Grupo Mariana Team Members Express Their Feelings About Working in Nicaragua

Ronald  Lustig (ESA)

On Becoming Involved:

The things that made me want to become involved in Grupo Mariana were A: The developer’s passion and B: passion for Nicaragua. The people are passionate and full of life. Once you’ve been there it’s always part of you. You always have a special place for it in your heart. It’s a very unique project and it has spectacular beaches and it in a spectacular area.

We worked on the initial master plan and the initial conceptual… We’re the architects on the project.

On What Sets Grupo Mariana Apart:

There’s nothing in Nicaragua that will compare to Grupo Mariana. People may make comparisons to other projects but there is nothing that will compare. Kevin has really raised the bar in Nicaragua.

When we were doing this we introduced Kevin to Nicklaus. We felt that here in this large development there would be the opportunity to bring golf, ocean, sun and the mountains and the Nicaraguan culture together. That’s what’s offered at Grupo Marian that’s different from everything else. And it really puts Grupo Mariana into a category with anything in Central America.  Being equal to things that are in Cabo, Costa Rica, any of those countries.

On the Country of Nicaragua:

I was there 30 years ago and I pleasantly surprised when I returned more recently that the people were still warm and friendly. The things that really endear you to Nicaragua: those things were still there.

On Kevin Fleming’s Leadership:

Kevin has been very creative, very open to new ideas. He’s an incredible listener and thinker. He’s done an outstanding job leading the team and he’s always open to new ideas.

On The Team:

I feel very fortunate to be a part of it. Kevin emphasized that he wanted the team to be the best quality of team. Bringing in Jack Nicklaus brings in a tremendous amount of value to the project, in real estate sales and in general.

On The Future of the Project:

We’re really creating a new city in Nicaragua. It will have everything fro beachside activities to swimming and golf, educational experiences with the archeological digs, so I think we really a tremendous amount of culture and a real a myriad of activities.

On the Local Community:

I see Grupo Mariana having a great impact on the local community. In all the places I’ve visited with Kevin, the administrations have been very positive because they really see it as a true economic boost to their areas.

On Potential Investors:

The opportunity to come to an unspoiled country and help be part of creating and polishing a wonderful jewel.

 

Leslie Suter: Land Design

On Becoming Involved:

I because involved with Grupo Mariana about two weeks ago. This project originated with Land Design’s National office. Kevin Fleming indicated a need to streamline the vision. My experience is in vision creating, marketing, communications and brand development. Making sure the vision is clear is essential.

On What Sets Grupo Mariana Apart:

Competition developments that we have identified so far have brought lots and homes to people and what wants Grupo Mariana has decided to do is to bring a cultural experience. We’re trying to crease is more that a pool by the ocean. We want to make sure when people come to the front gates they are infused with the experience of what it is to be in the new Nicaragua.

 On The Country of Nicaragua:

Nicaragua is such an interesting place. There are positive aspects and negative aspects of National perception. We’re on the cusp of change. And the chance to come in and influence what is essentially the new Nicaragua.

We realize the impact the project could potentially have on the county and it’s a thrill to become involved.

 On Kevin Fleming’s Leadership:

I’ve only known Kevin for a short time but I’ve found him to be truly inspirational when it comes to selling the vision of this project. He has inspired the whole group to have dreams as large as his.

On The Team:

 We have a phenomenal team, in my opinion. The architect onboard has a vision that is comparable with Kevin’s, which is wonderful. Land Design has over 30 years experience creating places just like this. We’re all passionate about the work that we do. The dynamics of the team that you put together is so important and we seem to work really well together.

On The Future of the Project:

I see a home for people who have discovered Nicaragua. I see a destination for people who are interested in discovering Nicaragua.

On the Local Community

We touched on the concept of how many jobs could be brought in and the actual figure hasn’t been laid out, but I think bringing this kind of resort to this particular location is going to be huge boost overall to the economy. Jobs for people all over the place and a switch in perception of the overall place. It could be the catalyst for new resorts and tourism in the area. So we’re excited about the process.

On Potential Investors: 

They have the opportunity to not only gain great financial return but also personal return.

 

Toby Davis (Kemper Sports)

 On Becoming Involved:

December of 2006. We become formally involved April 2007. Kemper Sports is consulting with the owner of the project regarding the planning of the project and helping build it and develop the golf course and the club house and other facilities.  And then to operate it upon opening. The golf course, the club, there’ll be a private club there, a potential hotel, the HOA association, the employees on site.

It’s a such an interesting project in that it’s in Nicaragua, which we would consider an emerging market country, and this kind of real estate project does not exist down there. It’s all very new down there so it’s a very exciting project to be involved with in a very different geographic location.

On What Sets Grupo Mariana Apart:

Grupo Mariana doesn’t really have any competition and they’re starting from scratch, so there is no competition per se, because there is nothing else like it in Nicaragua.

