Author: Michelle Hadjisavas

From a stunning beach resort built on stilts in a Mangrove forest in Mexico, to a contemporary tower in Tokyo, I have assembled a long list of highly anticipated hotel openings for 2020 around the world. This year I have listed all new properties and residences by hotel brand so that luxury travelers can visit their favorites.

 

Also included is the exclusive selection of the top 12 luxury hotel brands for 2019 according to LTI-Luxury Travel Intelligence.

 

AMAN

 

Cabo San Lucas

 

Located in Baja’s East Cape, and neighbor to the new Costa Palmas Four Seasons Resort, Amanvari, will feature a resort, private Aman Residences, multiple dining venues, Aman Spa, and its own stretch of white sand beach. Nestled in a delicate ecosystem of mangroves, Amanvari will be an eco island with overwater stilted units.

 

New York

 

Aman unveils a new urban sanctuary in the heart of Manhattan. The Aman New York brings the serenity of Aman to bustling city. Within the Crown Building, 83 rooms and suites and Aman’s first urban Residences will offer a unique twist for Aman junkies worldwide.

 

ANANTARA

 

UAE / Ras Al Khaimah

 

Ras Al Khaimah is in the northernmost emirate of the UAE, located 45 minutes from Dubai and will feature the new Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort offering overwater luxury villas on the Arabian Gulf in an eco-sanctuary.

 

Part of the new Mina Al Arab luxury development, a beachfront playground with a marina, waterfront cafes and boutiques, the resort offers 300 guest rooms, suites and villas in Maldivian resort style.

 

Morocco / Tangier

 

Al Houara is a luxury beachfront development just south of Tangier on Morocco’s Atlantic Ocean coast. 150 rooms, suites and villas overlook the ocean and a Graham Marsh-designed golf course.

 

AUBERGE

 

Austin

 

Secluded within 10 acres on Waller Creek, the Commodore Perry Estate comprises a 10,800-square-foot home, a chapel and gardens enclosed within a walled compound in the style of a historic country estate. This elegant new social hub is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

Hawaii

 

The all new Mauna Lani resort is situated on sacred land on the Kona Coast. It is marked by royal fish ponds, natural lava plains, lush tropical gardens and alluring beaches, and will boast contemporary rooms and suites, five private bungalows, five restaurants and lounges, three pools, a signature spa and wellness haven.

 

Nicaragua

 

Following the devastating effects of political unrest in the country, one of my favorite hotels in the world will be making a comeback. The Mukul Resort, surrounded by jungle on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, is a stunning property and Auberge is hoping to open it late 2020 but could face a further delay pending Nicaragua’s political situation.

 

The brainchild of rum billionaire Carlos Pellas, the 23 hillside suites, and the 12 Beach Villas at Mukul were built to pay tribute to the tropical, rolling surf of Playa Manzanillo. Wealthy travelers are offered a stay in Casona Don Carlos, the Pellas family’s private beach residence. Located adjacent to the Beach Villas, the oceanfront compound features a 20,000 square-foot indoor-outdoor living area with soaring 80-foot-high palapa ceilings, four bedroom suites, a wrap-around stone terrace and a large private swimming pool.

 

FAIRMONT

 

Los Angeles

 

The famous, crescent shaped hotel has hosted generations of Hollywood celebrities, foreign dignitaries and every United States President since its opening in 1966. Located in the heart of Century City in Los Angeles it is undergoing a complete restoration and is slated to re-open as Fairmont Century Plaza. The mixed-use redevelopment project includes approximately 394 guestrooms and 63 branded residences within the original building, along with two new 46-story luxury residential towers with 290 luxury residences and approximately 100,000 square feet of boutique high-street shopping and expanded parking facilities.

 

Morocco

 

Fairmont Taghazout Bay will feature 155 spacious guestrooms, with sea facing views, in addition to 52 Fairmont branded villas, to be released for sale later this year, which will be the first luxury waterfront villas ever in Morocco. The resort will boast over 27,000 square feet of meeting space and a Fairmont spa with fitness facilities. A range of culinary offerings will include an all-day dining restaurant, lobby lounge, specialty restaurant and beach pool bar and grill.

 

FOUR SEASONS

 

Tokyo

 

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi is where the business district and the gardens of the Imperial Palace meet. On floors 34 to 39 of Tokyo’s leading commercial tower, the ultramodern, spacious guest rooms and suites will capture the area’s energy and sophistication, while amenities including a sky-high terrace and four global restaurants round out the urban experience.

 

Napa Valley

 

Set among the verdant hills of Napa Valley, with a Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard and on-site winery, this resort will be the perfect retreat for wine lovers. The resort will feature a farmhouse chic style in their 85 villas, all with a fireplace and private terrace.

 

MANDARIN ORIENTAL

 

Vietnam / Ho Chi Minh City

 

Mandarin launches this new hotel in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The Mandarin Oriental Saigon hotel will be situated on the upper floors of this mixed-use complex, and will comprise 227 guestrooms and suites, six restaurants and bars, a range of meeting spaces, a fitness center, a Spa at Mandarin Oriental and an outdoor swimming pool.

 

NOBU HOTELS

 

Chicago

 

Stunning architecture and 115 rooms and suites will blend old-world Japanese influences with ultra-modern design. A state-of-the-art fitness center, and an indoor swimming pool will be featured. The Rooftop at Nobu Hotel Chicago, complete with an indoor lounge and outdoor terrace will also be a highlight.

