Despite its small size compared to other countries in the region, Panama was set for 44% of the Central and South American pipeline in April, according to STR.
Other countries to report a significant increase in room supply if all rooms open: Paraguay, at 38.7% with 796 rooms in the total active pipeline, Colombia at 16.7% with 3,148 rooms, Uruguay at 11.1% with 529 rooms, Costa Rica at 8.4% with 1,506 rooms and Nicaragua at 8.4% with 330 rooms.
The Central and South America hotel development pipeline comprised 224 hotels totaling 31,931 rooms in April.
The Caribbean and Mexico hotel development pipeline comprises 132 hotels totaling 18,672 rooms.
Year-to-date 2012, two properties comprising 408 rooms have opened in the region. In the remainder of 2012, 39 properties are expected to open with 4,850 rooms. In 2013, 44 properties are planned to open with 5,752 rooms and in 2014, 30 properties are expected to open with 5,991 rooms.
In the remainder of 2012, the unaffiliated segment is expected to open the most rooms with eight properties and 1,341 rooms, followed by the upscale segment with 11 properties and 1,073 rooms scheduled to open.
In 2013, the upper midscale segment is expected to open the largest number of rooms with 21 properties and 2,092 rooms, followed by the unaffiliated segment with seven properties and 1,494 rooms.