Expo Horeca Panama 2026: Hospitality & Restaurants Fair with Executive Transport

Expo Horeca Panama 2026:
- Sector: Hotels, Restaurants, and Catering (HoReCa)
- Location: Panama City (venue: Panama Convention Center or Atlapa Convention Center)
- Duration: 3 days
- Exhibitors: 300+ companies from 20+ countries
- Visitors: 8,000+ hospitality industry professionals
- Focus: Equipment, food products, beverages, technology, and design for the HoReCa sector

Why Expo Horeca matters:
- Panama's tourism boom: 2.5+ million international visitors annually
- Hotel construction: 40+ hotel projects in development across Panama
- Restaurant scene explosion: Panama City's dining scene is Central America's most dynamic
- Regional hub: Panama serves as the procurement center for Central American and Caribbean hospitality operators

Fair positioning:
Expo Horeca Panama fills the gap between large international shows (HostMilano, NRA Show) and local food exhibitions, offering a focused HoReCa platform for the Latin American market.

Panama's hospitality industry is in an unprecedented growth phase:

Hotel sector:
- Branded hotels: Marriott (5 properties), Hilton (3), InterContinental, Waldorf Astoria (under construction), JW Marriott, Hyatt
- Room inventory: 30,000+ hotel rooms in Panama City metro
- Growth: 5,000+ rooms in development pipeline
- Cruise tourism: 1.5+ million cruise passengers annually (Pacific and Caribbean ports)

Restaurant sector:
- Chef-driven scene: Donde José, Maito, Intimo earning international recognition
- Latin America's 50 Best: Multiple Panama restaurants on the list
- Diversity: International cuisines reflecting Panama's multicultural population
- Growth: 200+ new restaurants opened in Panama City in 2024-2025

Tourism infrastructure:
- Tocumen Airport: 16.5+ million passengers, hub connectivity
- Convention center: New Panama Convention Center on Amador Causeway
- Canal tourism: 1+ million Canal visitor center tourists annually
- Beach destinations: Bocas del Toro, San Blas, Pearl Islands feeding hotel demand

Expo Horeca serves this entire ecosystem — from luxury hotels to neighborhood restaurants, from cruise ship operators to boutique eco-lodges.

Expo Horeca covers the full spectrum of HoReCa needs:

Kitchen equipment and technology:
- Commercial ovens, ranges, and grills
- Refrigeration and cold chain solutions
- Dishwashing and sanitation systems
- Kitchen ventilation and extraction
- POS systems and restaurant management software

Food and beverage products:
- Specialty food ingredients and products
- Frozen and prepared food solutions
- Coffee and specialty beverages
- Wines, spirits, and craft beverages
- Organic and health-conscious product lines

Hotel equipment and design:
- Room furnishing and décor
- Bathroom fixtures and amenities
- Hotel linens and textiles
- Property management systems (PMS)
- Guest experience technology

Tableware and front-of-house:
- Chinaware, glassware, flatware
- Table linens and accessories
- Buffet and display equipment
- Uniforms and workwear

Services:
- Hospitality consulting and design
- Food safety and HACCP certification
- Staff training and HR solutions
- Sustainability and green certification

Exhibitors range from global brands to Central American regional suppliers, creating procurement opportunities at every scale.

Who attends Expo Horeca:

Hotel operators:
- General managers and operations directors
- F&B directors and executive chefs
- Procurement and purchasing managers
- Design and development teams
- Regional hotel chain representatives

Restaurant professionals:
- Chef-owners and restaurateurs
- Kitchen managers and sous chefs
- Bar managers and sommelier
- Restaurant group executives
- Food truck and casual dining operators

Catering and food service:
- Institutional catering companies
- Airline and cruise ship catering
- Hospital and school food service
- Event and banquet catering operators

Suppliers and distributors:
- Equipment manufacturers and distributors
- Food and beverage importers
- Technology companies
- Design and construction firms

Geographic reach:
- Panama (40% of visitors)
- Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador (35%)
- Mexico, Dominican Republic, Caribbean islands (15%)
- USA, Europe, Asia (10%)

Pre-register at the official Expo Horeca website for fast-track entry and scheduled meeting requests.

