“El País” Announces Crystal Lagoons® PAL™ to Arrive to Uruguay

A place to spend the day at the beach with crystalline waters and white sand, somewhere to swim or practice water sports and enjoy a concert or cultural event in a gastronomic and commercial setting. Uruguay’s leading newspaper, El País, has announced that Public Access Lagoons™, or PAL™, can offer all of this without leaving the city. This business model created by Crystal Lagoons®, the multinational that creates crystalline man-made lagoons in urban environments, is set to land in Uruguay in 2021.

The company’s first development in the country was a holiday resort complex known as Solanas, located in Maldonado, but operates privately, not as a PAL. Public Access Lagoons, on the other hand, grant the general public access via ticketed entry and offer a day at the beach and use of all the amenities available, said Jean Pierre Juanchich, Crystals Lagoons Regional Director for Latin America.

This new business model was launched in October last year and already represents 90% of the company’s turnover, he added. “Since then, we have already signed contracts for 130 PAL,” he said.

The plan is developed in three phases. The first, which requires an investment of approximately US$ 8 million, is anchored by a lagoon, a beach, green areas with kiosks and basic services such as bathrooms. It can be built in one year and, judging from past experiences, the investment is recovered in one or two years, confirmed Juanchich.

The second stage includes services around the lagoon, such as a wedding peninsula (an event center for weddings overlooking the lagoon), an area for concerts, road shows, restaurants and retail stores. This phase involves an additional US$ 7 million and is finalized in two years once the PAL is operational.

Finally, the more complex plan includes the construction of a hotel overlooking the beach and is considered an opportunity rather than a necessity for the model to succeed.

Jean Pierre Juanchich stated that, in general, each project spans over about 25 acres and usually include a 5-acre lagoon. The income generated during the first phase kick starts the investment for the second phase. “In one or two years the investment is recovered, because it requires low maintenance.”

The company estimates a ticket to cost US$ 10 and, according to studies carried out in the country, each lagoon would receive an influx of between 500,000 and 800,000 people per year. “Their proximity to Argentina is key,” he added. In any case, the main income is provided by other businesses, such as restaurants, retail, event centers, weddings, food trucks and brand sponsorship on the beaches. “With the three phases in operation, ticket revenues make up just 20% of the total.”

Negotiations in Uruguay are already underway with investment funds moving forward. At the moment, the negotiations have advanced quickly so as to start building between three or four PAL in Uruguay that would include hotels. “We license exclusive agreements with each country and are in advanced conversations to roll out between four and six projects in Uruguay. The negotiations are most advanced in cities such as Montevideo (which may include two), Paysandú and Carmelo, but Punta del Este is also on the map”.

The plan is to start building the first lagoon in 2021, so it is operational in 2022.

Private projects

Additional to the PAL, the company will continue with its private use lagoons in real estate projects and Juanchich expects as many as five such amenities in Uruguay (including Solanas).

Unlike Solanas, those that follow will anchor residential housing projects. One will be in Montevideo’s Carrasco neighborhood, in Colinas de Carrasco II. The design and details are still being studied and will be defined at a later date. The second will be in José Ignacio (Maldonado) in an area for holiday homes, and is currently being studied, he added.

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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