Crystal Lagoons Island Resort project ground breaks in Arizona

Last Thursday, Crystal Lagoons® began the construction of Crystal Lagoons Island Resort project in Arizona. The multinational innovation company partnered with the renowned toy company Mattel to include in the project the first Mattel Adventure Park.

The centerpiece of the mega project will be an 11-acre Public Access Lagoons™, also known as PAL™, a paradise-like lagoon surrounded by white sand beaches, which can be accessed via ticketed entry. The project will also incorporate Mattel-branded experiences, including a Hot Wheels coaster and multiple go-karting experiences.

In addition, the resort will have a Thomas & Friends indoor theme park with the first life-sized Thomas the Tank Engine passenger train, as well as immersive branded F&B and experiential retail.

Furthermore, to the lagoon, the project will include 7 islands, each with their own theme, retail spaces, Fly and 4-D theaters, venue space, restaurants, a family entertainment center, amusement rides, office space, 600 plus hotel rooms and more.

“Crystal Lagoons, the World’s Top Amenity®, is excited to bring the first branded Crystal Lagoons Island Resort entertainment destination to Glendale, Arizona,” says Iván Manzur, Senior VP of Sales de Crystal Lagoons US Corp.

“By partnering with Crystal Lagoons Island Resort, we will be offering new and immersive ways for families to experience classic brands like Hot Wheels, Thomas & Friends, and more.”, said Julie Freeland, senior director of global LBE at Mattel.

Super Bowl 2023

According to local press, the project is expected to receive 2 million visitors annually. This in turn will generate significant revenue to support local businesses and the state as a whole. Upon completion, the Crystal Lagoons Island Resort is estimated to bring 1,800 net new jobs to Glendale.

The Crystal Lagoons Island Resort is planned as a single-phase development that is expected to open to the public in 2022 ahead of Glendale’s hosting of Super Bowl in 2023.

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  • In an industry where sustainability has already become a competitive advantage, Crystal Lagoons offers real estate developers a technology capable of combining differentiation, profitability, and environmental efficiency in real estate, hospitality, and entertainment projects.

In the era of conscious development, the real estate and hospitality industries have reached an unavoidable conclusion: true innovation must not only be disruptive, but also intrinsically sustainable. For modern developers, sustainability has ceased to be an ethical option and has become a clear competitive advantage that determines financial viability, regulatory acceptance, and long-term brand value.

In this scenario, Crystal Lagoons® technology emerges as the answer to the global demand for luxury experiences with minimal ecological impact. By transforming the concept of large-scale urban living, the company demonstrates that it is possible to offer idyllic beach destinations with a water and energy footprint that is dramatically lower than that of any traditional amenity.

Sustainability Is No Longer an Extra: It Is a Requirement of the Real Estate Market

Real estate developers face an increasingly challenging landscape. Buyers, investors, hotel operators, and authorities are placing greater value on projects that integrate ESG criteria, reduce resource consumption, and offer differentiated experiences.

In this new scenario, traditional amenities are no longer enough. A swimming pool, green area, or clubhouse can add value, but they rarely manage to combine scale, differentiation, water and energy efficiency, and the ability to create a destination.

Crystal Lagoons responds precisely to this need. Its patented technology makes it possible to build and maintain large crystalline bodies of water at low cost, with minimal use of additives and energy, making it an especially attractive solution for real estate developments, master-planned communities, resorts, hotels, mixed-use projects, and urban entertainment developments.

What Makes Crystal Lagoons® Technology Sustainable?

The sustainability of Crystal Lagoons® technology is not based on a statement of intent, but on concrete technological attributes. Its model operates with high levels of water, energy, and chemical efficiency, making it possible to develop large-scale amenities with significantly lower consumption than traditional alternatives.

1. Lower Energy Consumption

One of the main differentiators of Crystal Lagoons is its energy efficiency. The technology consumes only 2% of the energy required by conventional swimming pool filtration systems, representing a decisive advantage for projects seeking to reduce operating costs and improve their environmental performance.