 

London

 

Nobu Hotel London Portman Square will feature 249 guest rooms and suites, together with a Nobu restaurant, ballroom and meeting spaces in the heart of London’s West End, steps away from boutiques, and next to the shopping district of Oxford Street and Regent Street.

 

Tel Aviv

 

The new Nobu Hotel Tel Aviv will offer 38 beautifully designed rooms, a large garden, fitness center, pool, outdoor spaces and a private rooftop retreat.

 

Warsaw

 

Nobu Hotel Warsaw will be located in the heart of the historic city. With 117-rooms, expansive meeting and event spaces, fitness center and signature Nobu Restaurant, it will be an integrated mix of luxurious hotel and comforting living space.

 

ONE & ONLY

 

Rwanda

 

One&Only Gorilla’s Nest will be home to 14 rooms and 7 suites, with every space designed to frame nature, encircled by trees for ultimate privacy, with breathtaking views of Pyrethrum farmland, lush shambas and Eucalpytus forest. All located in the foothills of the Virunga Volcano Range.

 

Malaysia

 

One&Only Desaru Coast will be a collection of suites and private homes. From king suites with interconnecting rooms to the stunning 4-bedroom villa. All guests have a suite with a plunge pool. The resort features secluded retreats between lush rainforest and powder white sands, bordered by the South China Sea.

 

Montenegro

 

With 140 rooms and villas, private residences and marina, the new One&Only Portonovi in Montenegro will be the brands first resort in Europe. Stunning balcony views are the highlight with a large waterfront pool that stretches into the Adriatic coastline.

 

Mexico

 

Located in one of the last remaining beachfront jungles in Mexico, the One&Only Mandarina will offer an exclusive collection of 53 One&Only Private Homes as well as Clifftop Villas and ocean treehouses with private butlers.

 

RITZ CARLTON

 

China / Nanjing

 

Positioned along the Yangtze delta, Nanjing embraces an ancient city and a metropolis. Centered at the Xinjiekou CBD, The Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing features a grand hotel that includes 295 guest rooms, 32 luxury suites and elegant event spaces. Local cuisine is celebrated at the signature restaurant, one of five dining options, and wellness treatments are heavily focused with an indoor pool, gym and The Ritz-Carlton Spa.

 

Morocco / Rabat

 

The beauty of the Moroccan landscape and culture is at the center of The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar es Salam. With 440 acres of oak forest and the famed golf course at Royal Golf Dar es Salam the resort will feature five restaurants and lounges with a spa featuring ancient rituals including a signature hammam.

 

Morocco / Tamuda Bay

 

Ten miles from the Moroccan city of Tetouan, The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Tamuda Bay, offers an upscale enclave that embraces indigenous design and natural beauty. Set along the sea, the resort features luxury amenities including a beach club, 18-hole golf course and upscale accommodations.

 

Mexico City

 

Rising 58 stories in the heart of the financial center, The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City adds a unique new structure to the city’s skyline. Located on floors 36 to 47, the hotel offers sweeping views of Chapultepec Park from each of its 153 accommodations and its private residences. Luxury amenities include a Club Lounge, a Mediterranean-inspired bar and restaurant, a spa, pool, and fitness center.

 

ROSEWOOD

 

São Paulo

 

Rosewood São Paulo will be located in an historic 1904 building that was formerly a maternity hospital in the center of Cidade Matarazzo, a complex of elegant, preserved buildings that were built in the early 20^th century.

 

The hotel will feature 151 guestrooms and 122 owners’ suites, which will be situated within a vertical park created by Nouvel. Two restaurants, including one located on a veranda overlooking the lush hotel gardens, will be complemented by a bar and a caviar lounge. Two swimming pools (one rooftop pool), and a large spa with six treatment rooms and fitness area. Hotel guests will also be able to access an adjoining music studio, a screening room and high-end retail stores within the development.

 

SIX SENSES

 

New York

 

This will be the first North American property for Six Senses. The Six Senses New York will feature two unique, twisting towers designed by architect Bjarke Ingels located between Manhattan’s Hudson River and The High Line. Two restaurants will showcase the brand’s popular culinary approach to wellness, and the Six Senses Spa will introduce a new direction of wellness treatments.

 

India, Rajasthan

 

Historic Rajasthan is the setting for the 14th century fort that has been converted to become Six Senses Fort Barwara, a three-hour drive from Jaipur. Originally owned by the Rajasthani Royal Family, it sits directly opposite the temple, Chauth ka Barwara Mandir. Featuring 48 suites and incorporating a palace with two temples within the walled site. Two restaurants serve classic dishes and modern cuisine together with a bar and lounge. A 30,000 square foot Six Senses Spa and fitness center is located in the original women’s palace and will feature an extensive Ayurveda program, meditation and Six Senses Integrated Wellness programs. There are two swimming pools, banquet areas, retail boutique and kid’s club.

 

Bhutan / Bumthang

 

Six Senses Bumthang sits in the spiritual heart of Bhutan. The retreat offers eight spacious 985 sf suites, and one expansive two-bedroom villa. It joins the brands other existing properties in Bhutan.

 

Israel / Shaharut

 

Six Senses Shaharut is located south of the Negev Desert in the Arava Valley and features 58 suites and villas with one Retreat Villa. Designed to integrate into the desert terrain, the villas are built from, and inspired by, local rock and pigments. The Six Senses Spa Shaharut includes single and double treatment rooms plus male and female steam, sauna and hammams. On-site attractions include the Earth Lab, camel stables and an open-air amphitheater. Many optional activities include overnight camel camping to extreme sports, hiking, jeep safaris and wine tours.

