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

Latest News

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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