For real estate developers, this point is key: it is not only about building an attractive amenity, but also about ensuring that its operation is efficient, scalable, and sustainable over time.

2. Up to 100 Times Fewer Chemicals Than a Traditional Swimming Pool

Crystal Lagoons® technology uses a disinfection pulse system that makes it possible to use up to 100 times fewer additives than conventional swimming pool treatment systems. This reduces chemical use and contributes to a more efficient and sustainable operation.

This feature is especially relevant for large-scale projects, where applying traditional swimming pool maintenance models would be financially unfeasible, complex, and environmentally catastrophic.

3. Certified Water Efficiency

Water consumption is one of the major challenges facing the real estate and tourism industries. In this regard, Crystal Lagoons offers a significant advantage: its lagoons use 33 times less water than an 18-hole golf course and 40% less water than a park of the same size. In addition, water consumption can be further reduced through a molecular film technology that decreases evaporation by up to an additional 50% when needed.

These figures are especially important in markets where water availability, environmental permits, and regulatory pressure are critical factors for the viability of new developments.

4. Use of Different Types of Water

Another sustainable feature of Crystal Lagoons is its ability to use different water sources, including fresh, seawater, or brackish water. This makes it possible to leverage resources that, in many cases, have no other significant alternative use for human consumption or agriculture.

For developers operating in arid areas, tourism destinations, urban environments, or sites far from natural coastlines, this flexibility expands the possibilities for design, location, and development.

Sustainable Amenities That Generate Real Estate Value

Sustainability can also be a competitive advantage. In real estate, an efficient technology not only reduces environmental impact; it can also increase a project’s profitability by improving its positioning, accelerating sales, and enhancing perceived value.

Crystal Lagoons has demonstrated that a sustainable amenity can become the center of gravity of a development. Its crystalline lagoons create a beach experience in locations where it was previously impossible, from deserts to urban centers, breaking the traditional paradigm of “location, location, location.”

For developers, this translates into concrete benefits:

  • Greater differentiation from comparable projects.
  • Increased perceived value among buyers, residents, and visitors.
  • Potential for premium pricing on units with waterfront or waterfront proximity.
  • Greater appeal for investors and operators.
  • Ability to transform underutilized land into high-value destinations.

Developments that integrate Crystal Lagoons® technology can increase real estate values by up to 70% and accelerate sales velocity by up to 3 times compared to traditional developments.

A Solution for Real Estate, Hospitality, and Public Entertainment

Crystal Lagoons® technology is not limited to a single project category. Its versatility allows it to be applied across multiple sectors, from residential communities and multifamily developments to hotels, resorts, mixed-use projects, and Public Access Lagoons® developments.

In real estate, crystalline lagoons serve as an anchor amenity that shapes a development’s value proposition. In the hospitality industry, they make it possible to offer a beach experience even in urban locations or areas far from the ocean, creating a competitive differentiator for hotels and resorts. In public entertainment, Public Access Lagoons® projects create open urban destinations through tickets, memberships, events, water sports, and culinary experiences.

This breadth of applications reinforces a central idea: sustainability does not limit business growth. On the contrary, when integrated into a scalable technology, it can open new markets and new revenue streams.

Sustainable Innovation with Global Scale

Crystal Lagoons operates in more than 60 countries and has over 1,000 projects in different stages of development and negotiation, demonstrating the global scale of its technology and its ability to adapt to different markets, climates, and business models.

This international expansion confirms that real estate developers are seeking solutions that combine three critical variables: differentiation, efficiency, and sustainability.

In an industry where projects compete for attention, investment, and consumer preference, the ability to offer an iconic experience with low resource consumption becomes a strategic advantage.

True Real Estate Innovation Must Be Sustainable

The future of real estate will not be defined solely by larger, more luxurious, or more striking projects. It will be shaped by developments capable of generating economic, social, and environmental value at the same time.

Crystal Lagoons demonstrates that it is possible to create large-scale amenities with minimal ecological impact, bringing beach life to any location in the world without depending on natural coastlines, high water consumption, or energy-intensive operating systems.

