South Africa President Applauds Crystal Lagoons Munyaka Development

• Lago Mar evolved from a residential community into one of Texas’ most successful destinations. Its crystalline lagoon, developed under the Public Access Lagoons® model, attracts thousands of visitors each year and has boosted the project’s real estate performance.

Bringing the beach lifestyle to the heart of Texas sounded like a risky bet. However, in Texas City, developer Land Tejas set out to transform a piece of land into an extraordinary master-planned community, finding a formula capable of attracting both homebuyers and visitors.

This is the Lago Mar development, whose centerpiece is an 11.49-acre crystalline lagoon, recognized as the longest lagoon developed by Crystal Lagoons in the United States. Surrounded by white-sand beaches and a complete entertainment district, it created a beach and waterfront lifestyle where none existed before.

The development has become one of the most successful examples of how a crystalline lagoon can completely transform the perception and value of a real estate project.

The Public Access Lagoons® Model That Drove Its Success

One of the most innovative aspects of Lago Mar was its evolution from a traditional residential project into a mixed-use development under the Public Access Lagoons® model, also known as the PAL® model. Through the LagoonFest Texas concept, the lagoon opened to the public through paid admission, expanding the project’s reach far beyond its residents. The response was immediate.

From its earliest seasons, demand exceeded expectations, with tickets selling out up to a week in advance during peak periods. Today, the complex can welcome up to 4,000 visitors per day and has established itself as one of the state’s leading recreation destinations.

The results support that success. Annual attendance at LagoonFest grew from 43,000 visitors in 2020 to nearly 119,000 in 2023, generating revenue from ticket sales, food and beverage, activities, and special events.

In fact, the lagoon does more than sell homes; it generates its own operating revenue: more than US$6.8 million annually from PAL® model operations.

An Experience That Goes Far Beyond the Beach

In addition to white-sand beaches, Lago Mar offers:

• Paddleboarding, kayaking, and sailing. 
• Floating obstacle courses. 
• A swim-up bar and waterfront restaurants. 
• Corporate and social events. 
• Concerts and live entertainment. 
• Spaces designed for families and visitors of all ages. 

The New Vacation Spot for Houston Residents

For years, those looking for a beach experience had to travel long distances to reach the coast. Lago Mar changed that dynamic.

Its strategic location, connected to one of the region’s busiest corridors, brought a resort-style experience closer to millions of people. Today, it has become a favorite alternative for those looking to enjoy a vacation, water sports, and entertainment without leaving the Houston metropolitan area.

The combination of crystalline waters, beaches, dining, and recreational activities turned the development into a true hub for family relaxation, entertainment, and waterfront living.

The Impact on Real Estate Sales

For real estate developers, the most relevant figure lies in the project’s commercial performance.

Lago Mar has been included multiple times in RCLCO Real Estate Advisors’ Top 50 ranking of the best-selling master-planned communities in the United States. In 2025, it ranked No. 47 nationwide, recording 380 home sales and 10% growth compared with the previous year.

The community is planned to include more than 4,200 homes upon completion and has already surpassed 1,000 completed units.

Crystal Lagoons® Technology as a Driver of Value

Behind the success of Lago Mar is a technology that makes it possible to develop large bodies of crystalline water with efficient and sustainable operations. This innovation creates destinations capable of driving traffic, increasing real estate value, and opening new revenue streams through the PAL® model.

For the real estate industry, Lago Mar sends a clear message: when an amenity successfully combines tourism, hospitality, recreation, and quality of life, the impact is reflected both in the user experience and in commercial results.

Lago Mar not only transformed Texas. It also became a benchmark for how to build more attractive communities that are profitable and capable of remaining competitive over time.

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• Treasure Bay Bintan placed water at the heart of its concept: a lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology that brings together hotels, glamping, water sports, and ticketed access in one of the most iconic examples of the Public Access Lagoons® model.

At the Treasure Bay Bintan project, the crystalline lagoon is not simply a decorative feature. It is the reason to visit.

Located on Bintan Island, Indonesia, the project is centered around a 16-acre crystalline lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology, recognized as the largest man-made seawater lagoon in Southeast Asia. Its turquoise waters create an expansive setting for swimming, family fun, and water sports.

Scale matters. The lagoon became the main attraction of a US$3 billion tourism destination that has been operating since 2015. Rather than developing a conventional swimming pool as an add-on to a resort, Treasure Bay made the water experience the centerpiece of its concept.

The commercial impact of the Public Access Lagoons® model
How can an amenity be transformed into a direct source of operating revenue? The key was implementing the Public Access Lagoons® model, also known as the PAL® model.

Under the Chill Cove commercial concept, the lagoon offers daily access to non-guest visitors through ticket sales, while also serving resort guests. This creates a constant flow of activity:

• Steadily growing visitor traffic: The result is a consistent source of demand that drives the project’s commercial performance. In 2025, Treasure Bay welcomed 315,459 visitors, an increase of nearly 22% compared with the previous year. Around 350,000 visitors are projected for 2026. 
• Accelerated profitability and diversified revenue streams: The financial results support this model. The complex’s revenue tripled during its first two years of operation after opening to the public and reached US$5.65 million in 2025, generated by hospitality, ticket sales, activities, and food and beverage. Around 28% of revenue comes directly from tickets and lagoon-related activities.

