Brazil developer balances progress with preservation
By January 2010, following an appearance on national TV and rave reviews in the ‘Tribuna do Norte’ newspaper, every one of São Miguel do Gostoso’s 18 pousadas was fully booked for New Year 2010/11. Once an undiscovered secret, this northeast Brazilian town simply cannot cope with demand. The developers of Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort are making sure that the area’s inevitable growth is planned in the best way for Gostoso’s inhabitants, environment and visitors.
Samantha Gore, Sales Manager for uv10, comments, “Local Brazilian businessmen, the media and international developers all agree that São Miguel do Gostoso has to, and will, grow. This 30km of untouched sandy coastline, interrupted only by a beautiful 9,600-inhabitant village, is set to have a significant tourism-driven boost to its economy. We are working with a developer who recognises the importance of retaining the area’s unique charm and beauty alongside a need to deliver the new guest beds so desperately needed. Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort is set to enhance the area rather than blemish it.”
Each year, quaint new shops, bars and restaurants are added to São Miguel do Gostoso’s existing fabric to cater to Brazil’s young jet-set and international kite-surfers who’ve already taken the town to heart. In 2009 both internet and mobile phone access became available leading to a turning point in São Miguel do Gostoso’s anonymity. People in the know are now arriving in their droves and in high season it is impossible to get an overnight stay without booking well in advance.
Samantha continues, “Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort will add 580 new guest beds to the existing 230 beds in town. Although the largest project in the region with 113 units, it will become the role model for sustainable development. Buildings will be designed to be zero-carbon and zero-waste, the community will be water efficient, building materials will be local and sustainable and electric golf buggies and rented bicycles will feature heavily on-site. 300 construction workers will be involved in Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort’s creation and local farmers and fisherman will be providing the food. The developer really has taken care to be environmentally sensitive in every way.”
Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort counts 66 villas of up to 228m² in size and 47 apartments up to 175m². All villas, whether duplex or on a single floor, benefit from sea view roof terraces with private Jacuzzis. Meanwhile the apartments, set in two buildings separated by a wooden bridge surrounded by 100-year old coconut palms, have garden access on the ground floor and sea view roof terraces with private Jacuzzis for the top floor properties. Each building has its own swimming pool – one infinity and one styled as a lagoon pool harbouring islands resplendent with palms and flowers.
Designed with superior holiday rental in mind, Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort boasts a wealth of facilities. At the heart of the resort is Vila Martín, a commercial plaza hosting gourmet restaurants, bars, convenience shops, fitness facilities, boutiques and a service centre. Skirting the water’s edge is the guests-only Santo Cristo Beach Club with al-fresco dining, Spa services and oversized daybeds arranged on the decked beachfront or nestled into tropical gardens – just perfect for winding down with refreshment served by an attentive waiter. As the resort heads towards its completion and delivery in 2013 a raft of more strenuous activities will come online from beach volleyball to horse riding, scuba diving to deep sea fishing and tennis to kite surfing.
Return on investment is a given at Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort. Domestic flights have more than doubled over the last six years, new European charters are coming into Natal Airport this summer (an hour and a quarter’s drive) and the new airport is set to open in 2013 – then there’s the FIFA World Cup in 2014. Little wonder pousadas in town are already asking over 350 Reais (130GBP) per night in high season.
With just 25% occupancy at Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort expected returns are pitched between 6 - 8% net. The villas are particularly interesting for rentals as they provide flexibility with each of the three bedrooms having locked doors thus enabling three separate concurrent rentals. On-site administration offices will handle rentals whilst several international hotel brands are expressing interest for the resort’s future operation, not least because the development company is half-owned by one of Scandinavia’s best known hotel operators. Meanwhile, local conditions enable São Miguel do Gostoso to buck the current global economic trend with minimal annual capital appreciation of 12 – 15%.
Prices at Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort start from 119,438 Reais (approx. 44,300 GBP) for one bedroom apartments and from 445,184 Reais (approx. 164,000 GBP) for a three bedroom villa.
For more information, visit uv10.com.
