ATLAPA Convention Center can be used for free by convention organizers.

Last year Panama announced plans to build a $200 million dollar convention center on the capital city’s waterfront. With factors like Panama’s strategic location at the heart of the Americas, its aero hub with the best connectivity in the region and the US dollar, the country gets high marks within the niche market of meeting and convention tourism.

And to get the ball rolling, the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) and Copa Airlines have created a special promotion that allows convention and meeting organizers to use the country’s current ATLAPA Convention Center for free when organizers fly with Copa Airlines, providing organizers savings of over $100,000.

ATLAPA can handle 10,500 attendees and has an impressive theater-auditorium that holds 2,800. It is located at the heart of Panama City, close to major hotels.

But ATLAPA is not the only facility in Panama that currently handles international meetings and regional conventions. Panama’s Conventions & Visitor’s Bureau lists 20 other locations ideal to host large events in its planning guide, available at www.panamaconventions.com. For more information on the ATLAPA promotion, go to visitpanama.com.