Some 40 years ago, the Riande Granada Hotel opened, exactly on Nov. 14, 1969, the same day the Apollo 12 spacecraft lifted off for a second manned mission to the Moon –a memorable day that this year has been the reason for a number of commemorations.

The Granada Hotel was born in a time of conquests and remarkable achievements, at a time of major changes that shook the world. From the very beginning, it’s been considered one of the longstanding hotels in Panama’s travel and tourism industry, recognized for its distinction and superb service that make all guests’ stays far more comfortable. It’s located on Eusebio A. Morales Street, in the El Cangrejo neighborhood, a privileged location within walking distance of the banking area, restaurants and shopping malls. Visionary impresario Don Ildefonso Riande Peña, a Spanish emigrant with a Panamanian heart, saw the need to have a mom-and-pop hotel featuring customized service that could meet the market’s needs. Encouraged by this new enterprise, he opened the Granada Hotel. This important occurrence was attended by boldface names from Panama’s entrepreneurial and social scenes, with Monsignor Marcos Gregorio McGrath, C.S.C. †, designated to bless the establishment. Thus, the lodging became the first of all Riande Hotels, also made up of the Riande Continental and the Riande Aeropuerto. Today, 40 years after its grand opening, the Riande Granada is still the leading establishment that meets the demands of businesspeople. Today, with Mr. Riande's daughter, Lucia Riande de Victoria, at the helm, it has 166 comfortable guestrooms, a superior floor, a suite and a junior suite. It’s outfitted with fancy banquet rooms, the Sierra Nevada Café open 24 hours a day, Internet service, a casino, a swimming pool, an intimate lobby bar and guarded parking lot. All this much pays tribute to the slogan created by founder Don Ildefonso Riande: “Granada Hotel, a modern hotel with an Old World taste.” After forty years in the hotel industry and viewed as a token of Panamanian hospitality, the Riande Granada Hotel appreciates the preference it has enjoyed through all these years, a preference that grows on next to Panama.

The Riande Granada Hotel is celebrating its 40th anniversary in the lodging industry as a symbol of Panamanian hospitality and enjoying the preference of a selected clientele through all these years