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The press continues highlighting the world’s largest crystalline lagoon with Crystal Lagoons® technology at Citystars Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. This stunning amenity in the middle of the Sinai desert, spanning 28.8 acres of turquoise waters, has been the subject of numerous reports highlighting its unique features.

Since 2015, this mega-project has held Crystal Lagoons’ second Guinness World Record as the largest crystalline body of water globally, surpassing its record from 2007 when the iconic San Alfonso del Mar crystalline lagoon was certified as the world’s largest.

Citystars Sharm El Sheikh results from an association between the Crystal Lagoons and the Sharbatly family, one of the oldest and most prominent in the Middle East and Africa. Crystal Lagoons® technology has added real estate value to the development by transforming undeveloped desert lands into a paradisiacal setting.

The monumental crystalline lagoon at Citystars Sharm El Sheikh, in the Sinai, is supplied without use with saline water from desert wells, creating tropical seas amid an arid environment. 

Crystal Lagoons® technology has achieved what was previously thought technically impossible: the construction of artificial lagoons of unlimited sizes anywhere in the world, even in the heart of the desert. Today, this innovation allows for the idyllic beach experience to be brought to unexpected locations, gaining worldwide recognition for its transformative impact.

Once again, the prestigious international entertainment, travel, and tourism guide Time Out has turned its attention to the Crystal Lagoons Treasure Bay project on the idyllic island of Bintan, Indonesia. Its recent edition of recommendations on what to see, do, and experience highlighted this project as essential to include in travelers’ itineraries and a must-visit in the region due to its unique features, as the largest crystalline lagoon in Southeast Asia with sustainable Crystal Lagoons® technology spanning 15.5 acres, equivalent to 50 Olympic-size swimming pools, surrounded by 1,400 meters of white sandy beaches.

Time Out recommended this project developed under the Public Access Lagoons™ model, also known as PAL™ developments, emphasizing the variety of aquatic experiences that can be enjoyed across its 222 acres, allowing visitors to indulge in beach life year-round with options for dining, spa, shopping, entertainment, and nightlife. Within the artificial lagoon, an oasis of turquoise waters, visitors can partake in water sports such as bungee jumping, cable water skiing, boating, slides, paddleboarding, kayaking, and wakeboarding.

With its monumental body of water, Treasure Bay has established itself as a unique experience on the paradise island of Bintan, Indonesia. Bintan, known for its nearly 3,000 islands, strategically faces Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malaysia. It offers many tourist attractions, including world-class golf courses, hiking, elephant parks, eco-farms, luxury spas, and beach activities.

This PAL™ development is surrounded by 1,400 meters of white sandy beaches, with a length of 800 meters and reaching a maximum depth of 2.5 meters. It offers various water recreation experiences, including bungee jumping, cable water skiing, boat rides, water slides, paddle boarding, kayaking, and wakeboarding. The artificial lagoon allows visitors to enjoy beach life year-round with dining options, spas, shops, entertainment, and nightlife.PAL™ projects, which anyone can access for an entrance fee, transform any site into a year-round entertainment hub with more than 125 activities that can take place in the lagoon itself or its surroundings.

Crystal Lagoons® technology is revolutionizing the hotel industry and changing the paradigm of vacation developments. Major international hotel chains such as Marriott, Radisson, Conrad, Hyatt Regency, and AVA recognize the transformative value of crystalline lagoons. They have incorporated this amenity as a critical element in their projects, making them more attractive destinations.

In association with the prestigious AVA hotel chain, Crystal Lagoons is developing an iconic project that will become the most prominent luxury resort in Cancun, centered around a monumental 2.8-acre crystalline lagoon surrounded by white sandy beaches. This artificial lagoon with turquoise waters will allow guests to enjoy exclusive floating cabins and various water activities in a unique environment.  

When it opens in June 2024, AVA Resort Cancún will be an innovative luxury destination just 10 minutes from Cancun International Airport and along the city’s most extensive commercial promenade. It will be a landmark in Mexican tourism and Cancun, the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula and a regional cultural, financial, and tourist hub.

This beachfront oasis, with all rooms facing the sea, will offer experiences for all ages and various accommodation options, from elegant rooms to spacious villas, all with breathtaking views of the Mexican Caribbean. Six pools, a water park for children, and first-class beach services ensure relaxation and fun. Additionally, high-end boutiques and local shops will provide exclusive shopping options.

Crystal Lagoons is a pioneer in sustainability and innovation. It will offer an idyllic beach landscape to enjoy a lively life around the lagoon. Guests can relax in one or four water cabins or engage in non-motorized water sports, all in the same body of water”, said Ash Tembe, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for North America at AIC Hotel Group.

Around the world, the concept and technology of Crystal Lagoons® have become the leading sales attraction, positively impacting its commercial success. Despite the credit and real estate challenges in the current economic conditions, Crystal Lagoons projects continue to defy the market with very impressive sales figures, particularly in the United States. The rankings from real estate consulting firms RCLCO and John Burns on the best-selling master-planned communities once again demonstrated that crystalline lagoons are a powerful purchasing driver. SunterraMiradaWindsong Ranch, and Epperson secured prominent positions in 2023.