On The County Of Nicaragua:

What surprised me was how friendly everybody was, what a warm culture it is, and what an interesting town it is in terms of hustle and bustle and what also surprised me is how close the Pacific Ocean is to Managua. It’s only about an hour to the site, so it’s very close.

On Kevin Fleming’s Leadership:

Kevin is a very dynamic leader with a huge vision in an emerging market. And he’s putting a very solid team together in terms of the golf course architect, and ourselves, and Land Design; it’s a very solid team.

On The Team:

I think the team that Kevin Fleming has put together for Grupo Mariana is first class. You have Jack Nicklaus as the golf course architect, and Kemper Sports Management, we’ve been in the business for 28 years and the others are all professional in their own right.

On The Future of the Project:

I see a very hustling and bustling real estate development and private club, which will be a brand name in of itself. Grupo Mariana will be a brand that people will recognize on the coast of Nicaragua that will be a destination resort for real estate owners who live there and also for vacationers.

The Local Community:

The project will affect the surrounding community in a very positive way because we’re going to be employing a lot of people, so we’ll bring a lot of jobs to the local area. SO that will generate jobs and employment, which is what the government is trying to do. So Grupo Mariana will have a very positive impact.

On Potential Investors:

The value proposition here is huge. In other words, real estate on the ocean for far less than what you could get it for in Costa Rica, or particularly the United States. So there’s risk because the government there is not as stable as other countries but cost of getting in is very low. We call it a five star experience for a three star price.

Gary Carter: Land Design

On Becoming Involved:

This is my first involvement. The firm has been involved for some time but from the branding side, this is our first foray into this. I’m a communications specialist and I’m working with our branding group. We’ll be looking at the overall bringing of the project and positioning it in the market place to support Kevin in his efforts.

On What Sets Grupo Mariana Apart:

We’re talking about a country that is emerging and it has the opportunity through this project to re-position itself. And to reestablish a tourism presence, that it doesn’t currently have. I think the challenge for us will be looking at not only how to position the project in the market place but the change the perception of the county and help people understand that’s it’s an exciting place they can go and experience that they probably have not experienced before.

The planning that has already gone into the project really sets Grupo Mariana apart. The master plan that Land Design has done has maximized the site and put it to the best and highest possible use. And we bring branding out on top of that to position it in the marketplace that will be a key aspect of what makes the project special.

On Kevin Fleming’s Leadership:

 I’ve been impressed with the passion for the project. Kevin is passionate about it and that feeds the enthusiasm for the entire group, from the investors to the architects, to the land designers, to the Kemper folks who will be doing the management. I always think that when people are passionate about something it leads to better results.

On The Team:

 It’s a very capable team; it’s a very committed team. Very passionate about the project and very dedicated to the vision they see for the project and I think that it’s the time of team that can bring that kind of vision to fruition.

On The Future of the Project:

I find the future to be very exciting for Grupo Mariana. If it’s done as it appears it will be, it will be a reflection of the county. When people come to Nicaragua and see Grupo Mariana they will feel that they are a part of Nicaragua. Not that they are going into a resort that isolates them from the county around them. And I think from a resort standpoint that’s something that is fairly unique. Some people go to a resort and it’s an escape and certainly people will be able to come here and relax and be as private as they want to be and they’ll also be able to see and feel the culture around them.

On The Local Community:

The contribution to the local economy can be major. At this time Nicaragua is a poor country. It’s an emerging market, it’s had its issues in the past, and projects like this that elevate the status and awareness of the county on an international scale are going to help drive it forward and contribute to the economy. Certainly this project, in terms of jobs and the revenue stream it can bring into the local economy will be massive. Helping put the road through is going to have a tremendous impact. As we all know, roadways, transportation access to roadways can lead to growth and create a tourism corridor and opening the door down the road for more tourism for economic development.

On Potential Investors:

It’s an opportunity to be part of something special that just down the road will have the a lot of impact on not just the people that come to the resort but the country and potentially the entire region. There’s something to feel good about if you’re a part of something like that.

Sarah Woodard (ESA Interior Designer)

On Becoming Involved:

 I’m an interior designer, specializing in hospitality design. I became involved in January but our firm has been involved for quite a while.

On What Sets Grupo Mariana Apart:

This is a new place for a resort community to be. A lot of places don’t seem fresh any more but this isn’t the case with Grupo Mariana. And Kevin handles business in the right way. We deal with a lot of owners who don’t always consider the whole picture. He’s the kind of person who wants to think things over and do it right the first time. And the plans and the direction we’re going is really wonderful. Everything about Grupo Mariana is planned to be really high end. From the landscaping to the architecture to the guest experience it’s all planned to be the ultimate experience.