For a real estate developer, the takeaway is powerful: the asset no longer depends solely on people who purchase a property or book a room. PAL® projects can monetize access, activities, commercial spaces, and other services surrounding the lagoon.

Hospitality and luxury glamping: The multiplier effect on rates

The value of the lagoon directly impacts the surrounding hospitality infrastructure. Treasure Bay Bintan is home to two high-end accommodations: Natra Bintan (Marriott International’s first glamping experience, featuring 100 safari-style tents) and Anmon (a desert-themed glamping resort owned by The Hip And Happening Group Holdings).

The data reveal a compelling competitive advantage for real estate developers:

• The presence of the lagoon increases nightly rates by 300% to 500% compared with traditional glamping properties in the area that do not offer water amenities. 
• This increase in value makes it possible to command significantly higher room rates than local competitors and even glamping options in higher-cost markets such as Singapore.

A success story for real estate developers

Treasure Bay Bintan demonstrates how an iconic amenity can become the economic engine of an entire development. The combination of a Crystal Lagoons® amenity, the PAL® model, a differentiated hospitality offering, and sustainable operations has helped attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, increase asset value, and position the project as one of Indonesia’s most recognized family destinations.

For real estate developers, the project offers a clear lesson: when an amenity generates demand of its own, creates new revenue streams, and increases the destination’s appeal, it becomes a competitive advantage that is difficult to replicate.

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• The lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology transformed the tourism offering in Orlando, the most visited destination in the U.S., and positioned Evermore as a benchmark for hospitality developers around the world.

Orlando has theme parks, dining, golf, and an entertainment offering that is difficult to match. What it lacked was a major beach experience within the city.

Evermore Orlando Resort decided to change that reality. It transformed part of a former golf course into a 7.8-acre turquoise oasis powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology, bringing an idyllic beach experience to a place where none had existed before.

The result is not just a visually stunning environment. It is a business model that combines luxury with a relaxed lifestyle, positioning itself as a benchmark in the most competitive tourism market in the United States.

A turning point for Orlando tourism

Evermore Bay was built on part of a former golf course, transforming an underutilized piece of land into a vibrant waterfront attraction. Its white-sand beaches and calm waters offer an alternative to coastal trips, without waves, currents, or long-distance travel.

The concept reaches a massive market. Orlando welcomed 75.3 million visitors in 2024 and remained the most visited destination in the United States.

For these travelers, the lagoon offers something new:

• White-sand beaches just minutes from the theme parks.
• Swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
• Cabanas, restaurants, and waterfront bars.
• Venues for weddings, meetings, and corporate events.
• A resort experience designed for families and groups.

Why does this amenity transform the project’s profitability?

For a real estate developer, aesthetics are key, but the numbers are what ultimately matter. The experience at Evermore demonstrates that the beach concept directly drives commercial performance:

• Longer stays: What was once envisioned as a one-day break between theme park visits has become the centerpiece of the trip. Guests stay longer at the resort and spend more at its facilities.
• New revenue streams: With more than 150,000 square feet of event space, the lagoon serves as a setting for weddings and business meetings. It also features 12 dining options, water activities, and world-class golf courses.
• International recognition: The project has received awards from Condé Nast Traveler, USA Today, and Meetings Today, validating the value of innovation in the guest experience.
• Guests themselves describe the experience as a Caribbean getaway in the heart of Orlando. They say they chose the resort because of the lagoon and value being able to see the bottom, swim in calm waters, and wake up to an expansive blue view.

A model that diversifies revenue streams

Evermore was designed as a comprehensive tourism ecosystem. Its current phase features nearly 1,500 rooms across vacation homes, villas, apartments, and the exclusive Conrad Orlando. Meanwhile, the master plan includes more than 10,000 rooms across the full development surrounding the lagoon.

The project generates revenue through:

• Hotel accommodations and vacation residences.
• Twelve dining venues.
• Water and recreational activities.
• Events, weddings, and corporate gatherings.
• Two golf courses.
• Cabanas and premium waterfront experiences.

For a developer, this point is key: the lagoon does not function merely as a visual feature. It acts as the centerpiece of the project, extends guest stays, and connects different business units.

Awards that support its value proposition

Evermore Orlando Resort was recognized by USA Today 10Best as one of the best new hotels in the country and received a Best of Meetings Today Award for its contributions to Orlando’s recreational and corporate offerings.

In 2025, Condé Nast Traveler also named it one of Orlando’s best resorts, highlighting its beach experience, dining, golf, and accommodations for groups.

A benchmark for the hospitality industry

Evermore Orlando Resort demonstrates how a lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology can transform the positioning of a hospitality development.

It goes beyond simply adding an amenity. It creates a reason to choose the project, stay longer, and spend more within it. That effect redefines hospitality standards and strengthens the presence of Crystal Lagoons in an industry seeking memorable experiences, differentiation, and new sources of profitability.

Orlando already had entertainment. Evermore gave it a beach.

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