Australian Press Highlights Crystal Lagoons® Socio-Economic Contributions

An Australian podcast specializing in finance and investment, Wealthi, highlighted the benefits of Crystal Lagoons® new business model. During a recent interview, Cristóbal Baixas, the multinational’s Director of Corporate Development, described the new concept known as Public Access Lagoons™, also known as PAL™, and why these lagoons have come to be known as the world’s top amenity.

  • What figures validate the value of these crystalline lagoons?

We have seen that the value per square meter and the value of properties at developments anchored by crystalline lagoons increase exponentially.

Meanwhile, the sales velocity of real estate projects increases above 70%.

These amenities increase the density of these projects, and an example is San Alfonso del Mar, a project that originally contemplated 400 units but ended up totaling 1,400. The value of these properties doubled shortly thereafter.

In the case of hotels with a beach, studies have demonstrated that their rates, occupancy and consumption of food and beverages grow by up to 200%, compared to second-row hotels. This indicates that in-lower value land, a hotel that incorporates a beach and PAL elements achieve very attractive returns.

A clear example is that every project with crystalline lagoons in the US, during the sales phase, have classified among the 50 best-selling and awarded in the country.

We have two business models depending on whether they are real estate or public access projects, which are flexible and have allowed us to grow exponentially.

  • What is the present of Crystal Lagoons?

After revolutionizing the real estate sector for 10 years, Crystal Lagoons began a new corporate phase, revolutionizing cities with the Public Access Lagoons, also known as PAL.

These projects are highly valued as they greatly aid the transformation of malls, reconverting retail spaces, reactivating the flow of the public to entertainment parks, taking advantage of vacant land, space found at the center of racetracks, at golf courses or any company that has disused land and wishes to convert it into a more profitable business.

The PAL are monumental crystalline lagoons suitable for swimming and nautical sports, surrounded by white sands, which create beach life a few meters from home and become the most beautiful place in the city.

PAL are ideal locations for events, launches, fairs, food-halls, weddings, concerts, dayclubs, etc. in an idyllic environment and multiple settings, such as beaches, a wedding peninsula, terraces, domes, as well as gastronomy, retail, beach clubs, amphitheaters and recreational and cultural activities, making them the meeting point of the 21st century.

  • How is the PAL business model implemented and what are the benefits?

The model is implemented through master licensing agreements, which involve a relevant number of PAL for specific geographical areas.

  • What PAL projects can you talk of?

The Master PAL model has captivated powerful economic groups worldwide, generating higher sales than Crystal Lagoons has in all its previous history.

Since October 2019, projects have grown exponentially thanks to the PAL master agreement model, which today represents 90% of the firm’s contracts. In fact, since then, we have signed 130 projects.

Among the licensing contracts that the company has signed in recent months are a master agreement for 16 projects in the United States; in Korea, 30 PAL nationwide; in Pakistan there will be 15 projects, and in Central America there will be 18 PAL to be built spotted across eight nations.

As a consequence, PAL licensing contracts have become the business of the future.

  • Why do you say that PAL are the business of the future?

Investors from all over the world have identified these developments as a new long-term investment alternative, with rates of return never seen in other industries, low initial investment and limited risk.

Additionally, they grant certainty in the face of two of the main current apprehensions faced by investors, and that is that PAL have proven to be Amazon and Covid proof.

In addition to the master agreements signed, people’s interest in PAL can be confirmed with the enormous success of the first PAL projects in the US, Epperson and Lago Mar, which sell US $50,000 daily in ticket sales for 1,200 visitors, even though they had to limit access.

From a capital standpoint, as projects are built, they quickly generate profits, enabling pyramid financing. With a low initial investment, a company with a very high present value is achieved.

  • Beyond being a good business, what do PAL contribute?

PAL are highly valued for the transformation of malls, reconverting retail spaces, reactivating foot traffic to entertainment parks, taking advantage of vacant land, spaces at the center of racetracks, golf courses or any company that has unused land or wants convert it to a much more profitable business such as PAL.

For visitors, PAL offer new public spaces of value which improve the quality of life to millions of people, providing social inclusion, recreation and relaxation, especially in landlocked cities, often congested and lacking in inviting public spaces.

