Latin America shaping up as the Crystal Lagoons main market

15/07/2022

Interview to Jean Pierre Juanchich, regional director of Crystal Lagoons for Latin America

Crystal Lagoons totals 197 projects in different stages of development in Latin America. In fact, it is the continent where the innovation multinational totals the largest number of projects with a long list of successful developments and non-stop growth.

According to Jean Pierre Juanchich, regional director of Crystal Lagoons for Latin America, “ten new lagoon complexes are due to be inaugurated in 2022 in countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Bolivia”.

What is the country that leads the inauguration of new projects in the continent?

Argentina will see the largest number of new lagoons officially opened this year, bringing the total to 43 either under negotiation or at varying stages of development in several cities. This year will see the inauguration of lagoons in: Aquavista, in Córdoba; Remeros Beach, in Buenos Aires; La Mansa, in Pinamar; and Developer Aqua, in Mar del Plata adding to the already successful developments of Terralagos, Lagoon Pilar, Lagoon Hudson and Vida Lagoon.

Are there any relevant contracts in Latin America that have been recently signed?

One of the largest contracts to be signed recently by Crystal Lagoons in Latin America was in Colombia. Based on the success of the multinational’s first Colombian complex, Baia Kristal, in association with AED Constructores, this led both firms to sign a second contract; a master agreement for 13 new Public Access Lagoons™ projects, also known as PAL™ developments, that will add value to two local tourist areas – the Coffee Region and the Colombian Caribbean.

What other market stands out in the region?

In Mexico, Crystal Lagoons has projects in Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Toluca, Veracruz and Monterrey. The 5-hectare Bluú Habitat Lagoons complex in Mazatlán is the most recent to be inaugurated, this year.

Is there any country that, despite the economic contraction, is standing out in its dynamism of contracts?

Paraguay’s recent economic growth has opened up opportunities for Crystal Lagoons in the areas of real estate and under the PAL™ model. In this country, the firm has 18 projects at different stages of development and negotiation, of which two will be inaugurated this year – Costa del Lago (Hernandarias) and Aqua Terra (Luque).

Which country in the region has a special characteristic?

Bolivia is another market with great potential. This landlocked country is home to Playa Turquesa, a 13-hectare crystalline lagoon, the second largest in the world, and Mar Adentro a 3.4-hectare lagoon. At the moment, Crystal Lagoons is in advanced negotiations for new developments in Bolivia.

Crystal Lagoons Expands with New Project in Egypt

22-03-2024

Crystal Lagoons started 2024 on a high note. The multinational announced a new contract that enhances its presence in this country, the primary market for the firm in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The new real estate project is Azha North Lagoon, a second home complex located on the North Coast, in partnership with Madaar Development, a firm with which Crystal Lagoons has already developed the successful project Azha Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea. The new project will be in Ras Al Hikma, an area of great tourist and holiday success. It is on the front line with a 27-acre lagoon.

In Egypt, Crystal Lagoons has projects in different stages of development and operation, mainly located on the North Coast and along the Red Sea. Also in this country, the multinational has advanced negotiations to enter Cairo with its Public Access Lagoons™ complexes, also known as PAL™, which will revolutionize the lifestyle in Egypt’s cities, bringing beach life to the doorstep of homes and accessible to anyone through the payment of a ticket.

These crystalline lagoons are an attractive real estate amenity in Egypt. Among the multinational’s business partners in Egypt are recognized managers such as Tatweer Misr, Hassan Allam Properties, Golden Pyramids Plaza, and Madaar Development, among others. Likewise, Egypt is the second largest crystalline lagoon in the world at the Citystars Sharm El Sheikh project, with 28 acres in the middle of the desert.

“In Egypt, Crystal Lagoons® technology is recognized as the only one capable of developing crystalline lagoons at low construction and maintenance costs,” explains Miguel Ángel Cabañas, regional director of Crystal Lagoons.

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With new developments in Buenos Aires (Openn Pilar), Rosario (Vida Lagoon y Distrito Cero), and Mar del Plata (Developer Aqua), Argentina has consolidated its position as Crystal Lagoons’ main market in South America after Chile. In addition to these complexes, there are others in association with essential local real estate managers such as Castex, Morvial, Arkken Group, Rossetti Desarrollos Urbanos, Grupo Monarca, Grupo Developer, DLM, Galp Inversiones and Vizora in Gran Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Pinamar. The projects Terralagos, Lagoon Pilar, Acquavista, and Remeros Beach, among others, stand out.

All Crystal Lagoons developments in Argentina have become sales successes. Remeros Beach sold over half of its sites within the first two months, while Terralagos sold more than 1,000 lots, exhausted apartments in record time, and has a waiting list for the next building to be launched, both projects in Buenos Aires. In Mar del Plata, Developer Aqua sold one-third of the project on the first day of commercial launch, tripling the price per square meter.

“In Argentina, beyond the different economic situations, the success of Crystal Lagoons does not stop. Projects incorporating lagoons generate exponential added value in the real estate sector. The projection is even more positive because an increase in foreign investment is expected in the coming months, which will further boost the real estate market”, explains Francisco Matte, Crystal Lagoons’ regional director for Latin America.

One of the keys to the multinational’s success in Argentina is the beachside lifestyle of its residents who, thanks to the crystalline lagoons, can enjoy turquoise waters just steps from their homes without the need to take a plane, even in inland areas such as Córdoba and Rosario and in a renowned resort town like Mar del Plata.

Crystal Lagoons also has advanced negotiations in Argentina to develop Public Access Lagoons™, also known as PAL™ projects. These complexes, accessible to anyone by paying a ticket, feature large crystalline lagoons and white sand beaches surrounded by attractive amenities such as restaurants, beach clubs, retail outlets, theaters, and cultural activities.

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Forbes Colombia: Crystal Lagoons, Key Driver of Real Estate Sales

15-03-2024

Crystalline lagoons, powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology, have redefined the global real estate market paradigm. Once again, a leading economic media outlet, Forbes, acknowledges the impact of this amenity, highlighting it as a key driver of sales across the board. Particularly notable is the case of Colombia, where crystalline lagoons have been a fundamental factor in the commercial success of real estate projects. An eloquent example of this phenomenon is the commercial success of the construction company Arquitectura y Concreto. Crystal Lagoons has been a determining factor in the 70% increase in its sales, even in a challenging real estate context facing a 45% decline.

“It sounds unbelievable, but that’s how it happened,” said Francisco Martínez, president of Arquitectura y Concreto, in an interview with Forbes Colombia, attributing the meteoric increase in sales to the innovation of Crystal Lagoons. The executive highlights the success of Crystal Lagoons projects with AED, including Baia Kristal in Cartagena de Indias, the best-selling project in Colombia, reflecting the multinational phenomenon in that market. In fact, with its 3.2 hectares of crystal-clear waters and white sands, it was initially projected to be sold within three years, but it ended up being commercialized in less than 12 months, positioning itself as the #1 project in sales in the country since its launch.

This success led AED to finalize a master agreement with Crystal Lagoons to develop 13 projects with crystalline lagoons in the Colombian Caribbean and the Coffee Region, including cities such as Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Pereira, and Cartagena de Indias.

Azul de Arenas is part of this agreement and marks Crystal Lagoons’ entry into Latin American retail as part of the Colombian Caribbean’s largest shopping and entertainment center. The project’s centerpiece in Cartagena de Indias will be a 3-hectare crystalline lagoon suitable for swimming and water sports.

Forbes