The Gathering XIII
Four days of global real estate intelligence, direct access to Ronan’s network of on-the-ground experts, meaningful conversations with fellow members, and a full-day scouting tour in Panama.
You’re registered. Use this hub to plan your time in Panama City.
Review the schedule
See what is happening each day, from the Welcome Cocktail to Sunday’s scouting tour.
Plan your travel
Flight tips, venue details, and what to expect once you arrive in Panama.
More than a conference. A room full of people who “get it.”
The Gathering is deliberately small and personal. You will hear directly from global market experts, spend time with Ronan and the RETA team, and meet members who have already walked the path you are considering.
Global intelligence
Hear where experienced, boots-on-the-ground experts see real estate opportunity developing next.
Direct access
Ask questions, meet experts one-on-one, and have the conversations that rarely happen at large public events.
Member connections
Swap experiences with investors, entrepreneurs, travelers, and fellow RETA members from across the world.
On-the-ground scouting
Finish the event with a full-day property tour at Playa Caracol on Panama’s Pacific coast.
The conversations continue long after the final session.
Every Gathering begins with a Welcome Cocktail, where first-time attendees quickly discover that this is not a room of strangers. Your fellow members are doctors, executives, entrepreneurs, travelers, adventurers, and investors.
They attend because they understand real estate’s potential to create life-changing fortunes, preserve wealth for generations, and fund a life built on their own terms.
Across speaker sessions, lunches, cocktails, dinners, and informal conversations, you will have time to compare notes, challenge assumptions, and hear how other members have put RETA ideas into action.
Ronan’s “million-dollar rolodex,” in one room.
This network was built over more than 20 years and millions of air miles. Many of these experts make few public appearances, but the intimate format of The Gathering gives members the chance to hear from them—and speak with them directly.
Ronan McMahon
Global Real Estate ScoutFounder of Real Estate Trend Alert and an international real estate scout and investor for more than 20 years.
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Ronan founded Real Estate Trend Alert in 2008. At The Gathering he will share the latest discoveries from his scouting trips and discuss the global trends shaping the next generation of real estate opportunities.
Margaret Summerfield
RETA Senior Researcher & EmceeRonan’s right-hand woman, a no-nonsense researcher, and the Master of Ceremonies for The Gathering.
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Margaret has been with RETA from the beginning and has two decades of experience scouting markets and leading due diligence on overseas real estate.
Alfredo Aleman
Panama Real Estate ExpertA member of one of Central America’s most successful and prolific real estate families.
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Alfredo has been involved in high-rise towers, malls, transport hubs, expat communities, and a luxury community on man-made islands in the Bay of Panama. He will explain the investment opportunity he sees in Panama.
Geoffrey Donoghue
Spain Real Estate ExpertA lifelong real estate professional with more than two decades of market experience on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
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Geoffrey began learning real estate beside his father on building projects in Dublin. He later relocated to Spain and founded Always Marbella, giving him deep insight into the Costa del Sol market.
Alan Gongora
Colombia Real Estate Legal ExpertA Harvard-trained attorney who has helped hundreds of expats navigate legal and real estate matters in Colombia.
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After practicing law in New York, Alan settled in Medellín and opened a law firm. His work ranges from helping expats establish businesses to guiding overseas buyers through real estate transactions.
Zach Lunin
Nicaragua Real Estate ExpertA long-term San Juan del Sur resident who helps overseas buyers understand this often-overlooked market.
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Zach arrived in Nicaragua after leaving a corporate career in the United States. He has lived in San Juan del Sur since 2004 and helps buyers look beyond the headlines to assess local real estate opportunity.
Gonzalo Víquez Jr.
Costa Rica Real Estate LawPartner and founder of Víquez Oreamuno & Associates, with 26 years of experience in Costa Rican real estate law.
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Gonzalo advises on property purchases, relocation, due diligence, escrow, sales, leases, and other legal matters involved in owning real estate in Costa Rica.
Ivan Castillo
Mexico Real Estate AttorneyFounding partner of Title Solutions de México and a veteran of overseas-buyer transactions across Mexico.
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Ivan has supervised closings for RETA members and other buyers in Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, San Miguel de Allende, and additional Mexican markets.
Juan Fischer
Uruguay Real Estate AttorneyAn internationally connected legal expert with more than 25 years advising global investors in Uruguay.