 

ST. REGIS

 

Morocco / Tamuda Bay

 

This new beach hotel will include 100 guestrooms and suites that offer unobstructed sea views. The resort will offer a specialty restaurant, an all-day dining restaurant and a St. Regis Bar inspired by the brand’s original King Cole Bar in New York. Amenities at The St. Regis Tamuda Bay will include a spa, pool and fitness center.

 

WALDORF ASTORIA

 

Bali

 

From a prime cliff-front location, the Waldorf Astoria Bali offers dramatic panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Guests have a choice of 96 luxurious villas set on the sprawling estate, ranging from one-bedroom villas to six-bedroom suite villas.

 

Waldorf Astoria Bali will include two specialty restaurants and a destination bar. A stunning outdoor sea-facing pool with a beach club, a large private beach as well as a health club and spa will be available to guests.

 

W HOTELS

 

Bali / Ubud

 

W Bali Ubud will offer 100 locally inspired guestrooms, including 10 villas with private swimming pools and an unusual dramatic Extreme WOW suite (the brand’s unique version of the traditional Presidential Suite).

 

Melbourne

 

Located on Collins Street in the middle of Melbourne’s shopping district, W Melbourne will encompass 294 rooms and suites, including an Extreme Wow Suite.

 

Portugal / Algarve

 

The W Residences will share the W Algarve setting, but offer additional privacy. There are 95 Residences, comprising one to three bedroom apartments, including duplexes and one four bedroom penthouse. Some apartments have a private pool others have sea and garden views.

 

THE REST

 

Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle / France

 

Set within the perimeter of the Palace grounds, Le Grand Contrôle will be the only hotel of its kind in the world; offering exclusive access and experiences at Chateau de Versailles to staying guests. The 14-bedroom luxury hotel will feature an 18th century style, with architect and interior designer Christophe Tollemer in charge of its design. As well as a private spa guests will also be able to indulge in a first class restaurant, led by Alain Ducasse who has been a partner in the exciting project from the very beginning.

 

Xigera Safari Lodge / Botswana

 

This new safari lodge set in the heart of the Okavango Delta on the aptly named Paradise Island. Opening in June 2020, it is surrounded by deep channels and lush vegetation within a remote area of the productive Moremi Game Reserve.

 

With just 12 suites showcasing southern African artisans, Xigera has been designed to protect its environment; it is 100% solar powered, with a dedicated focus on sustainability and eliminating single use plastics. Every spacious suite will be fully air conditioned.

 

Arctic Bath Sweden

 

This hotel and cold bath was inspired by the timber floating era as reminder of the importance of forests for the entire country’s development. The main building is inspired by a jam of floating timber in the river. The floating open air cold bath is located downstream from the bridges of Bodtraskfors. Arctic Bath has a circular shape which creates a protected environment. The center of the bath is perfect for both sunbathing and winter bathing, a cold bath under the northern sky. Arctic Bath hotel has 12 private cabins, a spa, cold bath, hot bath, different saunas, spa treatment room, lounge, shop, bar and a restaurant. There are also 6 floating hotel cabins (double rooms) floating downstream from the hotel with private access from the shore via foot-bridges. And 6 cabins on land, 3 suites and 3 cabins sleeping 1-5 people.

 

The Legian Sire / Lombok

 

Nestled on Lombok’s most pristine beach and only a 40-minute flight from Bali, the Legian Sire, Lombok is a boutique suite and villa resort with stunning views of the famous Gili Islands. All suites offer 1,200-square-feet overlooking the ocean, and the resort features 55 and 75 foot infinity pools. The Club by The Legian Sire offers personalized butler service with unique pool villas, eight beachfront villas, and a beach house with direct access to the white beach.

 

Bvlgari Paris

 

The Bvlgari Hotel will be located at 30 Avenue George V, between the Champs Elysees and the Avenue Montaigne. Offering 76 rooms, most of them suites, and a full range of luxury facilities including a spa with a pool and a Bvlgari restaurant and bar opening to a courtyard garden.

 

Ambiente Sedona

 

Ambiente will be the first landscape hotel in North America and comprised of 40 cubed-shaped guest ‘Atriums’ that are elevated above the ground by steel piers and constructed using floor-to-ceiling, bronze-tinted glass, matte-charcoal, and rusted metal. At dusk, the tinted glass reflects the nature around it, creating mirrored silhouettes.

 

THE BEST BRANDS OF 2019

 

And breaking news this week as LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence, a global members only organization, reveals the world’s best luxury hotel brands for 2019 in their second annual report. Their assessment measures the performance and values of luxury hotel brands through a rigorous algorithm process.

 

The process encompasses 123 touch points relevant to the luxury hotel sector including overall brand performance, rather than the performance of individual properties. It’s all about a brand’s ability to deliver: its passion, commitment, ethos and values, as well as the quality of its management and staff.

 

Here are the top 12 luxury hotel brands for 2019 according to LTI-Luxury Travel Intelligence. The number in brackets is the ranking from 2018.

