Crystal Lagoons Closes Historic Public Access Lagoons Contract: 18 Amenities in Central America

10/09/2019

Crystal Lagoons® public access lagoons, PAL, projects have been growing in strength since 2017. They now account for 80% of the company’s activity, surpassing private real estate initiatives.

According to information from the Chilean newspaper, El Mercurio, the company founded by biochemist, Fernando Fischmann, has closed a major contract for PAL developments. By partnering with important Central American investment companies, it has announced the construction of 18 projects in eight countries throughout the region.

It is a large-scale operation within the entertainment industry, which projects annual sales of approximately US $360 million once all PALs are operational. The initiative will span eight countries: El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Belize, Guatemala and Costa Rica. The latter two nations will account for seven projects. The construction of the lagoons, to which the general public will have access via ticketed entry, will begin in the coming months in the capitals and most populated cities of those countries. It is estimated that the attendance to these complexes will exceed 18 million people annually. The development of these PALs will be carried out by Blue Water Ventures, a company specifically created for that purpose.

“They provide capital and development, and Crystal Lagoons the know-how, technology and patented concept,” says Cristián Lehuedé, Executive Director of Crystal Lagoons. Lehuedé admits that this is the company’s largest PAL development contract, although he specified “we have several others in the pipeline for even larger ones, which we hope to make public by the end of the year.” Due to confidentiality agreements, Crystal Lagoons did not reveal the identity of the partners in these projects, although Lehuedé hints that among them are some of the families pertaining to Central America’s top 10 richest families, according to Forbes. Each development considers a total investment of US $10 million, of which US $2.5 million correspond to the lagoon.

What are PALs?
Cristián Lehuedé explains that PALs are highly regarded due to the capacity they have to regenerate underutilized areas, shopping malls, and since they can intensify the use of public parks, unoccupied spaces in the center of racetracks or golf courses, zoos, and racetracks, to name a few. He adds that these lagoons are designed to include other amenities such as restaurants, beach clubs, water sports, retail stores, amphitheaters as well as recreational and cultural activities, such as concerts, shows and cinemas. Blue Water Ventures’ partner, Cristián Roberts, says that PALs will improve the quality of life in Central American cities.

This week Blue Tree opens in Phuket, Thailand’s first PAL. Cristián Lehuedé explains that before the vast majority of the company’s projects were mixed use, that is to say “private residential amenities that have a designated public access area to the lagoon.” Now, however, the tendency is for developments to solely offer public access. In the case of Central America, Crystal Lagoons will receive a percentage of tickets (associated to sales and events) of each development.

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.

El Mercurio

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).