One Hotel, but Two Competing Websites (and a Single Mention of Trump)
In a statement, the Trump Organization’s chief legal officer, Alan Garten, noted
that the management contract “mandates that all disputes be resolved through binding arbitration” and that “Trump Hotels has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Mr. Fintiklis.”
Mr. Fintiklis’s actions on Thursday, Mr. Garten said, “constitute an abuse of process
and represent another attempt by him to misuse the Panamanian courts in an effort to circumvent arbitration.”
“We look forward to litigating this matter in the forum agreed upon by the parties where we are confident we will prevail,” Mr. Garten said.
The dueling websites — and their conflicting occupancy information — are the latest twist in the oft-bizarre battle between President Trump’s family business
and the majority owner of the Panama City property, who has spent months trying to oust the Trumps as both the managers and the branders of the hotel.
By Thursday, a statement was released that said the hotel had a new name, Bahia Grand Panama; a new website; and even new social media accounts.
The statement, sent from “Public Relations,” declared, “As of today, the former Trump International
Hotel & Tower Panama is no longer managed by or affiliated with Trump brand.”
Don’t tell that to the Trumps, who continue to make their case in various legal venues.
On Monday, the majority owner, Orestes Fintiklis, declared victory
and a worker pried the silver T-R-U-M-P name from the property, even as the Trump Organization described the move as legally improper and disputed that it had permanently lost control.