 

1. Belmond 83.1% (4)
2. Mandarin Oriental 81.4% (5)
3. Four Seasons 79.4% (7)
4. Aman 78.9% (1)
5. Oetker Collection 78.6% (2)
6. Auberge 76.8% (6)
7. Rosewood 76.1% (11)
8. Six Senses 74.3% (3)
9. St. Regis 73.1% (10)
10. COMO 71.4% (-)
11. One&Only 69.3% (9)
12. Anantara 67.1% (-)

 

Michael Crompton, Founder of LTI, says, “No other organization connects with the global luxury hotel industry as LTI does. We are out there 365 days a year, with our researchers engaging with everyone from CEO’s of the brands we have rated to hundreds of management, staff and guests. Primarily, this is all part of the process for creating our destination led reports for our members (affluent discerning travelers) but it also allows us to utilize our findings to create this unique report. Every year the process starts again – the results from previous years have no bearing on the following year. This will no doubt lead to some volatility in each year’s results (such as this year), but this is a dynamic sector and we want to reflect what is really happening out there.”

 

*Originally posted on Forbes

As a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, Mark Melancon doesn’t spend much time in the outfield. On a recent Sunday, he made an exception.

 

The stands at San Francisco’s Oracle Park were empty, the hot dog carts were closed and the jumbotron was dark. But Mr. Melancon wasn’t there to play. Rather, he was completing a plan for his Mexican dream home, a 19,000-square-foot villa in a new development in Riviera Nayarit, about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta.

 

A team from the project, including developer Ricardo Santa Cruz, had flown to California to re-create the floor plan for the mansion on the outfield using stakes and rope. The idea: Mr. Melancon would be able to walk through the near-finalized design at its actual scale to see if there was anything he or his wife Mary Catherine wanted to change. Mr. Santa Cruz’s team spent three hours measuring out the dimensions of the space, inserting green metal stakes into the outfield grass and dragging around long yellow ropes to mark the outlines of the rooms.

 

“Imagine you’re about 120 feet up in the air with the ocean below,” the developer said as he stood in what would be the home’s enormous 22-foot-by- 43-foot living room. He pointed out past the left field bleachers to the Coca-Cola fan lot, where a giant Coke bottle with playground slides lights up with every Giants home run. Looking out from the home in that direction, the Melancons would see the Pacific Ocean.

 

Mr. Melancon, who owns a smaller home nearby, vacations frequently in Mexico with his family but found himself too busy preparing for the season to fly back and forth to sign off on the small details of the architectural plans. So, the project came to him—twice. The first time they mapped out the floor plan on the field last fall, he and his wife made changes to the main pool, which they realized was too narrow, and they redesigned the kitchen to make it more closed off from the other living areas.

 

The house, designed by Arizona architect Rick Joy, will be finished in 2020. It will have eight bedrooms, a gym, a casino and game room, two hot tubs and two pools, one for playing with the children and an infinity pool that appears to hang off the edge of the bluff.

 

“It is different to see it on paper than to actually walk it. When you can physically walk through rooms, it gives you a much better idea of the size,” said Mr. Santa Cruz, who is a partner of developer RLH Properties on the project.

 

The process, known as staking, famously made it onto the silver screen in the 2009 film “It’s Complicated,” starring Meryl Streep and Steve Martin as the architect she hires to design an extension to her house. Mr., Martin’s character stakes out the footprint for the addition in the yard and then takes her up on a ladder to show her the view from her new bedroom window. Mr. Santa Cruz said it is relatively uncommon to stake out projects, especially off-site. “I’ve rarely seen it done,” he said.

 

Messrs. Melancon and Santa Cruz needed a massive space. They originally discussed mapping out the floor plan in a nearby parking lot, but they worried they wouldn’t be able to keep cars out for long enough to complete their discussions. To everyone’s delight, Mr. Melancon suggested the baseball field. The Giants allowed them access to the field at no cost. Mr. Santa Cruz didn’t charge to come do the staking.

 

It took months to find a time when the field wasn’t in use—when not being used for games, it is often leased out for private events or commandeered by the grounds crew. During the initial walk-through, members of the grounds crew looked on with curiosity.

 

“They weren’t nosy but they’d come up and say ‘Wow, is that whole thing his house?” Mr. Santa Cruz recalled. “That is one big house.”

 

It feels large to Mr. Melancon too. “It seems huge right now,” he laughed, staring out at the field.

 

A three-time All-Star, Mr. Melancon, 34, has been pitching for the Giants since 2017; he signed a four-year $62 million contract. He was called up to the majors by the New York Yankees in 2009 and has also played for the Washington Nationals, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox, among others.

 

His house is one of about 120 being built on 640 acres in the Mexican jungle as part of a project called Mandarina. Mr. Santa Cruz spent years negotiating to buy the land. The sough-after site was an Ejido, a land cooperative owned jointly by more than 58 families who all had to agree to the sale. He declined to disclose what he paid for it. The site encompasses a one-mile long stretch of beach and mountains.

 

The houses range in price from about $4.5 million to $12 million, Mr. Santa Cruz said. Buyers purchase only the footprint of their houses, since the developers want to continue to control the landscape surrounding the properties. Mr. Santa Cruz said 14 of the homes are already sold.

 

Mandarina will be anchored by a beach resort operated by hotel brand One&Only. Mr. Melancon said his wife, who helps run the family’s synthetic turf business and operates some rental properties they own, had fallen in love with One&Only on a family trip to the Bahamas as a child. When she had the couple’s bucket list made out in calligraphy as a wedding gift for him, she included a stay at one of their hotels. Owning a home in one of their resorts was even better, he said.

 

For their three children, the resort will also have a BMX mountain biking track, a polo and equestrian center, a kid’s farm, kayaking, surfing and bird-watching. Once Mr. Melancon retires, he and his wife plan to spend several months there each year, he said.