These projects are not only the business of the future, they are also the sustainable recreational activity of the future uniting beach life, water sports and entertainment with the additional benefit of being just steps from home.

Additionally, they contribute to reducing the impact on biodiversity of tourist destination such as beaches or forests that, by receiving fewer visitors due to these new entertainment amenities, contribute to reducing the carbon footprint by reducing travel by plane and car to natural areas.

To see and listen to the full program: Wealthi

Outstanding news

The development will feature an impressive 3.21-acre crystalline lagoon as its central amenity, turning the complex into a destination in its own right: beach life, turquoise waters, and white-sand beaches.

The Dominican Republic is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. Its stunning beaches and extensive hospitality offering, including luxury resorts and tourist complexes with a wide range of activities, attract millions of visitors from around the world every year. Counterintuitively, despite what one might expect, Crystal Lagoons will add a new lagoon developed with its technology in this destination.

Strategic expansion

In this way, the multinational innovation company continues its strategic expansion in the region with the announcement of Lagomar, a new project that promises to redefine standards of luxury and lifestyle.

Game changer

The complex is not just another residential development; it is tangible proof that Crystal Lagoons® technology is the “World’s Top Amenity,” capable of transforming any location into a world-class paradise destination. The project will feature an impressive 3.21-acre crystalline lagoon as its central amenity, turning the development into a destination in its own right:

●  Beach life

●  Turquoise water

●  White sand beaches.

This pristine body of water will not only serve as the development’s visual and recreational anchor, but it will also:

●  Solve critical challenges of the natural coastline

●  Presence of strong waves

●  Offering residents and visitors a perfect, safe, turquoise swimming experience 365 days a year.

Complementing the crystalline lagoon, the project will also feature:

●  Walking trails

●  A clubhouse

●  Multi-purpose sports courts

●  Kayaks, stand-up paddle, and other water sports and activities

This project is complemented by a new agreement covering the entire Cibao region in the Dominican Republic, which includes a second development planned for Santiago de los Caballeros, further strengthening Crystal Lagoons’ presence in the country.

“Lagomar will change the concept of tourism across the country’s entire North Coast, because with its central lagoon, all owners and visitors will be able to enjoy a ‘beach’ year-round, regardless of weather conditions. Most importantly, it will be in a controlled environment that will provide safety and privacy for the whole family. There is nothing like it anywhere along the country’s North Coast,” explains Elianne Sued, from the Marketing Department at Inmobiliaria Media Luna.

First project in the north of the country

Strategically located in the tourist corridor between Sosúa and Cabarete—world-renowned areas for water sports, culture, gastronomy, and its vibrant community of North American, Canadian, and European Citizens—Lagomar positions itself as the first project of its kind along the country’s entire North Coast, developed within a 54.36-acre master plan.

The complex enters the market as a mixed-use development, primarily focused on second homes and short-term rental investment, capitalizing on the area’s strong tourism demand.

Experienced development team

Inmobiliaria Media Luna, a firm with an uninterrupted track record on the North Coast since 1986, is developing the project. Its experience delivering subdivided lots, single-family villas, and apartment developments in the region provides the solid foundation needed to execute a project of this scale.

Also in the Dominican Republic

Lagomar is the second project of Crystal Lagoons in the Dominican Republic. The multinational innovation company already has The Beach at Punta Cana City Place“, an exclusive residential and hotel complex that features Central America’s largest crystalline lagoon, with 7.41 acres of turquoise waters.

Original content

A lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology changes the game: it doesn’t operate as an “add-on,” but as the project’s commercial centerpiece, capable of turning a development into a destination, increasing value per square meter, accelerating sales, and opening new revenue streams.

In real estate, ROI isn’t something you “feel”: it’s measured. And when we talk about amenities, the critical question for any developer isn’t whether something looks spectacular, but how much it increases value, how much it accelerates sales velocity, and how sustainable (and defensible) those results are over time.

That’s where a lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology changes the game: it doesn’t operate as an “add-on,” but as the project’s commercial centerpiece, capable of turning a development into a destination.

The Direct Impact on Price per Square Meter

Integrating a crystalline lagoon transforms a project’s economic geography. By bringing idyllic beach life to any location—whether it’s inland, in the heart of a city, or in the middle of the desert—it creates immediate value.