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Juan has advised Fortune 500 companies, family offices, and individuals on buying, structuring, managing investments, residency, and tax planning. He will explain Uruguay’s appeal as a safe haven for capital, lifestyle, and second-home ownership.
Daniel Neves
Northeast Brazil Real Estate ExpertA specialist in second homes and structuring foreign investment in northeast Brazil since 1999.
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Daniel studied in the United States, Spain, and Brazil and has deep family ties throughout Fortaleza’s real estate industry, giving him direct access to the region’s key market players.
Joel Bowman
Author & JournalistA journalist and lifelong global traveler whose essays have appeared in news outlets and academic journals.
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Born on Australia’s Gold Coast, Joel has lived across North and South America, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, bringing a global perspective shaped by more than two decades abroad.
Speaker list and session topics are subject to change.
Four days built around ideas, access, and connection.
A detailed schedule with speaker names, topics, and times will be sent closer to the event. The outline below will help you plan flights and your stay.
Welcome
Registration & Welcome Cocktail
Check in at The Santa Maria, then meet Ronan, the speakers, and fellow members at the opening cocktail reception.
- Event registration
- Welcome Cocktail at 6:30 p.m.
- Member and speaker introductions
Opportunity
Global Market Sessions
Opening remarks, Ronan’s State of the Union Address, expert presentations, and conversations focused on the next major opportunities.
- Speaker sessions from 10:00 a.m.
- Group lunch included
- Expert access and Smart Money Homes
- Networking cocktail from 7:00 p.m.
Strategy
Sessions & Farewell Dinner
Continue the speaker program, meet experts one-on-one, then regroup for an evening of conversation, food, and drinks.
- Morning and afternoon sessions
- Group lunch included
- One-on-one expert conversations
- Farewell Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Scout
Playa Caracol Real Estate Tour
Travel from The Santa Maria to Panama’s Pacific coast for a tour of Playa Caracol, its amenities, completed buildings, and an upcoming opportunity.
- Transport and lunch provided
- Property and community tour
- Pacific beach and amenity access
- Plan to fly home Monday, February 15
The Santa Maria, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Golf Resort
A five-star setting inside the upscale Santa Maria community—close to the airport and within easy reach of Panama City’s historic district, nightlife, and shopping.
The people in the room are part of the value.
I’m living the dream. I’ve been wanting to come to The Gathering since I knew about it 10 years ago. Now here we are—and there are real people. This is a dream come true for me.
Belinda
The biggest benefit is meeting other RETA members, hearing their stories, and understanding where they’ve bought, where they live, and what they plan to do with their properties.
Audrey
The Gathering is super. We met some great people, had an absolutely fabulous time, and got a lot of good information we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else.
Linda and Tom
Registered? Start planning here.
Use these quick actions to save the event, review the travel basics, and make sure you leave enough time for Sunday’s scouting tour.
Mark your calendar
Download a calendar file covering the full event, from the Welcome Cocktail through Sunday’s scouting tour.
Mark Your Calendar →Plan your flights
Fly into Tocumen International Airport (PTY). To join Sunday’s tour, plan to fly home Monday, February 15.
Review travel details →Save the venue
The Santa Maria will host the conference, meals, welcome reception, networking events, and Farewell Dinner.
Open in Maps →Need help?
The RETA Concierge team is on hand to answer your questions.
Contact the team →What to know before you go.
When is The Gathering 2027?
The Gathering 2027 starts with a Welcome Cocktail Reception on Thursday, February 11, and ends with a tour of Playa Caracol on Sunday February 14, 2027.
Where is The Gathering 2027?
The Gathering 2027 will be in Panama at the Santa Maria Hotel.
How do I get there?
The closest airport is Tocumen international airport, code PTY, which is a 15-minute drive or so to the Santa Maria hotel where we will have the event. Tocumen has direct flight connections across North America.
What is the schedule for The Gathering 2027?
The exact schedule is still being finalized, but the general format for Friday and Saturday will be: speakers in the mornings and then a group lunch, with a couple of hours of speaking sessions in the afternoons, plus the chance to talk to our experts one on one.
What is the cost to attend The Gathering 2027?
Seats are $575 per person.