 

They were among the first people to visit the site after it was sold and had their pick of parcels, climbing over jungle trees that had been razed to make way for the homes. They chose one on a private bluff overlooking the ocean, paying around $9 million for the completed home.

 

An inner courtyard is 60 feet and 6 inches, the exact distance between the pitching mound and home plate.

 

“We were like, ‘Mark, if you need to practice, you’ll have the exact same setup,’” Mr. Santa Cruz joked.

 

*Originally posted on The Wall Street Journal

Ricardo Santa Cruz, president and CEO of RSC, has over 12 years of experience in land acquisition and property development in Mexico, having acquired more than 4,000 acres for development on the Pacific Coast.

 

He is a development partner for the One&Only Mandarina project in Punta Mita on Riviera Nayarit. It took Mr. Santa Cruz, 47, nearly a decade to assemble the 640-acre property, with some landowners very reluctant to sell. Mandarina is being developed along a one-mile stretch of swimmable beach.

 

The Puerto Vallarta, Mexico-based Mr. Santa Cruz spoke to us about the surprising resilience of the high-end real estate market, the importance of doing due diligence on a developer and much more.

 

MANSION GLOBAL: Describe your dream property.

 

RICARDO SANTA CRUZ: I’d always ask myself: “What’s the community that I’m buying into and what can I experience there?” Obviously on the one hand I’d like the property to be aesthetically beautiful, but I’d also want different options for topography, elevation and vegetation—a place where I could swim on the beach and also go horse riding. That’s what we try and do with our properties—to make sure you’re embedded in nature and that you have a lot of privacy, too.

 

MG: Do you have a real estate property that got away?

 

RSC: There’s one property that I looked at in the southern part of the bay of Puerto Vallarta, which would have been for commercial use. At the time, I was looking at so many other projects and properties, so it just didn’t happen.

On a personal level, there was a home with a private beach, and I could have built a couple of homes on it, but I didn’t end up closing on that one either.

 

MG: What does luxury mean to you?

 

RSC: To me it’s not about the buildings themselves. I don’t define luxury in terms of materials or finishes used. When you go into the high-end market, those are a given. That’s your entry point. To me, real luxury is privacy. More and more, it’s hard to find projects that do low density. Developers mostly want to maximize the bottom line. Even though they’re luxurious, there’s little privacy, even for beachfront properties.

 

The ability to partake in activities nearby is important, too. If you can combine privacy and the ability to venture out, that’s key.

 

MG: What area do you think is the next hub for luxury properties?

 

RSC: Riviera Nayarit in Mexico, where we’re building out the Mandarina project, is really growing. Up until recently, there were only two hotels catering to that high end market— the Four Seasons and the St. Regis.

 

Now, along this coastal part of Mexico, you’re seeing luxury brands come in. We’re doing the One&Only and Rosewood. Auberge and Six Senses are both going to be under construction soon. A lot of these hotels are also being anchored as part of a master-plan community. You’re going to see an explosion of luxury homes and hotels.

 

MG: What’s the biggest surprise in the luxury real estate market now?

 

RSC: The price points have come back very, very strong since right before the crash in 2008. Developers thought we’d never see prices back up there, but we’ve surpassed ’07 and ’08 price points. There’s been so much wealth creation in the last few years, especially in the U.S., so there are a lot more buyers venturing into the market.

 

Mexico is particularly popular. Because of its closeness to the U.S., these homes get a lot of use from owners. They’re buying property as asset appreciation plays for the long run, but they’re actually getting a lot of use out of them, too. These can be weekend homes—less than a three-hour flight from California and Colorado.

 

MG: Where are the best luxury homes in the world and why?

 

RSC:  Every country has them, but there are some that just stand out more than others. In the U.S., Aspen jumps to mind. In Mexico, if you look at Cabo or where we are; in Punta Mita, you have outstanding high-end luxury homes. But any kind of major resort destinations, like Hawaii, and parts of Europe, have amazing homes.

 

MG: What’s your favorite part of your home?

 

RSC: The way it’s situated, which is totally indoor-outdoor living. That’s what I most love and appreciate about most homes. If you’re in your home, and you’re always looking out at nature, it brings you peace of mind and tranquility, and it invites you to spend more time in your home.

 

MG: What best describes the theme to your home and why?

 

RSC: It’s a modern home with lots of glass sliding doors so you can open all the spaces up, and I use a lot of natural materials—a lot of wood and marble. The windows give you a view of the surrounding nature.

 

MG: What’s the most valuable thing in your home?

 

RSC: It’s an intelligent home, so the systems I put in. It’s all wired, and you can control everything—lighting, sounds, climate, etcetera—from one app. That, and a home theater system. So really, the electronic additions I put on the house.

 

MG: What’s the most valuable amenity to have in a home right now?

 

RSC: That depends where it’s situated. For homes in coastal areas, like ours, it’s about swimming pools, terraces and outdoor entertaining areas. And people want to make sure indoor spaces open up to seamlessly connect with those outdoor spaces.

 

Following that, most people want a media room and a wine room, so when they’re not out in the sun, and entertaining, they have a place to rest.

 

MG: What’s your best piece of real estate advice?

 

RSC: If you’re going to invest, really look into who the developer is behind the development you’re investing in, and what the long-term master plan is. Make sure everything is very clearly laid out. People will go into a development and just look at the lot—the view, the location, the unit they’re buying. But you want to make sure bylaws are in place, and that the maximum build-out and the location of the build-out, is spelled out.

 

Certain resorts can become over-densified. And then you lose that privacy and those luxury elements I spoke about.

