This Former Trump Hotel Is Turning Into a JW Marriott
Brendan Dorsey is an Associate News Editor at TPG who covers nearly everything for TPG including aviation, credit cards, points, miles, ride-hailing services and more. He previously worked for TIME.
July 2 2018
•
3 min read
This Former Trump Hotel Is Turning Into a JW Marriott
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Marriott is expanding, and that's not just because of its merger with Starwood. The former Trump International Hotel & Tower Panama will soon be rebranded as a JW Marriott.
The Trump Hotel resided in the tallest building in Panama — and actually in Central America. In March, it became embroiled in a legal battle as the hotel owners evicted the Trump Organization and removed the the Trump brand from the hotel. At one point they actually did, physically prying "Trump" from the building and renaming it the Bahia Grand Panama. The owners poked fun at the President by creating sarcastic Trump-themed cocktails like the Stormy Jack Daniels, Fire and Fury and Little Rocket Man.
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The Trump Organization pursued legal methods to restore the name and even asked the Panamanian president to intervene on behalf of their cause.
Ithaca Capital, a Miami-based real estate investment firm, took control of the property in March and announced that it would be transformed into a JW Marriott, a luxury brand controlled by Marriott. The firm predicts the rebranding will be complete in September 2018. Ithaca owns Marriott properties in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
This isn't the first instance of hotel owners trying to distance themselves from US president Donald Trump. Trump would regularly lease his name to properties, but not actually operate the hotel or apartments himself. Former Trump Hotels in New York and Toronto removed the Trump brand last year although neither joined a hotel chain.
The five-star hotel is 932 feet tall and sits right on the Pacific Ocean. It features 369 rooms, four restaurants and five swimming pools. Once the hotel officially becomes part of the Marriott brand, you'll be able to redeem points at the property — although it's unclear what category the property will fall into.
H/T: Bloomberg
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Apply for Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 6X | 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. |
| 4X | 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. |
| 2X | 2x points on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer expires 11/2/22.Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 points75,000 pointsAnnual Fee
$125Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6x points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4x points at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases
- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer expires 11/2/22.
- 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.
- See Rates & Fees