These projects ranked among the top 50 best-selling communitiesFlorida leads the ranking within the list, representing close to 40% of the sales for all top-ranked developments, followed by Texas with 37%. In both states, Crystal Lagoons has a significant presence.

In Texas, Sunterra stands out as a project that, even though the crystalline lagoon has not been built yet, serves as a commercial driver within the community, generating sales rates higher than the average, with a significant increase of 63% compared to 2022. This placed it 3rd nationally in both rankings, further boosting the strong performance of Houston, the top-selling metropolitan area in the country. Sunterra’s positive sales results had already been recorded in previous reports.

With the largest amenity powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology in the United States, Mirada in Florida, inaugurated in 2023, sets another record. With an 89% increase in sales, it ranks 17th. Its 15 acres of turquoise waters and white sandy beaches are a buying trigger.

Another notable project in Texas is Windsong Ranch, which has consistently set sales records, ranking 29th in the John Burns ranking. The project has also been nationally awarded as “Master Planned Community of the Year,” among other recognitions.

On the other hand, Epperson in Florida also ranked prominently in both studies, a commercial trend registered since its inauguration as a real estate project. The interest it generated was so significant that it had to be opened to the Public Access Lagoons™ model, also known as PAL™ developments.

The United States is the main operation of Crystal Lagoons worldwide, and it has more than 275 projects at different stages of development and negotiation. Among the most important are Mirada, Sole Mia, Balmoral, Windsong Ranch, Beachwalk, Southshore Bay, Aqua, among others. The recent joint venture to develop four Public Access Lagoons™ complexes, also known as PAL™, in Texas stands out and will add to the successful public access developments Epperson (Florida) and Lago Mar (Texas).

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Several international media highlighted that the hotel sector is undergoing a real transformation thanks to the incorporation of innovative technologies. One of the technologies highlighted was precisely Crystal Lagoons, in parallel with process automation and artificial intelligence.

The sustainability of the multinational innovation company was key to being considered within these trends. “Currently, many travelers are seeking accommodations that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Places like the AVA Resort Cancun, with its artificial lagoon of crystal-clear waters powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology, are examples of accommodations that stand out for their commitment to sustainability,” explains the Spanish portal 24 Matins.

The turquoise-colored body of water provides ideal conditions for sailing, swimming, kayaking, or relaxing, and thanks to state-of-the-art technology, it consumes 33 times less water than an 18-hole golf course, 40% less water than a park of the same size, and only 2% of the energy of a conventional pool.

After transforming the real estate industry and the urban entertainment landscape with its innovative Public Access Lagoons™ projects, the multinational innovation company is now generating a new revolution, this time in the hotel sector.

Recognizing the transformative value of Crystal Lagoons® technology, leading global hotel chains such as Marriott, Radisson, Conrad, Hyatt Regency, and AVA Resort itself, have incorporated this amenity as a centerpiece in their projects.

“Every hotel project incorporating a Crystal Lagoons amenity becomes the most attractive destination in the area. These bodies of water change the paradigm of vacation developments with world-class hotel and resort standards”, explains Iván Manzur, Senior Vice President of Sales at Crystal Lagoons US Corp.

The multinational water innovation company already has developments of this kind, in which crystalline lagoons are the differentiating factor in the United States, Mexico, Indonesia, Romania, and Uruguay, among other countries.

“The crystalline lagoons achieve unprecedented results, such as bringing a beach lifestyle to Orlando—an entertainment option it didn’t have—or, counterintuitively, replacing the sea in iconic tourist destinations like Cancun,” emphasizes Jean Pierre Juanchich, Global Business Director of Crystal Lagoons.

Contexto Sur

The Crystal Lagoons project in Thailand, Blue Tree, located in the heart of Phuket, just 4 kilometers from the coast, has recently inaugurated the Beach Club MuMu Clubhouse, a new landmark in this iconic tourist destination, adding even more fun and entertainment. This new space becomes a meeting point in the surroundings of Phuket’s largest artificial lagoon and the first in Asia under the innovative Public Access Lagoons™ model, globally recognized as a “must-visit” in the region.

This PAL™ development with Crystal Lagoons® technology has set a new standard in public meeting and entertainment spaces, establishing itself as the top amenity in Thailand. With 4.2 acres of turquoise water oasis, surrounded by white sandy beaches, a private peninsula, restaurants, and a poolside bar, it offers the perfect setting to enjoy a dynamic beach experience 24 hours a day and a calendar full of activities throughout the year.

During the day, the Beach Club offers a relaxed atmosphere where visitors can enjoy various gastronomic offerings, art, culture, and activities, from beach yoga to water sports. The place comes alive at night with nightclubs, special events, concerts, and themed parties featuring live music, special guests, and renowned DJs.

Crystal Lagoons PAL™ projects are transforming and enriching urban life by offering new entertainment destinations not limited exclusively to residents of private real estate developments with crystalline lagoons. These developments are positively impacting the lives of millions of people, bringing a piece of the ocean to the city center and making it accessible just steps from their homes.

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