 

MG: What is the best area now for investing in luxury properties?

 

RSC:  Branded properties are a good bet. When you buy a branded residence, like a Rosewood or a Four Seasons, it has several advantages. Firstly, you can enter it into the rental market, and, secondly, it’s headache-free. That’s particularly important for a second or third home. You’re not dealing with any of the headaches, and it’s appreciating in value. That to me, that’s the best place to park money.

 

MG: If you had a choice of living in a new development or a prime resale property, which would you choose and why?

 

RSC: Generally, a new development. If you’re someone who’s buying early, you’ll get a better deal and your investment will appreciate much more.

 

*Originally posted on Mansion Global

Forget the golf course; enter the organic kale. At luxury home developments around the world, gardens are popping up next to (or replacing) fairways.

 

It’s a sea change rippling throughout real estate communities both domestic and beyond as organic crops upstage the clubhouse for residential bragging rights. According to the Urban Land Institute, there are now more than 150 agrihoods (communities that integrate agriculture into residential neighborhoods) in the United States. And while the notion may harken to off-the-grid communal homesteading, the concept is also being adopted by luxury developers as a new way to deliver that most elusive real estate asset of all: a sense of community.

 

At the $1 billion luxury residential and hotel resort One&Only Mandarina, children are factored into the agrihood equation as well. Situated on the Riviera Nayarit an hour north of Puerto Vallarta, the 600-acre community will feature 55 Rick Joy-designed, earth-hugging villas scattered along the coast and within the jungle. The four-, five- and eight-bedroom homes (priced between $4.65 million and $10.5 million) will have access to a certified organic farm as well as an outdoor dining room for farm-to-fork dinners.

 

A dedicated children’s farm will include chickens, pigs, goats, and cows in addition to an herb garden, nursery, and organic farm. Kids’ cooking classes are available, as are opportunities for them to learn how to care for animals. “Most people live in densely populated urban areas making it difficult for them to commune with nature,” says Ricardo Santa Cruz, developer partner of Mandarina. “Being able to have a home with all of the most demanding comforts while still being completely immersed in nature is truly the ultimate luxury.”

 

*Originally posted on RobbReport

One&Only Mandarina and One&Only Mandarina Private Homes, opening in early 2020, will share a space with Rosewood Residences and Rosewood Mandarina (opening in 2022) on a mile-long stretch of coastline that features beach, mountains, jungle and an estuary.

 

And, yes, there will be a farm, a distinct destination within Mandarina. It will have orchards, gardens and greenhouses where food will be grown for its farm-to-table restaurant, as well as cooking class kitchens, animals to delight children and stargazing towers.

 

But perhaps the most distinguishing facility will be the Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club, which will provide entertainment, social events and sport for those who ride.

 

“You’ll have polo brunches on Sundays. You’ll have either jumping or dressage competitions that you can go to and have lunch and be an observer,” said Ricardo Santa Cruz, president and CEO of RSC Development and the founding partner of Mandarina. “Or you can say, you know what, we as a family just want to go on tame horses for a horseback ride throughout the estuary and along the beach.”

 

To date, 18 of the planned 55 One & Only private homes have sold.

 

While owners will have access to Mandarina’s many pools, a jungle zipline and obstacle course and an array of other activities such as birdwatching tours, the one amenity you won’t find with your $5-million to $10-million villa is a golf course, which isn’t all that unusual at the current crop of residential resorts.

 

“Golf courses are in decline. They’re very expensive to maintain. Fewer and fewer people are playing,” Mr. Santa Cruz said.

 

Besides, the game isn’t an equal opportunity memory maker.

 

“You go on vacation, and suddenly it’s like, ‘Hey, you’re not with the kids during the week, and now here we are on vacation and you’re going to go leave and golf for six hours,’” Mr. Santa Cruz said. “Especially millennials and the newer generation, they want to steer clear of that.”

 

Millennials, he added, think, ‘‘Give me something new, give me something different.’”

 

*Originally posted on Mansion Global

Welcome to Mandarina, the ultra-luxury resort and residences in the Mexican jungle currently under construction. It offers upside investment potential to high net worth buyers. Mandarina is located in Riviera Nayarit, along a nearly 200-mile coastline, less than an hour drive north of Puerto Vallarta’s International Airport (Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz).

 

Ricardo Santa Cruz, president & CEO, of RSC, the founding partner of Mandarina took almost a decade to assemble the 640-acre property from a variety of landowners, some of whom were initially reluctant to sell. “I was patient and worked with each landowner one by one to put together the parcels we needed,” said Santa Cruz.

 

Santa Cruz was well equipped for this challenge. He has a strong track record, negotiating 4,000 acres of strategic land acquisitions throughout Mexico for development purposes and securing more than $90 million of investment capital.

 

It started with a vision for this Mexican jungle, one of the last remaining beachfront jungles in Mexico. Mandarina was developed along a one-mile stretch of swimmable beach, with the goal of being the most significant new luxury resort and residential community Mexico has seen in decades. There is a long history to the land where Mandarina is located. Much is being preserved from mountains to shoreline to flatland to tropical jungle. “This is a pristine jungle. We are developing a low-density project while taking care of the land. Our design all along has been focused on having as minimal impact as possible,” Santa Cruz notes.

 

The One&Only Mandarina Private Homes will debut alongside the One&Only Mandarina beach resort, luxury Rosewood Residences, and Rosewood Mandarina.

