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70-Story Hotel in Panama Becomes Tallest in Latin America

date added: 27.08.2011

Top Trump: The Donald's new 70-storey luxury hotel in Panama becomes highest building in Latin America and his first outside U.S.

Donald Trump doesn't do anything small, so it is no surprise that his first building in Latin America also becomes the region's tallest.

The 70-storey Trump Ocean Club opened Wednesday in Panama City, soaring 932 feet (284 meters) into the Central American sky.

The Trump Ocean Club reflects 'the modern sensibility of the new generation of luxury travel', the Trump Organization said in an invite to the resort's opening.

The sail-shaped building is reminiscent of the Bahrain World Trade Center.

That's perhaps a wise choice, because like parts of the Persian Gulf, Panama City has recently been styling itself as a hub for travel, tourism, international business and real estate.

The building was designed by Colombian architecture firm Arias Serna Saravia.

It also has a roughly similar look to the planned Trump International Hotel and Tower Dubai.

That project was cancelled after the stalled economy, however.

According to AFP, the Trump Ocean Club boasts 47 suites, 37 elevators, a spa, marina, casino and an island with a private beach.

The private residences have reportedly already been snapped up by celebrities and the well-heeled, for prices from $250,000 to $1 million.

The rest of us may have the option of renting a hotel room in the glittering tower for a night, should we find ourselves in Panama.

That will cost us $300 a night or more.

Those who do live in the tower can take advantage of butler service, or stroll along a 9,690-square-foot (900-square-meter) terrace.

Or take a dip in the oceanfront pool.

To attract business travel, the resort hosts a 45,210 square foot (4,200 square meter) convention centre.

According to AFP, the development required a Trump investment of $430million. It is said to employ about a thousand people.

Since he spent that kind of money in their country, Panama's leaders officially forgave him for a recent gaffe.

Likely playing to the conservative base in the U.S., who have made the issue a kind of cause celebre in recent years, Donald Trump, 64, complained to CNN in March that the United States 'stupidly' turned over control of the Panama Canal 'in exchange for nothing'.

In fact, the history of the Panama Canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, is long and complicated.

The canal shortened the length of time it takes to go from one side of the U.S. to the other via boat by more than half, and it is often listed as one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

It was also one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever attempted.

The canal was built by Americans in the early 20th century, after a failed French attempt.

Before the U.S. began construction, it supported the secession of Panama from Colombia, since the region had originally been part of that South American nation.

Transfer of the canal to Panama was completed on December 31, 1999 in compliance with the treaties signed in 1977 by Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos and U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Carter hoped the treaty would end long-standing ambiguity about the canal's future, but conservatives in the U.S. have long decried the act.

To bury the hatchet with Mr Trump, President Ricardo Martinelli said, 'I want to thank Donald Trump for coming to Panama to invest in Panama and Panamanians for this opportunity to host one of the most important and beautiful buildings.

'I'm sure it's going to be on many postcards'.

Although the new resort is the first Trump building to be finished on foreign soil, his organization is working on a development in Toronto, Canada.

There has also been much talk of a proposed golf course in Scotland.

Meanwhile, Panama also hosts the second and third tallest buildings in Latin America, including The Point, which is 67 floors or 872 feet (266 meters) high, and Ocean Two, which is 66 feet shorter.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/

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