What does “increasing value” really mean in a real estate project?

In practice, “value uplift” is expressed through four variables that directly impact returns:

  1. Price premium per square meter (pricing power)
  2. Faster sales velocity (absorption)
  3. Greater asset appreciation (resale/capital appreciation)
  4. New revenue streams (in public-access models), where the lagoon can operate with paid entry and create additional income streams.

The data-driven answer: how much value can increase with a crystalline lagoon

There isn’t a single percentage that applies to every market, but real-world cases show consistent impacts on pricing and commercial performance.

Case 1: Epperson (Florida, USA) — pre-sale premium and accelerated sales velocity

At Epperson, once the addition of a crystalline lagoon was announced, sale prices increased by 21% in the pre-construction phase, while competitors rose only 1% to 5%.

In addition, between January and June 2021, sales increased by +174% (compared to 2020), reaching 342 units sold.

The result: the “lagoon effect” doesn’t just allow you to charge more but also reduces the time it takes to convert interest into signed contracts.

Case 2: Baía Kristal (Cartagena, Colombia) — appreciation and accelerated sell-out

At Baía Kristal, the sale value per m² doubled (100%) in 2.3 years, while comparable projects grew only 5% to 15% over the same period.

The project sold 1,560 apartments in 2.3 years, averaging 56 units per month, when it was originally projected to take 7 years to sell out.

The result: when an amenity becomes “iconic,” appreciation can be accompanied by an equally—or even more—powerful advantage: sales velocity.

Why a crystalline lagoon truly moves ROI (and isn’t comparable to a pool)

The key difference is that a crystalline lagoon doesn’t compete in the “amenity” category: it competes in the “lifestyle” category. And that changes willingness to pay.

1) True differentiation (not a commodity)

A traditional pool is replicable. A crystalline lagoon creates an immediate “wow factor” and a sellable narrative (“beach lifestyle”) that multiplies appeal and memorability.

2) Sustainability and efficiency that support the model

The value proposition isn’t just aesthetic: it’s also operational efficiency. Crystal Lagoons® sustainable technology can operate using up to 100 times fewer chemicals and only 2% of the energy used by conventional swimming pool filtration systems.

In addition, it enables low water consumption: up to 33 times less water than a golf course and 40% less water than a park of the same size, and it can use fresh, salt, or brackish water.

What this means for ROI: an amenity that drives pricing and sales, while also helping meet sustainability/ESG criteria, tends to be more defensible over time.

4. The PAL® Model: Monetization Beyond Real Estate Sales

A unique innovation maximizing ROI for investors are Public Access Lagoons® projects, also known as PAL® developments. This business model allows the lagoonto operate as a public tourist attraction through ticket sales.

This turns the amenity into an independent business unit that generates perpetual revenue through:

·   Daily ticket sales (ticket revenue).

·   Corporate events and weddings.

·   Retail, food & beverage, and watersports around the lagoon, plus concerts, outdoor cinema, and hundreds of other activities.

How to estimate “how much” ROI increases in a project

If you’re evaluating integrating a crystalline lagoon, a simple, but solid, model typically includes:

  1. Projected premium by unit type and view (lagoon-front vs. interior)
  2. Absorption effect: expected monthly sales with and without the lagoon
  3. Impact on CAC / commercial efficiency: more organic leads, better conversion, less reliance on discounts
  4. Land value / early-phase uplift: pre-sales and construction stage (where much of the upside is captured)
  5. Comparative OPEX: energy, chemicals, maintenance (and the impact on NOI, especially in hospitality)
  6. Complementary revenues (if applicable): ticketing + events + F&B + commercial lease income

When an amenity is measured in sales, it speaks for itself.

So, how much does a property’s value increase with a crystalline lagoon?

The cases demonstrate that the impact can show up as a price premium (e.g., +21% in pre-sales at Epperson), faster sales velocity (+174%), and appreciation that far outperforms the market (e.g., +100% in 2.3 years at Baía Kristal).

In a market where differentiation is no longer optional, a crystalline lagoon isn’t a “nice-to-have” expense: it’s a business tool to sell faster, sell better, and sustain value with a sustainable value proposition.