Venue options (confirm for 2026 edition):

Panama Convention Center (Amador Causeway):
- State-of-the-art facility opened in 2020
- 26,000 m² exhibition space
- Professional kitchen demonstration areas
- Conference rooms and auditorium
- Stunning Panama Canal entrance views

Atlapa Convention Center (alternative):
- Located in the banking district area
- Established convention venue
- 20,000 m² total space
- Central city location, easier hotel access

Practical information:
- Hours: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM daily (typical for trade fairs)
- Registration: Business credentials required, pre-registration recommended
- Language: Spanish primary; English in international pavilions
- Dress code: Business casual; comfortable shoes for exhibition floor walking
- Climate: Air-conditioned venue (bring a light layer for inside)

Demonstration kitchen notes:
- Live cooking demonstrations throughout the day
- Tastings available at food and beverage exhibitor stands
- Barista competitions and mixology showcases
- Equipment demonstrations with hands-on trials

From major hotel zones:

If at Panama Convention Center (Amador):
- From Calle 50/Obarrio hotels: 8 km, 15-25 min
- From Punta Pacifica: 6 km, 12-20 min
- From Costa del Este: 18 km, 25-40 min
- From Tocumen Airport: 30 km, 35-50 min

If at Atlapa Convention Center:
- From Calle 50/Obarrio hotels: 3 km, 8-15 min
- From Punta Pacifica: 4 km, 10-18 min
- From Costa del Este: 12 km, 18-30 min
- From Tocumen Airport: 25 km, 30-45 min

Traffic considerations:
- Morning arrival (9-10 AM) coincides with Panama City rush hour
- Evening departure (6-7 PM) hits evening rush
- Allow 30-50% extra time during peak hours
- Transportes Ejecutivos drivers use Cinta Costera and alternative routes

Our Expo Horeca shuttle service:
- Daily hotel pickup at your preferred time
- Direct venue drop-off at main entrance
- WhatsApp-coordinated return pickup
- 3-day fair package available
- Evening restaurant transfer included in package

Expo Horeca features an educational program alongside the exhibition:

Conference tracks:

Hotel operations:
- Revenue management and dynamic pricing
- Sustainable hotel operations (ESG compliance)
- Technology integration (AI, IoT, smart rooms)
- Staff recruitment and retention in post-pandemic hospitality

Restaurant and food service:
- Menu engineering and food cost optimization
- Restaurant design trends
- Delivery and dark kitchen models
- Farm-to-table sourcing in Central America

Culinary demonstrations:
- Celebrity chef presentations
- Panamanian cuisine innovation showcases
- Molecular gastronomy and modern techniques
- Pastry and baking demonstrations

Competitions:
- Barista championship (regional qualifying)
- Mixology competition (signature cocktails)
- Young chef competition
- Table setting and service excellence

Why attend the program:
Conference sessions are included with exhibition entry. They provide actionable insights for operators looking to improve profitability, sustainability, and guest experience in the Central American hospitality market.

Transportes Ejecutivos ensures you arrive on time for your scheduled sessions and demonstrations.

Expo Horeca networking extends beyond the exhibition floor into Panama City's vibrant dining scene:

Official networking events:
- Opening reception (first evening)
- Exhibitor cocktail hours at dedicated pavilions
- Chef's dinner (by invitation, featuring Expo Horeca participating chefs)
- Closing ceremony and awards

Industry dining for HoReCa professionals:
- Donde José (Casco Viejo): Panama's most acclaimed restaurant — essential for F&B professionals
- Maito (Calle 50): Modern Panamanian cuisine, Latin America's 50 Best
- Intimo (Casco Viejo): Creative gastronomy, intimate setting perfect for deals
- Fonda Lo Que Hay (Casco Viejo): Casual excellence, great for group dinners

Post-fair activities:
- Casco Viejo food walk: Multiple restaurants in walkable historic quarter
- Mercado de Mariscos: Essential market visit for seafood sourcing professionals
- Canal Zone dinner: Amador Causeway restaurants with Canal entrance views

Transportes Ejecutivos evening service:
- Exhibition venue → restaurant → hotel circuit
- Driver waits during dinner
- Multi-restaurant evening options for group dinners
- Casco Viejo navigation (parking is nearly impossible without a driver)
- Corporate billing for entertainment expenses

Transportes Ejecutivos provides tailored transport for Expo Horeca attendees:

Expo Horeca delegate services:
- Tocumen Airport meet & greet transfers
- Daily hotel ↔ exhibition venue shuttle
- Evening networking and restaurant transfers
- Multi-meeting corporate mobility (hotel visits, supplier meetings)
- Site visits to Panama hotels and restaurants

Vehicle fleet for HoReCa professionals:
- Executive sedan: 1-2 delegate airport and venue transfers
- Executive SUV: Luggage-heavy arrivals (equipment samples, brochures)
- Executive van: Buyer delegations and corporate groups (4-8 pax)
- VIP sedan: C-suite hotel group executives and VIP delegates

3-day Expo Horeca package:
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- 3 daily round-trips (hotel → venue → hotel)
- 1 evening restaurant transfer per night
- WhatsApp coordination with dedicated driver
- Corporate billing in USD

Added value:
- Drivers familiar with Panama's hotel and restaurant locations
- Navigate to supplier warehouses and showrooms outside the venue
- Site inspection transport for hotel development projects
- Multi-day extension for Panama tourism exploration