Record year for the expansion of PAL™ projects

14/12/2022

Crystalline lagoons have a unique value, because enhance urban and tourist areas of different countries and cultures and create an environmentally friendly meeting place. This explains the undisputed success of Crystal Lagoons which continues to expand worldwide and set a record year with projects developed under the successful Public Access Lagoons™ model.

During 2022 the company expanded into over 15 new markets and ended the year with over 810 PAL™ projects at different stages of development. The multinational innovation company recently signed mega commercial contracts in Japan, Australia, Polynesia, Cambodia and Saudi Arabia. Also, throughout the year, the company completed agreements to enter India, Israel, Palestine, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Ghana, Nigeria, the Philippines, Luanda, Ukraine and Guyana, and will soon move into Senegal and the Bahamas.

The mega deals for Japan and the Oceania region were signed with Australian investment fund Vibranium Capital Partners and will see the construction of a total of 56 complexes. The 30 PAL™ projects to be built across Japan are expected to be well received by the local market give the wide appreciation for public infrastructure and urban parks in Japanese culture. Meanwhile, the deal also represents a major global acknowledgement of Crystal Lagoons’ intellectual property and technology. For its part, the conquest of Oceania will cover Australia, New Zealand and Polynesian islands, as well as Cambodia, with 26 public access developments.

The contract signed in Saudi Arabia is another major commercial coup for the company with an agreement to build 20 luxurious complexes. The Al Saud royal family, through its conglomerate A’amal Group, will be Crystal Lagoons’ partner in what is the largest country in the Middle East, and start with projects in the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah.

India also marks a special milestone for the company. As well as being the world’s second most populous nation, it is also Crystal Lagoons largest contract signed to date with plans to build 100 PAL™ and real estate projects that will bring idyllic beach life to coastal and inland cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Goa, Hosur, Chennai and Hyderabad.

The signing of mega-agreements for both Israel and Palestine, literally within weeks of each other, is also a major endorsement of both the attractiveness of the crystalline lagoons concept and the sustainable nature of its technology for inland and arid cities. Jericho, the world’s oldest city, will be the first to see a public access development in Palestine, while Israel will see developments in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Rishon LeZion, Netanya and Petah Tikva.

In Crystal Lagoons’ biggest market, the United States, where it has more than 260 projects at different stages of development, the company inked agreements to bring 12 PAL™ developments to South and North Carolina. Crystal Lagoons already has a strong presence in the states of Florida, Georgia, Texas, Utah, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi, many of which with developers who are expanding their existing contracts to include new geographical areas.

In other parts of the globe, mega commercial agreements are in place for Korea (30 complexes), Pakistan (15 projects), Colombia (13 developments), Costa Rica and Guatemala (11 complexes), and seven projects in historical European cities.

Anyone can access PAL™ projects on payment of an entrance fee, where they can experience a veritable tropical paradise in the middle of the city with a crystal-clear lagoon suitable for swimming, water sports and white sandy beaches. Additionally, the area surrounding the lagoon has space for fairs, launches, food halls, weddings, hotels, stores, restaurants, multi-stage concerts, outdoor terraces, arenas and amphitheaters.

PAL™ projects have won several international awards for Crystal Lagoons’ sustainable technology, since they cut carbon emissions by more than 40% (14 million tons of CO2 per year) by reducing the number of trips people take to coastal destinations by around 50%.

Time Out: Crystal Lagoons Project in Indonesia is a Must-Visit

12-04-2024

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.

Iconic Crystal Lagoons Luxury Project in Cancun prepares for opening in June

09-04-2024

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. Sunterra, Mirada, Windsong Ranch, and Epperson secured prominent positions in 2023.

These projects ranked among the top 50 best-selling communities. Florida 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).