On the Country of Nicaragua:

The country is beautiful and has a lot of natural features, the lakes and volcanoes. And the people are so warm and friendly. We took a great tour to Granada and lake Granada where they have bull sharks, and a spider monkey came on the boat. The diversity of the wildlife is amazing.

On Kevin Fleming’s Leadership:

Kevin seems to be one of the smartest people I’ve met in this capacity. He seems to know what he’s doing. He seems like a visionary.

On The Team:

The team seems great. I mean Land Design, their work is just phenomenal, the site plan is great, Kemper Sports has a good reputation and everyone seems to be very nice. Rosario is sharp as a tack. It seems to be a very well put together team.

On The Future of the Project:

Grupo Mariana is a place I want to visit for vacation. It’s just a top-notch resort that I want to take my daughter to, and say “look, I was a part of this.”

On The Local Community:

I can only see it having a positive impact on the community. Other countries that I’ve been to that have large hospitality projects have always been beneficial for the local community. It creates jobs, money, people from the resorts will go to the communities if they have a market or craftspeople. They’ll spend their money there. There’s a lot of tipping that happens. Artisans and craftsmen can sell their products. I’d say it’s a very good experience for everyone.

And the locals who work in the resort will benefit from exposure to a culture that they don’t know so much about.

On Potential Investors:

If I had the money I would be buyer here. That’s what I’d tell potential investors. It seems like it would be a very good investment that would increase their earning potential over the years.

Raul Calvet (Calvet & Associates) 

On Becoming Involved:

I’ve been involved from the very beginning, before the land was purchased. I’ve been advising Kevin and his group about the strategic investments of land in Nicaragua. I made an analysis of the property of Grupo Mariana and we gave them the “Okay” before buying.

We’re involved on two levels. The first is the technical level in which our certifications and our company helps Grupo Mariana on the environmental areas and surveys on the river and geological studies and things like that. We’re preparing market research and things like that.

There’s another level, which is the strategic investment level, and we’re personally involved in all the major decisions that have created Grupo Mariana so far. I’ve been directly advising Kevin and I’ve been with him in all the meetings, which cover things like the disclosures in Canada and designers here in Nashville.

On What Sets Grupo Mariana Apart:

 The level of preparation, the seriousness of the word given to the investors to the detail of planning, that puts Grupo Mariana on a different level than any of the other projects. We are involved with the majority of projects in Nicaragua on a technical level and Grupo Mariana always caught our attention because the amount of time and money spent on planning and on the legal stuff.

The concept is not based only on the beach, which is the dominant feature of most of the projects. But Grupo Mariana is a more balanced bringing value to all areas of the property, even those that are inland, and that has been a very elaborate and complex process in which elements like the golf course were created to give value to investors. In other projects it’s difficult to sell or only sell large acreage but Grupo Mariana is selling the whole project as if it were a beachside project. That demanded a tremendous amount of detail from the land design companies and tremendous input from the strategic side. All those things put Grupo Mariana on a different level. That’s not saying that the other projects are not good, but Grupo Mariana is entering the market in Nicaragua as the top project in construction quality, price and target market targeting.

On Kevin Fleming’s Leadership:

Kevin is what makes the difference. He’s a hands-on leader and he’s transferred himself and his family to Nicaragua. And he handles every little detail. He’s absolutely focused on the project on 24-hour basis. And that makes Grupo Mariana unique because he’s constantly looking for improvement. Kevin is on top of all the details. Not just the design and architecture details but also on the marketing side.

One of the character features that most impressed me about Kevin is his capacity to transmit to who ever he’s talking to, his ideas, his passion, his enthusiasm. And he has been able to raise the capital from the investors on the rate of the project is not complete. So it gives me confidence in his capacity to sell the entire project with no problem.

On The Team:

The team is top names and top brands. It’s people who are keys to Grupo Mariana because it’s a lot of years of experience and knowledge and international business experience. That compensates for the position of Kevin as a new comer in this industry and he puts the drive and we all put the years of experience.

On The Future of the Project:

In five to ten years from now I’m sure that we will be finished and Grupo Mariana will be an example of what the future of Nicaragua will be. It will definitely be the first project of future projects and it will raise the bar in Nicaragua and create new standards. And then the competitors will try to match the level because it only takes one to start counting. I see Grupo Mariana as the first project of this caliber in Nicaragua, and probably in Central America. I’m very confident with the expertise and it’s just a matter of time that our project will come along. 

On The Local Community:

The impact will be absolutely enormous because right now there is nothing. Grupo Mariana will be the first large project in that area which has been for centuries economically depressed. Grupo Mariana, along with other projects along the beaches, will really have a tremendous impact on Nicaragua and on those coastal communities. The opportunities for education and technology transfer will create a source of income for the municipalities that will allow them to assist in the social and infrastructure programs. Also, we’ll be creating a permanent home for visitors who will be exchanging with the community not only money also ideas and culture and improving the preparation of the local communities. In short, projects like Grupo Mariana are the only hope for the coastal communities in Nicaragua. And Grupo Mariana takes this seriously in providing health and education for the people.

