Name of your website?Los Buzos, Panama
Your name?
Morris Palmer
Your Location (city, etc)
Cambutal
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I have developed a remote resort on the Azuero Peninsula near the community of Cambutal. Our property will cater to families and fishermen.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
This is the first project I have actively promoted via the internet. My previous business as a builder and developer in Florida was primarilay fueled by long term clients and did not require advertising.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
Los Buzos was the historical name of the small bay where our property is located. My idea was to create a resort showcasing rural Panamanian lifestyle and architecture (unlike what i saw in Pedasi & Coronado on my first visit in 1991). Keeping the original name just seemed like the right thing to do - besides i liked it anyway.
Please give us a short summary of your website?
The site was put together by one of my purchasers, Kerigan Marketing Associates, in the US. The owner Jack Kerigan was one of my clients in the US that bought all but two of my first phase (11 units) before I started construction. Currently it is promoting the sales of units and lots - soon it will evolve into a resort rental website
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
my goal was to create a beachfront resort that would appeal to my existing American clientele - not only for the initial sales but also for rentals as well. The project will be homes owned by individuals, but cooperatively rented and managed by our company. This is the predominant method of tourist lodging in the Gulf Coast region of Florida where I previously developed. It lends itself to low density and integration with local building styles and communities. This is the one thing I felt was lacking when I first came to the Azuero - the developers were trying to create "Europe" in Panama - I liked rural Panama much better and i felt my clients would also. Additionally, I wanted to create a world class fishing location (my passion) but in an environment that the entire family would enjoy. I often describe our vision as "if you don't like Jaco and Los Suenos Costa Rica - you will like Los Buzos"
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
As soon as my wife gets out of nursing school next year we are going to relocate to the project full time. I am not in a hurry. We have done our project with cash and presold most of our units so there is no financial pressure to rush. Our land has (seperate from this project) a world class resort location and a beautiful natural harbor but my goal is to develop the current phase slowly and have a unique low-key fishing and family resort. The developer in me naturally made me set aside the true large-scale resort site for now - it is more of an insurance policy in case the surrounding area overdevelops for may taste - then I would probably sell out and move on to another area. We have enough property that I think that would be years off if ever - but the amazing amount of attention our area has recieved since the government started paving the road to Cambutal has surprised me somewhat.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
So far it has been fairly balanced. We bought fairly early so our initial costs were lower, but much of our work to get the property developed was much tougher than it is in the current environment. I have developed in this type of market in North Florida before - patience is the key. Many developers sell off their property too quickly to actually enjoy the appreciation that they created. We are only selling a few units at the time - just enough to get the improvements done.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Nothing really, we have pretty much stuck to our plans. I would probably just sell less of it and keep more for myself and my family. We really enjoy the beauty and simple lifestyle of the area.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Large scale growth is not in our plans so that really is not a concern of mine.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Mostly the slow moving governmental processes which result in ridiculous amounts of money for consultants - it far exceeds my hard costs to date.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Our biggest challenge has been the tendancy of vendors to quit half way through their contracts. It is difficult to do much about it so as a result I have taken over more of the daily management - something I had not planned to do until I moved over here.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Too early to tell - hopefully this will be it. We are just getting started with this phase of our project.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
Not much - I have relied on a professional who does this for a living and I have listened to his advise.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
Its been up in a basic form for around a year but we have just begun the process of using it to promote the project. It will stay up indefinitely. As I said before it will evolve from real estate sales to promotion of the resort rentals and fishing charters.
How do you compare with Panama's existing famous fishing destinations like Pinas Bay and Hannibal Bank
Both of those destinations are among the best in the world we are almost exactly in between the two. We could fish either of those but we have found and excellent fishery just off our beaches. The main difference we have is the ability to promote it as a complete family vacation. Our charters are a-la-carte - you can fish one day or seven straight and the rest of the family has just as much to do as the fisherman. We also have the additional advantage of being remote - yet easily accessible. For the group that doesn't want to add the $500 per person for the private charter flight they can get to Los Buzos with a $7.50 bus ticket. As for the fishing - check out the website. There are no stock photos and these are just casual family trips - we are just about to start with our charter operations.
What is your website address?
Los Buzos, Panama
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