For real estate developers, the message is clear: sustainability is no longer just a reputational or regulatory obligation. It is a real tool for differentiation, profitability, and competitiveness.

In this sense, Crystal Lagoons® technology not only revolutionizes the way real estate, tourism, hospitality, and public entertainment projects are designed. It also redefines what it means to innovate: creating extraordinary experiences with measurable efficiency and environmental responsibility.

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  • Public Access Lagoons® projects, also known as PAL® projects, transform vacant lots, shopping centers, casinos, amusement parks, racetracks, golf courses, zoos, aquariums, and various other land typologies into urban beach destinations. These projects offer ticketed beach access, multiple revenue streams, and highly efficient operations. For developers, they represent a profitable and scalable investment opportunity perfectly aligned with the modern demand for memorable experiences.

In a market where differentiation is no longer enough, developers demand assets capable of generating recurring revenue, consistent foot traffic, and high perceived value. Within this landscape, Public Access Lagoons® projects stand out as the most disruptive proposal in both Real Estate and urban entertainment. The logic is simple yet powerful: transforming underutilized land or landlocked locations into world-class beach destinations, leveraged by multiple monetization streams and high-efficiency operations powered by patented technology.

The Public Access Lagoons® model, also known as the PAL® model, creates public access complexes centered around a crystalline lagoon with white-sand beaches, integrating entertainment, dining, retail, water sports, and year-round events. For developers, this means shifting from a project with a single revenue stream to a platform capable of generating diversified and long-term revenue.

What is a Public Access Lagoons® project?

A PAL® project is a public-access development that transforms a crystalline lagoon into the centerpiece of a high-traffic urban destination. The concept is designed to bring the beach experience to the city and generate revenue through mass public attendance, including entrance fees and associated commercial uses. Crystal Lagoons provides the intellectual property and know-how, and its business model involves receiving a percentage of sales, aligning its success with the project’s performance.

Key model components:

  • Turquoise water crystalline lagoon as the centerpiece.
  • White-sand beaches and lounging areas.
  • Water and sports activities.
  • Restaurants, food & beverage, and retail.
  • Live events, weddings, trade fairs, launches, and corporate gatherings.
  • Tents and modular structures to extend operations year-round.

The key to its profitability: multiple revenue streams within a single asset

One of the greatest differentiators of Public Access Lagoons® developments is that they do not depend on a single revenue source. Instead of operating as a passive amenity, they function as an active destination that generates revenue from various sources. This improves business resilience and allows it to capture demand from a wide range of audiences, at different times of day, and on different consumption occasions.

Main Revenue Streams:

  • Ticket sales
  • Water sports
  • Restaurants and food and beverage
  • Retail and related commercial activity
  • Leasing of spaces around the lagoon
  • Outdoor or tented events year-round, such as concerts, weddings, and corporate gatherings
  • Naming rights and other commercial revenue streams

For a developer, this structure is especially attractive because it turns the project into a platform for recurring revenue, not just a physical development. In addition, the ability to schedule activities on weekdays, during colder seasons, and over extended hours helps reduce the seasonality typically associated with other entertainment formats.

Why This Model Is Attractive to Real Estate Developers

The investment opportunity lies not only in the beauty of the lagoon, but also in its ability to increase land productivity and activate high-commercial-value uses. Crystal Lagoons Patents include methods to improve land-use efficiency through public-access urban beach entertainment complexes.

Strategic Benefits for Developers

1. It Turns Ordinary Sites into High-Traffic Destinations

The model can be developed in public parks, vacant lots, shopping centers, casinos, amusement parks, racetracks, golf courses, zoos, aquariums, and various other land typologies. This greatly expands the range of viable locations and makes it possible to unlock value where land was previously underutilized or lacked differentiation.

2. Enables business scaling

Crystal Lagoons offers PAL® Master Agreements, an exclusive partnership with a local partner to develop multiple projects in a region. This model opens the door to creating a replicable, long-term platform rather than a single, isolated investment. 

