Now Open: Two New Exciting Hyatt Hotels For Your Next Panama Adventure

If you're headed to Panama anytime soon, you'll have two new promising Hyatt hotels to consider for your accommodations, as Hyatt opened both the Hyatt Regency Panama City and the Hotel La Compañia del Valle last week, one day apart from each other. I have a trip to Panama later this year, where I've booked the Hotel La Compañia del Valle and a few different properties. I'll discuss the two new Hyatts hotels in detail, but first, I want to make the case for a trip to Panama.

Panama is an underrated destination, and it can be a cheat code for the savvy traveler. When it comes to tourism, the country is often overshadowed by its neighbors in the South and North - Colombia and Costa Rica, respectively. Travelers quickly head to those countries for nature, wildlife, beaches, nightlife, history, food, and culture. But if you're a fan of those things, Panama is also chock-full of them (hello, Bocas Del Toro). From a logistical standpoint, Panama City is a gateway to South America and the Eastern Caribbean, making it a convenient stopover point for travelers from the West Coast and Mountain States - two regions with limited flights to those destinations. With direct service to/from cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Denver, a night or two in Panama City makes for a fun one-or-two-night stopover to Barbados, Saint Maarten, or Buenos Aires. Why not check out a new country rather than spend a few hours camped in whatever cramped airport lounge during your domestic connection? 

Panama has excellent business class award availability to a handful of European cities. So, instead of frantically searching for that LAX-CDG fare, you can kick off your European adventure in style after consuming some delicious sancocho—if you're up for a quick detour. Again, cheat code.

Now that you're convinced let's return to these hotels. 😉 These properties offer some intrigue, so let's dive into the details.

Hyatt Regency Panama City 

The Hyatt Regency Panama City is located in the Campo Alegre neighborhood, right on the edge of the city center. It is a 382-key operation with hotel rooms spread over two towers.

The property is true to its brand as a business traveler's hotel—it has over 2,200 square meters of event space, including meeting rooms, ballrooms, and an outdoor terrace. 

That said, the hotel's amenities will ensure guests of all kinds will be comfortable. There is a rooftop pool, 24/7 fitness center (with possibly its own ground-level pool—that's unclear), and full-service spa as well. 

For dining, travelers will eventually be able to select from four dedicated outlets, in addition to 24/7 room service. For now, Rulfo—the hotel's full-service restaurant - and Amado—a coffee shop—will keep guests full. Later this year, the hotel will open a wine-and-tapas spot and a speakeasy—Belisario and Refugio, respectively—both intended to be elevated concepts.

If you've ever stayed at a Hyatt Regency, then the rooms at this property will look very familiar. I'd describe them as 'modern-businesslike'; they are nothing too flashy, though you can expect robes in the deluxe rooms and that cozy Hyatt bed.

So I promised you an exciting part, right? Well, there's two. First, anytime you hear Hyatt Regency or Grand Hyatt, there's a chance there's a club lounge. And at the Hyatt Regency Panama City, there is! The Hyatt Regency will feature a club lounge serving daily complimentary breakfast, afternoon snacks, and happy hour hors d'oeuvres. If you read my piece arguing against the Hyatt Globalist chase, you'll remember my plea for Hyatt to do away with Club Upgrade Awards. An obvious alternative to reworking those awards is to keep them as is and open more hotels with club lounges. I'm a happy camper about this one. 

Second, this hotel is a category three property, making it a solid use of a category 1-4 free-night award. If you have a few of these lying around, you have all the makings of a quick weekend getaway to Panama City. Cities like Denver, Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. have direct business class flights on Copa Airlines, bookable for as little as 25,000 Aeroplan miles one way. For 50,000 miles and a few awards, you can explore a new city for a few days.

If you don't have any awards available, don't fret, as rates for the Hyatt Regency are very reasonable. Base-level rooms start at $164 ($152 for the promotional opening rate), and you can book an award stay for as low as 9,000 points per night.

Hotel La Compañia del Valle

Located in Panama's Anton Valley, the crater of an extinct volcano, the Hotel La Compañia del Valle is a beautiful countryside property offering an escape into the spoils of nature. If the name 'Hotel La Hotel La Compañia' sounds familiar, that makes sense, as the Hotel La Compañia del Valle is the sister property of the Hotel La Compañia in Panama City's Casco Viejo old town. Both properties are part of Hyatt's luxury soft-brand portfolio - The Unbound Collection.

The property has opened with just 40 rooms and suites, though an additional 30 should come online by the end of the year. 

You come to this property to relax and recuperate. The Elysium Spa—a centerpiece of the property—is an "18,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art spa offering natural healing treatments and experiences such as chocolate and wine therapy, a saltwater pool, and Roman baths, among many other amenities." The photos check out. 

Dining here will be a treat. The food program is overseen by Executive Chef Patrice Jaumon, who brings deep Michelin experience and is responsible for the culinary success of the hotel's sister property in Casco Viejo. There are three element-focused restaurants: Tiempo, a full-service outlet with international flavors; Fuergo, serving lunch and dinner parilla-style; and Terra, a Mediterranean–themed vegetarian restaurant.

And then there's the area. If you enjoy hiking, you're in for a treat as some great trails make up the 'Circuito Indio Dormido.' Quaint nearby towns offer opportunities to enjoy local cuisine.

As a category five hotel, a free night will cost at least 17000 World of Hyatt points, though most award nights start at 20000 points. Cash rates can be as low as $247 per night, which seems like a pretty good deal. 

I'm sold. 

Conclusion 

Panama can be overlooked as a vacation destination, so I wanted to take a minute to make a case for visiting the country while highlighting two exciting new Hyatt properties that might help you book a trip. I'll be circling back with my review of the Hotel La Compañia del Valle, Hotel La Compañia, Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, and hopefully a few other properties in a few months, so stay tuned!