What if I buy a ticket but my plans change and I can’t make it?
Tickets are fully refundable up until October 31, 2026.
From November 1, tickets are non-refundable.
Which airport should I fly to?
For this event the closest airport is Tocumen international airport, code PTY, which is a 15-minute drive or so to the Santa Maria hotel where we will have the event. Tocumen has direct flight connections across North America. You can check for flight options on websites such as www.kayak.com, www.skyscanner.com, www.vayama.com, etc.
If your home airport is served by a low-cost airline, it is also worth checking their website to see if they offer flights to Panama.
You can take a shared shuttle, private taxi or Uber ride to/from the airport. Please allow additional time to reach the airport on your return trip, in case of delays.
Will there be real estate tours during the Gathering?
Yes — there will be scouting trips arranged on Sunday, February 14.
Where will the Gathering be held?
We will have our welcome cocktail on the evening of 11th February, speaking sessions on the mornings of the 12th and 13th February, and the farewell dinner the evening of 13th February, in the Santa Maria hotel. The hotel location is Santa Maria Boulevard, Panama City, Panama. There is a map below. The hotel phone number is +1 866 959 3050 or +507 304 5555.
What about accommodation?
We have a room block at the Santa Maria Hotel (a Marriott), with a discounted rate. You will get details on how to reserve a room as soon as you sign up for the Gathering. Please note, the room rate is not refundable.
What’s the climate like in Panama in February?
Average temperatures run from the mid-70s to high 80s. The dress code for the Gathering is casual. Shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops, sandals, and summer dresses will all work well. Bring a light jacket, cardigan or sweater — the room for the sessions at the hotel is air conditioned.
A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are also recommended.
Do I need to wear my Gathering name badge?
Yes! This helps us, and staff at the Santa Maria hotel, know that you’re an attendee at the Gathering. Only those wearing a badge will be admitted to the event and activities like real estate tours.
What is the situation with Covid and travel to Panama?
Travel regulations as they pertain to COVID, masks, etc. are a moving target and can change at any time. As of now, Panama is 100% open and welcoming visitors—NO vaccination documents or negative COVID test required. We will try to keep you updated on this if anything changes, as we get closer to the event.
In the meantime, please read the following advice carefully. This is designed to create the best experience possible, one where you can safely and effectively learn and network.
Before travelling to this event…
• Check your travel insurance. Make sure it’s valid and covers everything you might need (more on that below).
• Check your flight and travel arrangements. Ensure you’ve checked the requirements of your airline and the destinations which you will be traveling to and from.
Is the event being filmed?
The event will be filmed and the footage (the whole event and/or partial clips) will be shared on websites, in alerts, and on social media. We will not Livestream the event. We will ask you to sign a General Release & Waiver for Audio/Video Recording. We will send the waiver to you before the event so you can sign in advance, or you can sign when you come to the hotel on February 11th.
Are masks required in Panama and will they be required at the Gathering?
As of now, masks are not required in public places in Panama, or in the event space at the hotel.
Do I need travel insurance?
We strongly urge you to buy a travel policy that provides individual Trip, Air, Health, Accident, Baggage and Cancellation Insurance.
What happens if I test positive for COVID during the event?
If you are feeling unwell, you should consult a doctor and/or take a test. If your results are positive please do not come to the event or into the hotel spaces allocated for the Gathering and avoid contact with attendees, event and hotel staff, and other hotel guests.
More questions?
If you have any additional questions, please email Vanessa Pecly from the RETA Concierge Team at [email protected].
We look forward to meeting you at the conference!
Transparency is important to us. So you should know that properties and development projects detailed in this website and in Real Estate Trend Alert (RETA) may be clients of Pangaea Limited trading as Pangea, a real estate advertising company managed by Ronan McMahon [and Margaret Summerfield]. Should you purchase one of the properties, Pangaea may receive an advertising fee from the real estate developers, real estate agents and/or property owners. International Living Publishing Limited (“International Living”), which publishes RETA, and certain marketing companies who work with Pangaea may receive a portion of that fee.
Nothing in this website, and no communication by our staff, should be considered personalized advice. Although our staff may answer general queries, they are not licensed to address your particular situation.
We always recommend strongly that buyers perform their own complete due diligence and use a qualified legal professional to help with any real estate transaction.