3. Generate quick revenue with a flexible structure

PAL® projects can be implemented using tents and modular structures, making it easy to create dynamic spaces to operate and generate revenue year-round. These projects can generate income quickly with a relatively low initial investment. 

4. Increase the asset’s value through true differentiation

An urban beach destination with public access has far greater appeal than traditional amenities or easily replicable entertainment concepts. For the developer, this translates into greater visibility, commercial traction, and a competitive advantage that is hard to match. 

Crystal Lagoons® Technology: Profitability Also Means Operational Efficiency

A project’s profitability depends not only on how much it generates in revenue, but also on how much it costs to operate. In this regard, Crystal Lagoons® technology provides a clear advantage: it combines strong visual and experiential impact with lower construction and maintenance costs compared to other comparable alternatives. The multinational innovation company’s lagoons even have construction costs lower than those of a park of the same size, along with minimal operating expenses thanks to the efficient use of additives and energy.

Key Metrics That Matter When Evaluating the Business

  • Over 1,000 projects in different stages of operation, planning, design, and construction across more than 60 countries.
  • 33 times lower water consumption than an 18-hole golf course.
  • Water consumption equivalent to only 40% of the water required by a park of the same size.
  • Use of up to 100 times fewer additives than conventional pool treatment systems.
  • A filtration system that uses only 2% of the energy compared to conventional pool systems.
  • A portfolio of more than 2,200 patents in over 135 countries and/or territories.

For investors and developers, these figures are key because they underscore the model’s viability: a concept capable of attracting large audiences, supported by a technological platform designed to keep operating costs under control and support sustainability goals.

A Business That Operates Year-Round, Not Just in Summer

One of the most common mistakes when evaluating an urban beach project is assuming that demand depends exclusively on the weather or peak season. In the case of PAL® developments, the model is designed to sustain activity throughout the year thanks to the combination of beach experience, events, food and beverage offerings, and modular structures that support extended operations.

This versatility makes it possible to capture revenue not only from end consumers, but also from brands, event organizers, and commercial operators, broadening the demand base and improving asset utilization.

Urban Impact and Social Value: Another Factor Influencing Investment

Beyond their profitability, PAL® developments can revitalize urban infrastructure and create jobs. This gives them added value in cities and regions where developers need projects with a regeneration narrative, community impact, and the ability to attract complementary investment.

From a real estate development perspective, this is especially relevant: a project that attracts visitors, boosts commerce, improves the perception of its surroundings, and generates ongoing activity has a greater chance of consolidating itself as an urban anchor and sustaining its value over time. This is a competitive advantage that goes beyond entertainment and fits squarely within the logic of city-making and place-making.

A Profitable Investment Because It Creates Destination, Revenue, and Scale

The great opportunity behind Public Access Lagoons® projects lies in the fact that they combine three attributes that rarely coexist in a single development: strong experiential appeal, multiple monetization streams, and an efficient, patented technology. For developers, this means much more than simply adding a lagoon: it means creating a destination capable of generating recurring revenue, activating the site year-round, and building a scalable investment platform.

In a market that demands memorable, profitable, and hard-to-replicate projects, the PAL® model stands out as a concrete solution. It is not just about bringing the beach to the city; it is about transforming square meters into a dynamic, diversified business with long-term potential.

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  • More than an amenity, Crystal Lagoons creates a lifestyle. Its crystalline lagoons transform communities, mixed-use developments, and hospitality projects into destinations where people can swim, paddle, walk, relax, and enjoy beach experiences every day, just steps from home.

Over the past decade, the real estate paradigm has undergone a seismic shift. It is no longer enough to offer “quality of life” through square footage and luxury finishes; today’s market demands lifestyle. Modern buyers are not looking for a property where they simply sleep, but for an environment where they do not need vacations.

This is where Crystal Lagoons® technology redefines the landscape. By integrating a turquoise-water lagoon and white-sand beaches, a real estate development ceases to be just a collection of homes and becomes an aspirational destination.

