, it was announced that the hotel would become a JW Marriott.[21] It was officially renamed on September 26, 2018.[22]
^Cerrud, Ana; Fahrenthold, David A. (April 9, 2018). "Warning of 'repercussions,' Trump company lawyers seek Panama president's help". The Washington Post. Lawyers representing President Trump's company last month wrote directly to the president of Panama, asking him to intervene in a legal fight over the Trump International Hotel in the capital — and warning that the case could have "repercussions" for Panama's reputation.
