There is a new Marriott Resort, a Westin Hotel and another as yet unnamed beachfront resort being developed in Panama.  I believe that this brings to 12 the total new hotels announced this year.

New Marriott Resort in Panama.  A press release from Marriot International reads:

Marriott Hotels & Resorts have announced plans to develop a 180-room hotel in the resort community Casamar on the Pacific coast of Panama. The five-star resort, will be opened in 2013 under a franchise agreement with Casamar Development Tourism, SA and the Pacific Corporation, SA.

The Casamar Marriott Resort will be located on the beach, near the city of San Carlos, about 55 miles from Panama City. Casamar The community resort will include a number of condominiums and villas, tropical gardens, walking paths, independent restaurants, shops, a health club and a beach club. The Pacific coast of Panama, a traditional weekend destination for wealthy Panamanians, is rapidly developing as a tourist destination with the development of quality resorts.

The Panama Marriott Resort Casamar will offer 180 rooms in a series of interconnected buildings around the hotel’s public and recreational areas, including a large swimming pool and large garden areas. The hotel will also feature two restaurants, two bars, ample meeting spaces, shops and a full spa service. The designer of the project is Zurcher Architects, whose work includes Bristol Buenaventura Resort, as well as all the Marriott Hotels & Resorts and JW Marriott in Costa Rica – The Costa Rica Marriott in San Jose, Los Sueños Marriott Ocean &Golf Resort, and JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa.

First Westin hotel opening in Panama

Launching in October 2011, The Westin Playa Bonita Panamá is an upscale beach hotel strategically located alongside the Pacific Ocean, on a mile long stretch of golden sand on Playa Bonita Beach, surrounded by a lush tropical rainforest. Boasting 611 elegant guestrooms, including 67 spacious suites, all with panoramic views of the ocean and rainforest, six fine dining restaurants, four bars, three infinity edge pools, a state-of-the-art gymnasium and the largest meeting and event space in Central America, the modern and über-chic beach hotel is set to redefine the cosmopolitan destination upon its unveiling.