Crystal Lagoons U.S. Corp.® Sees Strong Sales Performance and Potential - Crystal Lagoons

Crystal Lagoons U.S. Corp.® Sees Strong Sales Performance and Potential

With a number of successes in master-planned community amenity developments under its belt, Miami-based technology company Crystal Lagoons® is pursuing a new business model for amenity development, which consists of master licensing agreements for Public Access Lagoons™. The following is a publication released by Builder Online, a U.S. magazine that recently covered the firm’s success in the U.S. market.

The company’s exclusive partners are set to use Crystal Lagoons technology package to create public amenities across the U.S. anchored by beaches, retail, and other attractions. Between December 2019 and May 2020, the company had signed master licensing agreements for 16 new lagoons in the U.S., as well as many more overseas.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has placed restrictions on the company’s activity and prompted the closure of some amenities at the beginning of the pandemic—including the one at the Epperson community in Wesley Chapel, Fla.—Crystal Lagoons anticipates that its amenities will play important roles in a future economic recovery, particularly as sites for “mini-vacations” in a time when air travel is limited.

“Given that these are long-term projects that will not be completed in less than one-and-a-half years, the business’ dynamism hasn’t been affected by the pandemic,” says Iván Manzur, who is expected to assume the position of vice president of sales at Crystal Lagoons U.S. Corp. “On the contrary, we’ve seen investors moving forward, and these projects have been perceived as having a potential of reactivating the economy.”

BUILDER magazine spoke with Manzur about the company’s future plans and sales performance, as well as its management of the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities as travel and recreation habits shift, and expectations for business under the “new normal.”

BUILDER: How has your public access lagoon business expanded in the U.S. over the past year? Can you tell me about the status of some of your projects?

Manzur: The United States is one of the main markets for Public Access Lagoons™, also known as PAL™. Although these projects started as real estate, they quickly converted to the PAL business model, as in the case of Epperson, which opened up a section of the lagoon allowing public access. People started going to the beach, and the outcome has been so remarkable that the development has often had to close the doors to control the flow of visitors.

Later, PAL projects emerged, with public access only, which were in association with amusement parks, for example. Since, the growth has spiked producing the first master licenses with renowned multinational companies, such as the signing with Epic to develop 16 projects across the U.S. Our business plan shows a potential projection of 1,000 developments of this type in the U.S. alone.

BUILDER: How do you believe economic reactivation measures will affect Crystal Lagoons?

Manzur: Every reactivation measure promoted by the U.S. is important. In the case of Crystal Lagoons, we can divide ours into two aspects. Regarding real estate projects that are currently in development, the measures will allow, in the short term, to increase the purchase of properties while also allowing people to partially restore the normality they are accustomed to.

In the case of PAL projects to be developed in the medium or long term, these reactivation measures will likely not have a major impact.

BUILDER: According to Crystal Lagoons, the company expects that families will look to have “mini holidays” in lieu of air travel this summer. Can you elaborate on this idea?

Manzur: The pandemic, even if it’s controlled in the future (vaccines, etc.), may change certain social habits, such as avoiding plane trips to distant locations due to risks associated with large groups of people boarding planes, at airports, confinement in planes, coming into contact with people from other countries where infection rates are possibly unpredictable, etc.

Being able to have beach life and recreational activities close to home reduces considerably many of these risks and could become a future trend.

Touristic destinations and public beaches are difficult to control on a sanitary level. On the other hand, on a private beach, such as is the case of PAL, access can be controlled by using tests, regulating its capacity, ensuring distances are respected, etc.

In fact, investors have identified that people will prefer to unwind in areas close to home, which will require infrastructure to be developed. These types of areas within cities will be especially necessary after confinement.

This concept of beach life just steps away from home positively impacts people’s carbon footprint and reduces the impact on biodiversity in natural places.

BUILDER: How have Crystal Lagoons amenities in residential communities fared? How are communities implementing safety measures?

Manzur: Epperson reopened its doors once COVID restrictions were lifted and has received a large number of people. What’s surprising is that, despite the current economic situation, commercial activity has been maintained, confirming the good results that Crystal Lagoons projects have always experienced in the U.S. An example of this are three new projects soon to open in Florida (Southshore Bay, Mirada, and Avenir) and Sierra Vista in Houston.

As for preventive measures, although the amenities and lagoons in the real estate projects were closed for a month, they are reopening and starting to operate normally.

BUILDER: What do you believe the future will hold for Crystal Lagoons?

Manzur: As previously mentioned, Crystal Lagoons is undergoing a structural change, registering the highest sales in its history, and is dynamically closing contracts.

Along with the master licenses previously signed around the world and the above mentioned negotiations, we’ve seen that there is a large market in the main U.S. mall chains, as several need to reinvent themselves and we’re in advanced conversations with them. The fall in their sales caused by e-commerce and an increase in unoccupied spaces has forced them to introduce new functional alternatives and new experiences, such as these lagoons.

Malls see in PAL a new hook or “anchor” to attract public. There is an important market here, and we foresee a great future reconverting these shopping centers.

Crystal Lagoons is an international innovation company, founded by scientist Fernando Fischmann, which has developed a patent-protected technology that allows the construction and maintenance of unlimited-size clear water lagoons at very low costs.