Designing for Lifestyle, Not Just Quality of Life

Quality of life is functional: security, location, and infrastructure. Lifestyle is emotional and experiential. When a developer designs with lifestyle in mind, they create an ecosystem where residents choose to stay home instead of travel.

  • The Psychology of the Permanent “Staycation”: With an idyllic beach just steps from the door, the stress of travel disappears. Home becomes the ultimate retreat, increasing resident satisfaction and, in turn, enhancing the developer brand’s reputation.
  • Vibrant communities: The lagoons serve as the social hub of the project, fostering an active community life that is difficult to replicate with traditional amenities such as gyms or multipurpose rooms.

A Perfect Day Without Leaving Home: The Power of Experience

Imagine the daily routine of a resident in a project with a lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology. This flow of experiences is what ensures retention and long-term value:

  1. Wellness Mornings: Morning yoga in front of, or even on, a turquoise body of water that soothes the senses before the workday begins.
  2. Activity and Sports: Paddleboarding or rowing sessions under the sun, blending physical exercise with nature without ever leaving the safety of the community.
  3. Midday Relaxation: Walks along white-sand beaches that provide a much-needed mental break in the age of remote work.
  4. Social Connection at Sunset: Picnics on the sand or gatherings at the Lagoon Lounge as the sun sets, turning an ordinary day into a resort-style experience.

Why a Crystal Lagoons® Amenity Changes the Value Proposition

1. It Turns Leisure Time into a Daily Experience

When a development incorporates a crystalline lagoon, the lifestyle changes. Activities no longer depend on long commutes or weekend getaways, because the experience is built into the project itself. Beach, turquoise waters, water sports, relaxation, and outdoor living become available just steps from home.

2. It Activates Multiple Uses Within a Single Space

A lagoon does not offer just one experience. It can integrate swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, relaxation areas, dining, family gatherings, wellness activities, celebrations, and spaces for contemplation. In the case of Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ models, even compact formats are presented as “more than a pool, a destination,” capable of activating every square meter, attracting visitors, increasing sales, and generating additional revenue around the lagoon.

3. It Strengthens the Project’s Commercial Differentiation

In an increasingly competitive market, simply offering a good real estate product is no longer enough. Developments need memorable attributes that are difficult to replicate and capable of sustaining a powerful commercial narrative. A crystalline lagoon fulfills that role because it not only enhances the project’s image but also repositions it as an aspirational, experiential, and emotionally more appealing place for buyers, residents, and investors.

4. It Translates into Absorption, Appreciation, and Sales

The lifestyle promise does not remain only at the branding level. Commercial case studies show concrete results. In Sunterra, it has been positioned for several years as one of the best-selling communities in the United States and the top-selling one in Texas. In Epperson, home sale prices increased by 21% during the pre-construction phase, while its competitors saw increases of only 1% to 5%, and sales in the area grew by 174% compared to 2020.

The Value of Data: Why Is It a Smart Investment?

For developers, the benefit of creating a “destination” translates into concrete financial metrics:

  • Competitive Differentiation: In saturated markets, a lagoon is the only amenity that guarantees an immediate visual and functional advantage that competitors cannot easily match.
  • Sales Acceleration: Projects featuring Crystal Lagoons report sales velocities up to 70% above the market average, as the product sells through its visual and emotional impact.
  • Long-term appreciation: A destination helps keep property values rising, protecting buyers’ investments and the developer’s reputation.

Sustainability: The Luxury of Peace of Mind

Creating a destination of this caliber does not have to come at an environmental cost. Crystal Lagoons® technology makes it possible for this lifestyle to be compatible with today’s ESG agendas:

  • Water Efficiency: Lagoons uses up to 33 times less water than an 18-hole golf course and 40% less than a park of the same size.
  • Low Maintenance: The system uses up to 100 times fewer chemicals and only 2% of the energy required by conventional pool filtration technologies.

The Future of Real Estate Is Turquoise

Success in modern real estate development is not measured by how many people move in, but by how many decide never to leave. By turning a project into a destination, Crystal Lagoons is not just delivering an amenity; it is delivering the most valuable asset of our time: the freedom to live on vacation every day.

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