2025 marks a historic year for Crystal Lagoons: a record number of projects signed, strong presence in U.S. top-selling rankings (RCLCO), and the groundbreaking launch of the Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ concept.

In 2025, Crystal Lagoons delivered one of the strongest years in its recent history. With an expansion pace higher than in 2024, the multinational innovation company not only accelerated its global growth, but also reinforced, through market data, a key trend for real estate developers and hospitality projects: when an amenity is truly disruptive, it becomes a business.

The outcome was threefold: on the one hand, a record year for signed projects and new operational lagoons; on the other, strong validation in the United States, where communities featuring Crystal Lagoons® technology once again ranked among the country’s top-selling; and finally, a new technology created to fill a gap that, in just four months, is already a success.

2025 in figures: real, measurable, multi-sector expansion

Crystal Lagoons closed 2025 with milestones that speak directly to what matters in real estate and hospitality: execution, scale, and pipeline.

  • 15 new operational lagoons.
  • 50 new projects signed, surpassing the 2024 record.
  • More than 180 projects under negotiation or construction, including real estate, hospitality, Public Access Lagoons®, and Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ developments.

These figures send a powerful signal: demand for “beach lifestyle” experiences continue to grow, and the Crystal Lagoons value proposition keeps capturing that preference.

The “Lagoon Effect” shows up in sales: Crystal Lagoons in RCLCO’s Top 50 (U.S.)

The U.S. real estate market is one of the most competitive in the world, and RCLCO’s annual ranking (Real Estate Advisors) is considered the definitive barometer of success. In its 2025 edition, projects anchored by a Crystal Lagoons® amenity stood out among the country’s top-selling master-planned communities, once again validating that lagoons drive sales velocity.

The developments that stood out in the Top 50 are:

1. 5th place – Sunterra (Katy, Texas): With 1,024 units sold, it was crowned as the highest-ranked community in all of Texas within the ranking. Sunterra’s success shows that geographic location becomes secondary when a world-class amenity is delivered.

2. 14th place – Mirada (San Antonio, Florida): With 650 units sold, this project reaffirms the dominance of the technology in the Sunshine State.

3. 47th place – Lago Mar (Texas City, Texas): A longtime presence in the rankings that remains its appeal with 380 units sold, proving the model’s long-term sustainability.

Beyond the ranking positions, the strategic takeaway is the pattern: Florida and Texas dominate Top 50 performance, and that’s precisely where Crystal Lagoons has consolidated high-impact projects. This reinforces that the crystalline lagoon doesn’t function as “decoration,” but as a traction driver in highly competitive markets.

The 2025 Revolution: Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ Technology

While large crystalline lagoons are the company’s signature, 2025 saw the birth of an industry game-changer: Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ technology.

This new concept is designed for projects where space, budget, or format previously limited the ability to incorporate a “beach lifestyle” with large-scale lagoons.

What they are and why they’re positioned as “game-changing”:

·   Standardized lagoons ranging from 0.25 acre to 1 acre.

·   In just four months, the model already shows commercial success: 17 projects signed and more than 120 under negotiation.

This format enables real estate developers to access the benefits of a crystalline lagoon without requiring the large land footprints of a traditional master plan.

Key features of the Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ concept:

  • Instant visual impact: turquoise waters + white-sand beaches as the project’s icon.
  • Efficient design: built to maximize ROI per m², turning the center of the master plan into a beach destination at a fraction of the cost of traditional swimming pools.
  • Replicable model: standardization that speeds up implementation for certain project types.
  • Versatile use cases: from multifamily and urban projects to hotels, boutique resorts, mixed-use developments, and short-term rental–oriented projects.

In practice, these smaller lagoons respond to a clear market demand: an amenity that doesn’t require “mega-scale” to generate a premium, drive sales, and strengthen positioning.

A spectacular year that sets the trend for 2026

2025 has made it clear that innovation is the path to profitability. Whether leading U.S. sales rankings with large-scale projects or unlocking new niches with the Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ technology, the multinational innovation company continues to set the standard in the development of sustainable amenities.

For real estate developers, the market message is clear: turquoise isn’t just a color; it’s a competitive advantage that sells in record time.

Original content.