MERCAN Group has announced its first hotel development in Panama, partnering with Accor (AC) to bring the Pullman Hotels & Resorts brand to Panama City, the companies said on August 26.
The project will convert an existing hotel property in the Bella Vista district of Panama City into a mixed-use development offering 306 keys, comprising 180 hotel rooms and 126 executive suites. Planned amenities include restaurants, bars, a rooftop terrace with a swimming pool, a fitness centre, spa, coworking spaces, meeting rooms and entertainment areas. The property is scheduled to open in 2028, with the architectural reinterpretation led by Mallol Arquitectos and rehabilitation carried out by MERCAN Group.
“Pullman Panama City represents much more than our first hotel project in Panama,” said Jerry Morgan, founder, president and chief executive officer of MERCAN Group. “It is an opportunity to bring our international experience to a country where we see strong connectivity, stability, the ability to attract investment, and a clear global outlook.”
The announcement comes as Panama’s tourism sector continues to grow, with the country welcoming close to 1mn visitors in the first quarter of 2026, a 17.3% increase compared with the same period in 2025, according to official figures.
Panama’s Minister of Tourism, Gloria De León, said the project reflected confidence in the country’s tourism industry. “Every new investment that strengthens our tourism offering creates opportunities that extend far beyond a hotel, benefiting transportation providers, producers, restaurants, professionals, and entrepreneurs,” she said.
Abel Castro, chief development officer for Accor Americas, said the project marked an important step in the group’s Latin American expansion, citing the property’s location as well suited to both business and leisure travellers.
MERCAN Group said it has more than three decades of international experience, with a track record spanning more than 32 hotel projects, over 4,100 international investors and more than $2bn in cumulative investment.