Noticias Destacadas

Technology and improving the quality of life through innovation are the concepts that Crystal Lagoons and Israel share. In this country, one of the most innovative in the world, the multinational company founded by scientist Fernando Fischmann has entered with a new agreement to develop Public Access Lagoons™, also known as PAL™ projects, real estate, and mixed-use complexes.

The WOOOW! Entertainment projects, developed with the international real estate holding ECIPSA Group, will be located in different cities throughout the country. The developments will give Israeli city-dwellers access to an idyllic beach life all year round, irrespective of their particular climate, and will include a large crystalline lagoon suitable for swimming and water sports, with white sandy beaches. Also, they could include hotels, residential areas, gastronomic poles, retail, and beach clubs, among others.

Israel and Crystal Lagoons also share a commitment to sustainability and water protection, and the technology of the multinational has won several international awards for its sustainability. A vital feature of these lagoons is that they can use any type of water, including seawater and brackish water from arid areas, with no alternative use. This combination of factors paved the way for the debut of Crystal Lagoons in Israel, a country that has pioneered water protection.

The centerpiece of the PAL™ real estate and mixed-use projects will be a lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology, and, in the case of those with public access, any person will be able to access through the entrance fee.

“The fact that one of the world’s leading countries in innovation and water sustainability is welcoming Crystal Lagoons is a tremendous endorsement of our technology,” said Francisco Matte, regional director for Crystal Lagoons.

The company’s sustainable technology has been crucial to its success in developed countries. The lagoons only need filling once, operate with a closed-circuit system, can use any type of water (sea, brackish and fresh), and use 40% less water than a green area. Additionally, they use up to 100 times fewer chemicals than a swimming pool and only 2% of the energy of a conventional filtration system, certified by Bureau Veritas.

PAL™ developments have caught the attention of significant market players worldwide, with high-profile contracts signed in: the United States, Japan, Saudi Arabia, India, Korea, Palestine, Pakistan, Europe, and Colombia, among others.

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Crystal Lagoons is making steady progress in Paraguay, a strategic market in Latin America where it has consolidated its success with projects in regions with great development potential and where the crystalline lagoons are the preferred amenity. Recently inaugurated crystalline lagoon in the Costa del Lago project, bringing beach life to Hernandarias, located a few minutes from Ciudad del Este.

Costa del Lago is Crystal Lagoons‘ fourth project in association with Raíces Real Estate, in addition to the Aqua Village (San Bernardino) and Blue Lagoon (Pedro Juan Caballero) developments, and a fourth complex, Aqua Terra (Luque), which will open its doors in the coming months.

Costa del Lago stands out for its sheer size, which expands over 740 acres, and its huge 8,6 -acre turquoise crystalline lagoon developed with Crystal Lagoons® sustainable technology. “The amenity invites you to connect with nature and create moments of relaxation,” the Paraguayan press notes.

The various neighborhoods offer single-family lots, houses, apartments, and enjoyment of its inhabitants, along with a clubhouse with all the amenities to celebrate special occasions and an environment of indescribable natural beauty. The complex also has sports areas and a marina with access to Lake Itaipu exclusively for water activities with motor equipment.

Crystal Lagoons® technology is changing the lives of millions of Paraguayans by bringing a piece of the ocean to the cities and creating urban beach life, just as 200 years ago, an architect in England brought a piece of the forest to the city of London and urban parks were created.

Última Hora

Crystal Lagoons enters the largest country in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, with a new mega deal to develop real estate, hospitality, and Public Access Lagoons™, also called PAL™, projects. The development plan consists of several luxury complexes located in coastal and inland cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Khobar.

The multinational innovation company, founded by scientist Fernando Fischmann, has partnered with A’amal Group, a major holding company interested in investment, hospitality, real estate & energy development across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The company’s Founder & CEO, Yassin Al Suroor, is also the Founder & CEO of DANA Investment, which specializes in the digital economy. He is a board member of several regional and international companies and global nonprofit organizations.

With the new partnership with A’amal Group, Crystal Lagoons, has consolidated its presence in the Middle East, where it already has ongoing projects in the UAE, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, and Oman. The world’s two largest crystalline lagoons are located in the Middle East: District One in Dubai (30 hectares) and Citystars Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt (12.8 hectares).

“I am very pleased to announce this strategic alliance between A’amal Group and Crystal Lagoons and the potential that it holds for Saudi Arabia. We believe this partnership follows our vision for the future and are confident that working in synergy will lead to developing unique destinations throughout the country.” Said Yassin Al Suroor, President & CEO of A’amal Group

At the center of these PAL™ developments are large crystalline lagoons suitable for swimming and water sports, surrounded by white sandy beaches open to the public for a fee. The complexes also have commercial areas, restaurants, weddings, hotels, concert venues, terraces, amphitheaters, etc.

“Closing a strategic partnership like this for 10 PAL™ projects in Saudi Arabia is a milestone that validates our uniqueness and adds value as a brand. It also shows that the Crystal Lagoons® concept and technology can bring idyllic beaches anywhere in the world, even to the middle of the desert, and create unique tourism opportunities,” said Alastair Sinclair, Regional Director of Crystal Lagoons.

Crystal Lagoons experienced record global expansion in 2022 with its PAL™ projects. The company entered over 15 new markets and closed mega business deals in countries including Japan, Australia, India, Israel, and Palestine.

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