BAY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MEMBER TO KNOW

neighboring Panama City Beach and Mexico Beach each had tourist development taxing districts and had been actively promoting their communities for decades – but Panama City was not doing the same. and the City of Panama City was designated the tourist development taxing district. Panama City Embraces Tourism Destination Panama City identified the city’s current amenities and potential opportunities, which it published as the Panama City Tourism Development & Economic Impact Study in December 2015. The report not only suggested current initiatives, but served as a vision document laying out a future filled with possibilities for sustainable growth and development. Interestingly enough, the research revealed the city’s most underutilized asset was right in front of them: St. Andrews Bay. By leveraging the bay’s beauty, abundance of water activities, and an active waterfront, Destination Panama City developed a plan to create a true sense of place that would be of pride to residents and attractive to potential visitors. In October 2018, Hurricane Michael left a wide swath of destruction in the area and provided further impetus to expand on the city’s potential. After a community-led effort that involved workshops, focus groups, town hall meetings and design charrettes, renowned design firm Dover Kohl & Partners developed an award-winning Strategic Vision for Historic Downtown in 2019. The signing of the land lease agreement between the City of Panama City and The St. Joe Company was a momentous occasion, marking the first steps toward implementing the ideas and visions adopted in the Tourism Development & Economic Impact and the Strategic Vision for Historic Downtown studies – of which rebuilding the marina was an important component. “The marina is a tremendous asset to the people of this community,” says Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnicki. “We believe that the St. Joe’s hotel and restaurant project will be a great complement to the plans that we have for rebuilding the marina.”

Jennifer Vigil, President & CEO of Destination Panama City, agrees. “The development of the marina will be a definitive turning point in Panama City’s history. It highlights a future focused on vibrant, accessible and active waterfronts that enhance the quality of life for our locals and our visitors.”

Turning Around Downtown

Charm, character and warmth are some of Panama City’s most cherished qualities, and relationships are born and thrive in the interactions between locals, visitors and businesses. The variety of amenities and opportunities for community building in the hotel project will be a fitting companion to the organic cohesiveness that gives Panama City its personal appeal.

Panama City is alive with talented musicians, performers, and collaborative community and arts events sponsored by local busiThe Bay County Chamber of Commerce worked with the City of Panama City and the Bay County Board of County Commissioners to advocate for the creation of a dedicated destination marketing organization (DMO) and the establishment of a tourist development taxing district that would promote and market the City of Panama City. That DMO became Destination Panama City in 2014, leaders are excited by the many ways the hotel and restaurant project can make an impact in supporting the building and exposure of these relationships between people and local businesses. More than 100 businesses have opened in Panama City since Hurricane Michael, showing that the city’s local economy is heading in the right direction. EVERYTHING DESCRIBED OR DEPICTED IS PROPOSED AND NEED NOT BE BUILT, OR IF BUILT, MAY NOT BE BUILT AS DESCRIBED OR DEPICTED. All of the amenities and improvements described or depicted are based on current development plans which are subject to change without notice. No guarantee is made that any of the future improvements, amenities, facilities, and features described herein or depicted by artists’ renderings will be built or, if built, will be of the same type, size or nature as depicted or described.

nesses that genuinely aspire to bring people together. Community Further, the development of the hotel is just one element of a

revitalized waterfront that the Panama City community and visitors will enjoy. Destination Panama City is building a new visitor’s center with a targeted completion date of May 2021, offering increased opportunity to promote tourism and introduce visitors and locals to authentic Panama City experiences, like exploring the city’s rich history in Historic Downtown and St. Andrews, discovering some of the country’s most delectable seafood along the Panama City Oyster Trail, casting a line while kayak fishing in St. Andrew Bay, or browsing creations by the city’s thriving artisan community. The organization is also in the process of obtaining permits for the construction of inshore artificial reefs in the area, which would provide opportunities for snorkeling without the need for a boat.

The redevelopment of the waterfront “will serve as a catalyst for additional investment within Panama City and enhance its quality of life,” explains Mark McQueen, city manager of Panama City.

Vigil couldn’t agree more.

“Panama City’s future looks very bright,” she asserts. “These largescale projects give small business entrepreneurs the confidence to step outside the box with small but crucially important projects that are helping to propel the city forward.”

More information on the St. Joe’s hotel restaurant project is available at https://www.pcmarinahotel.com.