And now Grupo Mariana is going to put the money to build a road, from the nearest town, which is Pochomil, all the way to the project. And this is going to bring life to the area and provide opportunities for all those people. This will be the first time in Nicaragua that a project is donating such a tremendous amount of money to build a road that is ultimately a public road.

On Potential Investors:

They should come because Nicaragua offers a tremendous opportunity for investors for a second home and retirement destination. It is very close to the US. The political situations and the economic situations are real stable even though we can have a perception that it’s not so because of the media. Actually the investments are very sound the commitment to private property was one of the first commitments of the new government.

Any investment in Nicaraguan real estate is getting a tremendous rate of return. Everyone who will invest at this point will see some of the largest returns because Nicaragua may be the country in Central America that offers the most intriguing combination of culture, nature and topography. Very rich, very colorful, very intriguing.  We can speak about environmental issues and nature and cultural interrelations. And it’s all basically in the back yard of the United States.

What Raul Calvet Has Witnessed With Grupo Mariana From The Very Start: 

I’ve been very satisfied with the project and I consider that Grupo Mariana has been putting in the basic building blocks in a very solid way. For me that is a signal of security of the continuation of a very strong and very solid project.

Everything from the master planning and the design and the concept of the brand and the architectural plans and the list of many services, the concept and the positioning is absolutely strong, solid and the result of a tremendous amount of discussion with the best people in the market. That only provides added security into the investment.

This is not an overnight project. This is well thought out and well planned from the very start. And I’m very satisfied with everything that I have seen so far.

Hal Clark Land Design

On Becoming Involved:

We became involved about four or five months ago but it seems like a lot longer because we’ve done so much. I’m responsible for the lead of our Land Design team and we as a firm are responsible for taking the master plan and finalizing the master plan and producing the full site planning of the different resort components, the hotel, the villas the town center the beach club. The design of all the amenities, the pool, all of other amenities that are involved with a resort of this size. How the streets look, what the overall feel of the resort. We call them the magic elements.

On What Sets Grupo Mariana Apart:

The opportunity to work in an area of the world where we haven’t worked before was very enticing. This is our first work in Central America. We were looking for opportunities to work in this part of the world and Grupo Mariana was perfect for us.

Grupo Mariana offers a unique opportunity to tie back into the county of Nicaragua as a whole, to relay history of the site, to distinguish itself from the other areas of the region. Those are the differentiators that set Grupo Mariana apart. It also has the river, the ocean and the hilltop. It has physical amenities, both natural and man made that make it a unique opportunity.

On The Country of Nicaragua:

I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly, how hospitable the people were. The culture was great. I loved learning more about the history of the place. Nicaragua is a place that not very many people know that much about, so that’s a key for Grupo Mariana, so it gives us the opportunity to re-introduce Nicaragua to the world. I think that’s pretty powerful.

On Kevin Fleming’s Leadership:

Kevin is very, very smart. He has a tremendous amount of responsibility on his plate. I think he’s doing a great job at putting the right team together and letting the consultants do what they do best. He’s a very insightful person, he’s very careful to let the process happen and go through the right steps to allow the entire process happen so we can reach the right solutions and address the issues the right away.

On The Team:

That was another thing that really intrigued me about this project. We work with Nicklaus quite a bit and on resorts and golf community projects and Earl Swensson and Associates, we work with them, and even Kemper, we’re working with them on a couple of projects, one in Chicago and a couple of places.

I’m very confident that the process that we go through and the collaboration of those team members, through that process that we can get to innovative and creative design solutions, and through that collaboration we’ll prove to really benefit the project.

On The Future of the Project:  

I see Grupo Mariana being the premier destination in Nicaragua, if not in the region. With the Phase 1 there will be nothing else like it in the country. I think it will be a place that will introduce people who never thought they’d go to Nicaragua. I think it will be a draw to introduce people to the country of Nicaragua that normally wouldn’t choose to go there.

On the Local Community:  

I think Grupo Mariana will be a catalyst for the revitalization, to be honest. Something like this can be the spark that ignites a bigger movement. It can revitalize the entire area. With the road and the support of the government. This could be the start of something much bigger. It could be much larger than the boundaries of our site.

On Potential Investors:  

If you presented this to an investor I’d tell them that this is the perfect time to get involved down there. We’re at the beginning and have the unique opportunity to create a market, so to speak. With the quality of what we’re doing, and the amenities of a Nicklaus golf course and the other world class amenities we’re talking about, it’s got nothing but an upside as an investment. As people become more aware of what’s there, and the reasonable nature of land prices, this is what people look for.

About Grupo Mariana

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