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You’ve heard about The Accidental Tourist. And now you’re about to be introduced to the accidental hotelier of sorts.
Thunder Bay, Ont., native Chris Lenz — an acclaimed chef who worked for a Relais and Chateaux restaurant in Switzerland and then a Swiss hotel and later served as the food and beverage manager of a Hong Kong hotel before overseeing several Hong Kong restaurants — is now running newish Panamanian hotel Hotel La Compania Casco Antiguo, found in Panama City’s trendy Casco Antiguo district, and confesses that running a hotel in the Central American nation was not on his radar a few years ago.
“In many ways I did fall into Panamanian hospitality by accident,” acknowledges Lenz, who had relocated to Thailand, after which deciding to explore the world by sailboat. “It was never something I planned.
“After selling my business, I was fully retired and focused on sailing around the world with my family. We passed through the Panama Canal on our way back to Thailand, and what was meant to be a temporary stop turned into something much more.
“I had no intention of starting a business again, let alone opening a hotel. But as we settled in, I found myself drawn to the history and character of Casco Antiguo. I began looking at small projects, just a couple of apartments and a storefront. What unfolded from there was completely organic. One opportunity led to another, and before I knew it, I was part of something much bigger — something I genuinely cared about. So, while it may have started unintentionally, my path into hospitality has been guided by purpose ever since.”
Casco Antiguo is where Lenz’ journey with La Compañía Hotels and Resorts began. Hotel La Compañía Casco Antiguo is built on the remains of a Jesuit convent dating back to 1688, and carefully restored over eight years. It is set within a historical landmark in Panama City’s Old Quarter, the most visited part of Panama City, thanks to its rich cultural and architectural heritage.
“We opened Hotel La Compañía Casco Antiguo with a vision to preserve and celebrate the stories that shaped this incredible city,” Lenz continues. “Housed in buildings that span over 300 years of history, it’s a place where heritage and hospitality meet in the heart of a UNESCO-listed neighbourhood.”
The hotel has five dining locations modelled after historic occurrences and five main function spaces that can host weddings of up to 600 people. There’s a courtyard with a garden.
Steps from Hotel La Compañía Casco Antiguo is Villa Ana 1928, a restored mansion.
“Where the hotel invites you to rest and reconnect, Villa Ana invites you to gather, to linger, and to celebrate everything that makes this district so special,” Lenz states. “The building itself dates back nearly a century. We approached its restoration with the same care and respect that guided Hotel La Compañía Casco Antiguo, preserving its original bones while creating something vibrant and new. Today, it houses a restaurant, gallery, speakeasy-style bar, and cigar lounge.
“What I love most about Villa Ana is that it feels lived in. Locals drop by for a drink after work, visitors wander in after a day exploring the city, and conversations stretch into the night. It’s not just a venue. It’s a meeting place. A cultural hub. A space where people come together and something real happens.
“It’s these kinds of places that remind me why I stayed in Panama in the first place. They’re not flashy or overproduced. They’re honest. Rooted. Full of character. And to me, that’s what makes a destination.”
Lenz also welcomes the opening earlier this year of Hotel La Compania del Valle, found outside Panama City.
“This peaceful mountain town, nestled in the crater of an extinct volcano, is home to a small community, 19 waterfalls, and some of Panama’s most striking biodiversity,” he reports. “It’s also where we opened our second property, Hotel La Compañía del Valle, earlier this year, a serene retreat designed for rest, renewal, and discovery. Whether you’re drawn to the energy of the old city or the calm of the countryside, Panama offers a richness of experience that I believe is truly unmatched.”
Lenz says Panama is a particularly attractive destination for Canadians seeking a balance of culture, nature, and relaxation.
“With warm weather year-round and a location safely outside the hurricane belt, it offers a reliable and refreshing escape from Canada’s colder seasons,” Lenz says. “It’s also incredibly accessible, with direct flights available from cities like Toronto and Montreal. What makes Panama so unique is its diversity. In a single trip, you can unwind on pristine beaches along both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, trek through lush rainforests, connect with Indigenous heritage, and wander the cobblestone streets of Casco Antiguo, Panama City’s historic quarter.
“Am I surprised to be a hotelier in Panama?” Lenz adds. “Absolutely. This was never part of the plan. After selling my business in Hong Kong in 2006, I spent three years building a sailboat in Thailand. When it was ready, my wife and I took our kids and sailed around the world. We hired a full-time teacher and homeschooled them in Mandarin while exploring different cultures by sea. The idea was always to head back to Thailand, but when we passed through the Panama Canal, something about this place stopped me in my tracks. I expected a sleepy transit hub, not a vibrant city with skyscrapers. We thought it might be a good place to pause for a couple of years so the kids could learn Spanish. That was the only reason we stayed.
“I never intended to work again, let alone open a hotel. In fact, I hated actually living in Panama at first. It took six months of frustration and another six to fall in love with living in the country. But once I did, I started looking for a small project in Casco Antiguo — maybe two apartment buildings and a little shop.
“What I found instead was a canvas unlike anything I had ever seen, a chance to create something meaningful. If this had been just another boxed hotel, I would have stayed retired. But this was different. I didn’t choose Panama. Panama chose me. And somehow, here we are today with Hotel La Compañía Casco Antiguo and Hotel La Compañía del Valle. It’s been an unexpected journey, but one that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
“With the recent opening of Hotel La Compañía del Valle, my focus is on continuing to grow the La Compañía brand within the country. Panama has given me so much, more than I ever expected, and I believe there is still incredible potential here. Each part of the country offers its own culture, landscape, and rhythm, and I see opportunities to create more spaces that reflect the richness of those communities.”