 

The villas of One&Only Mandarina Private homes designed by the internationally noted Rick Joy Architects are selling quickly. Prices range from $4.5 million to $12 million. Since launching sales early this year, a range of North American buyers have purchased seven villas in Phase One.

 

There are 55 One&Only branded villas, all with ocean views. The striking contemporary architecture fits with the surrounding landscape. Homes range in size from approximately 8,000 to 18,000 square feet of interior/exterior living. The indoor/outdoor lifestyle is showcased throughout, taking advantage of the mild climate. Infinity-edged pools overlook the jungle, coastline, and ocean, all homes are positioned for privacy and of course the views.

 

Every detail of the homes are designed to draw buyers used to the best of everything, and willing to pay for it. Marc Schechter who runs an investment advisory firm outside Detroit was an early buyer at Mandarina. He purchased two homes with price tags of around $5 million each. Schechter was familiar with the general area as his parents owned a vacation home there for years. “I saw what was going on with Mandarina and was totally impressed. “I fell in love with the architecture and as an early owner, I got to work with the designer. I bought two homes thinking I may eventually sell one at some point.” He also plans to rent the homes out using them himself on select weeks. “I’m intending on receiving both cash flow and appreciation,” said Schechter, whose homes range around 8,000 square feet each.

 

Residents at One&Only Mandarina Private Homes enjoy a large menu of first-class custom-tailored services including property management, charging privileges at all hotel amenities, in-residence private dining and spa services, personal training sessions, travel arrangements, pre-stocked groceries, laundry and dry cleaning, medical services, and boat moorage.

 

No surprise sales are brisk since the One&Only brand is all about ultra-luxury living. The One&Only hotel at Mandarina is scheduled to open end of 2019. Listen to Phillipe Zuber, president and chief operating officer of One&Only Resorts. “We saw great possibilities in Mandarina for One&Only both with the private homes and the resort. It is a spectacular site by the Pacific Ocean and the architecture will create an iconic resort for both hotel guests and private owners. We are confident it will be unique,” observes Zuber.

 

Looking to attract the monied polo set, the Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club will feature state-of-the-art polo grounds, a clubhouse, arenas, two tournament size polo fields, polo lounge, pro shop, horse boarding, dressage and on-site veterinary clinic. Other top shelf amenities include One&Only Majahua Beach Club and the One&Only Spa to name a few.

 

The Mandarina proves high net worth individuals are more than willing to pay for a privileged amenity-rich lifestyle in a unique setting.

 

*Originally posted on Forbes

Less than one hour north of Puerto Vallarta and 15 minutes from Sayulita, Mandarina is majestically positioned between the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The new resort and residential community not only boasts an unreal locale, it’s also home to the very first collection of One&Only branded residences. The 55 ultra-private villas will embody everything travelers have come to expect from the brand’s elevated level of luxury.

 

Each residence is uniquely designed to showcase the best ocean views while maintaining complete privacy amid the tropical landscape. Offered in four-, five- and eight-bedroom options, the villas are situated along the southern peak. Spanning approximately 5,000 up to nearly 11,000 square feet of indoor space, these abodes definitely don’t skimp on size. Even outdoor spaces wow from 2,500 up to 8,000 square feet of space, decked out with terraces, garden areas and infinity-edge pools overlooking the jungle and coastline.

 

Community amenities at Mandarina are unique and varied. Most notably, the Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club will feature a polo lounge, horseback riding tours and lessons, weekly charro nights and kids’ activities plus host international yearly events. The Outpost will be the go-to for adventures of all kinds from tennis and pickle ball to a Jungle Course and excursions. Family-friendly Canalan Beach Club will feature an infinity-edge pool, water adventures, dining and spa treatments. Residents can also explore the Estuary by waterways via calm waters or head to The Farm, an all-encompassing culinary experience. The Farm features gardens from which ingredients will be used at a farm-to-table restaurant.

 

Additionally, residents will be able to enjoy access to One&Only Mandarina. The neighboring resort is set to debut in 2020 and will offer a myriad of amenities. The whole family can spend the day at the shorefront One&Only Majahua Beach Club or at The Plateau, a hillside destination with infinity-edge pools, cabanas, all-day dining, a bar and custom boutique. Other not-to-miss features include The Point, an adult-only destination; The Jetty, the starting point for water adventures and a place to moor yachts; One&Only Spa; and an 85,000-sq.-ft. Kids’ Club.

 

Starting at $4.5 million.

 

*Originally posted on InMexico

As winter doldrums set in and tropical vacations are on our minds, ultra-luxury resort operator One&Only is tantalizing high-net-worth people with 55 resort-branded residences perched on the cliffs above the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico.

 

Priced from $4 million to $12 million, each villa has been designed by Tucson-based architect Rick Joy.

 

Sales have begun at Mandarina, which is less than an hour from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, along a one-mile stretch of beach. The development eventually will include a 108-room hotel, a second hotel, an additional group of resort-branded residences by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, a beachfront polo field and an equestrian center along with the 55 One & Only residences.

 

Planned amenities in addition to the Mandarina Polo and Equestrian Club include the Jetty harbor, a spa, two beach clubs with pools, terraces, dining areas, massage spaces, a farm and restaurant and a trail system for hiking, biking and horseback riding.

 

Others include the Plateau, a dining and swimming area overlooking the Jetty, and the Point, a mountainside indoor-outdoor restaurant and swimming pool.

 

The One&Only residences, each with ocean views, have 7,500 to 13,500 square feet with four to eight bedrooms.

 

Each has indoor-outdoor living with interior rooms connected with walls of glass to terrace, pool and garden areas. Each villa comes with a private infinity-edge pool overlooking the jungle, coastline and ocean.

 

*Originally posted on The Washington Post

You know that feeling when you’re staying at a hotel so nice you start thinking, “If only I could just move here.”

 

Starting in 2019, Mandarina — a new $1 billion luxury residential and hotel resort in Mexico’s coastal jungle — will let guests do just that.

 

The development, an hour north of Puerto Vallarta on the Riviera Nayarit, will be anchored by two luxury hotels — one by One&Only and the other by Rosewood. Mandarina will also have privately-owned residences by each brand, along with a tantalizing array of equestrian, wellness, and aquatic activities, all spread over more than 600 acres.

 

The residences at One&Only Mandarina were developed by One&Only Private Homes, the company’s first-ever branded real estate venture, and will include 55 villas built on spacious lots scattered along the coast and jungle (there are 48 still available). Residents will get a corner of paradise all to themselves, while still accessing the fine restaurants, open air spa, and extensive equestrian facilities available to guests of the hotel — all included with the villa’s purchase. In case that’s not enough, villa owners also get several amenities reserved just for them, including in-residence private dining and spa services, one-on-one training sessions, personal shopping, and boat moorage at Mandarina’s jetty.

 

Award-winning architect Rick Joy, known for his sleek, earth hugging designs, aimed to bring the outdoors into the concept for the property’s four-, five-, and eight-bedroom villas. Each one has huge windows, stucco walls, and concrete floors that incorporate soil sourced right from the resort, as well as Rosa Morada hardwood harvested from elsewhere in Mexico.

 

Because “experience” is the key word in any luxury hospitality venture these days, Mandarina’s residents and hotel dwellers alike will have plenty experiential offerings to choose from. There’s a fire pit perched at the tip of a jetty, which can be reserved for sunset dinners. Kids will get to groom ponies and embark on jungle discovery adventures, complete with tree houses, hanging bridges and a butterfly sanctuary. Mandarina will also feature state-of-the-art polo grounds, dressage and jumping arenas, and that staple of Mexican beach vacations: moonlit horseback rides along the water.

 

The biggest draw may be what nature, not humans, created: sandy beaches, mammoth cliffs and a dense, high canopy jungle. The property, about two thirds the size of Central Park, sits on super-fertile volcanic land — making it green as far as the eye can see.

 

“You feel like you’re somewhere in Thailand or Indonesia because of the lush vegetation and dramatic coastline that falls into the ocean,” Ricardo Santa Cruz, a founding partner of Mandarina, said in an interview.

 

Santa Cruz, a dual citizen of Mexico and the U.S. who worked in medical technology before developing hotels, said he’s made it a priority to be a good environmental steward and neighbor to the locals. To help residents of Monteón, a town of a few thousand inhabitants just north of Mandarina, the developers invested $3 million in infrastructural and cultural projects, including building a water treatment plant, a church, and a community beach club, he said.

 

This fits in with a broader trend among the region’s hoteliers to promote balance, not just with yoga mats and surfboards, but as a development ethos — capturing tourist dollars while preserving natural resources and supporting local economies. Resorts up and down the coast have been getting environmental certifications, with initiatives like installing energy efficient elevators, helping protect sea turtles, and switching to biodegradable chemicals. Meanwhile, the government has been cleaning beach waters and restoring coral reefs damaged by tourists.

 

As the number of resorts on the Riviera grows, along with their footprint, the ability to strike this balance could mean the difference between selling a snippet of paradise today and allowing others to enjoy it tomorrow.

 

The villas at One&Only Mandarina, priced between $4.5 and $12 million, are on sale now and should be move-in ready late next year.

 

*Originally posted on Travel & Leisure

The coast along Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit offers sandy beaches, lush jungles and a neighbor with a career 2.85 ERA.

 

San Francisco Giants pitcher Mark Melancon has a new vacation home under construction at the One&Only Mandarina Private Homes development along Mexico’s Pacific coastline. In April, a team from the project’s developers flew up to San Francisco to stake out the dimensions of Melancon’s future getaway in the outfield at Oracle Park so he could take a final walk-through before construction started, The Wall Street Journal reported.

 

The development includes a total of 55 villas neighboring the One&Only Mandarina resort. Here’s a look at one of them which could be yours for $10 million, courtesy of The Agency:

 

Price: $10 million

 

Bedrooms: 7

 

Bathrooms: 7

 

Square feet: 9,680 interior, 6,080 exterior

 

This development marks the first branded residences from One&Only, the luxury resort operator. Each villa is architecturally unique and designed to blend into its particular location, with each nestled into the mountainside jungle but positioned to maximize sunlight, ocean breeze and views.

 

The villas each feature air and water purification and dehumidification systems. Each is designed with custom woodwork, stone accents and earthy tones.

 

In addition to seven bedrooms and bathrooms, this particular villa also includes two powder rooms and a service bathroom, a media room, office, Jacuzzi, entertainment area and laundry room.

 

The master bedroom has its own exterior shower and patio.

 

There’s also a garage for three SUVs and two golf carts, which are used for getting around the resort.

 

Ownership comes with all the amenities of staying at the Mandarina resort, including a spa, Oceanside club, restaurants and nature-driven kids’ club.

 

The resort also takes care of maintenance for each villa, and offers in-villa services and grocery pre-stocking. They can even rent the villa out for owners who want to earn some income from the property.

 

*Originally posted on Fox Business