Press for Algodon

Hello Everyone! Another great press article on Algodon is hitting the newsstands. We’re seeing a lot of these lately. Be sure to pick up a copy of December’s Robb Report Vacation Homes featuring Algodon Wine Estates! They wrote a nicely done, full page article on us. We’ve also received mentions in Food & Wine Magazine, Black Book, Forbes- Life EW, Tennis Week, and many, many more. In addition, Conde Nast UK has confirmed that they will be doing an “exclusive” on our Algodon Mansion. This is a very important event for us, as Conde Nast is clearly one of the most important travel magazines in the world. Go Algodon! Thanks to everyone for your support and confidence. Without your help, we could not achieve.

Algodon Wine Tasting in NYC

We had a great turnout at Union Square Wines. There were about 100 people who attended the event. Thank you all for coming! It was a very successful night, and our guests of honor from San Rafael, Mendoza included our partners at the Bombal & Aldao Winery, Camilo Aldao and his wife Luisa; as well as our terrific winemaker, Mauro Nosenzo; and our Director of Project Development, Tourism & Hospitality (Algodon Wine Estates) and Head of Food & Beverage (Algodon Mansion), Diego Coll Benegas. Camilo got up to address the crowd, and was very personable. As for the wine; crowd favorites, so I’m told, seemed to be the Cab/Syrah, and the French Oaked Chardonnay. However I’m particularly partial to the Bonarda, myself. Click here to watch a video picture album of the night’s highlights.

I just received a wonderful email from Camilo, who said that our 2008 harvest is an outstanding one and that we can expect an exceptional Malbec, in particular, after its oak barrel aging. We are also moving forward with a strategy to cultivate and create the best wines our wineries have ever produced by including the utilization of the highest quality casks, optimum grape selection, and getting rid of anything that is not perfect.

Mass Group PR

I’m pleased to announce that we’ve also recently signed on with Mass Group PR, arguably Argentina’s most noteworthy Public Relations firm. I believe that working in conjunction with New York City based WEILL and Buenos Aires based Mass Group PR, who have access to specific media, publications, and target-audiences primarily in the US and Argentina respectively, we will be coordinating a strategic consumer and industry buzz in anticipation for Algodon’s introduction to the general public. It’s very exciting to watch this all unfold.

Mass Group’s impressive client list includes the likes of Disney, Master Card, American Express, Ford, Mini Cooper, Motorola, Adidas, Lacoste, Kiehls, Converse, Louis Vuitton, L’Oreal, Valentino, Escada, Diesel, Stella Artois, Evian, Campari, Absolut Vodka, Johnnie Walker as well as the hotels Sofitel, Cipriani Resort, and Alvear Palace. Mass Group also covers BAFWeek; Buenos Aires’ prestigious fashion week. Mass Group PR will be spearheading the Argentine campaign for the launching of Algodon Mansion and Algodon Wine Estates, as well as for Algodon the brand itself.

Wine Fair

Our general manager at the Algodon Mansion recently attended an annual trade show event for tourism and travel professionals in Porte de Versailles, Paris. The event is called “Top Resa” and it’s a great opportunity for networking, exposure, and general PR.

Here’s a link to an article about the event in our newsletter: http://www.thealgodon.com/events/20080901c

Speaking of which- this is a great opportunity to introduce you to our new “The Algodon” newsletter, if you haven’t already seen it. The online news source was created to keep our investors and friends updated with the most up-to-date info on all of our exciting progress. Check it out if you have a minute: http://www.thealgodon.com/index

Weill PR

We recently started working with a New York City based Public Relations firm Geoffrey Weill Associates, Inc., who specialize in the fields of tourism and travel. “WEILL”, as I believe they prefer to be called, are a good group of people with many ties in the media. We are proud to have WEILL on our team, and we look forward to building a relationship with them and benefiting from their vast network affiliations with the “who’s who” of tourism and travel industry insiders.

Top clients include Aman Resorts, Taj Safaris, Dan Hotels, Berlin’s Hotel Adlon Kempinski, and Chicago’s Elysian Hotel, and can be found in over 70 cities world-wide including London, Paris, Moscow, Rome, Jerusalem, Dublin, Cape Town, Istanbul, Beijing, Machu Picchu, and Delhi to name a few. WEILL has been the recipient of over 50 Golden Bell and Adrian Public Relations Awards (some of the PR Industry’s most prestigious honors) presented by HSMAI (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International).

Welcome aboard WEILL.

José Luis Clerc

As I’ve mentioned in an earlier post, we’ve partnered with José Luis Clerc, who happens to be one of the most recognized and revered professional tennis players in Argentina’s history. He will be promoting Algodon Wine Estates’ tennis center, and will also be overseeing the construction and design of the tennis center’s courts, clubhouse, and the overall tennis program itself. His official titles are Director of the José Luis Clerc Tennis Center (at Algodon Wine Estates), and Ambassador of Algodon Global Properties. The latter title is appropriate since he will also serve as a public relations conduit and provide his personal and professional international contacts with the goal of developing tennis exhibitions with former and/or top world players and futures tournaments to be held at Algodon Wine Estates. The fact that José is a very personable gentleman combined with his impressive place in the history of tennis truly makes him a uniquely qualified individual to represent our Algodon brand, both on and off the court.

His player’s history can be found here on Wikipedia. José began playing professionally in 1977, and won 25 ATP Titles, and retired in 1988. His highest rank was World No. 4 in August 4, 1981, following a run of 27 victories and 4 titles in one month, and had year-ending rankings 8th in 1980, 5th in 1981, 6th in 1982, and 8th in 1983. José represented Argentina for the Davis Cup from 1976 to 1989. He currently runs a tennis school in Argentina was recently a featured commentator for ESPN Latin America’s coverage of the 2008 US Open.

A Fitting Compliment

I truly feel that Algodon Wine Estates, as a resort and vacation experience, is the perfect complement to Algodon Mansion, because it will offer guests the ability to round out their Argentinean experience with the flavor, flair and excitement of Buenos Aires- and the relaxation of a unique wine and golf retreat situated in the majestic beauty of the Andean foothills. What could be better?

It’s exciting too, because I feel that each property serves to create a built-in demand for the other; they’re a great combo. Perhaps more importantly though, I believe that each property will also stand independently as a destination draw from a wide range of international and domestic visitors.

When I reexamine the Algodon tag; “… Algodon conjures a clean and pure appreciation for the good life, a sense of refined culture, and ultimately a destination where the best elements of the illustrious past and the affluent present meet.” - I find these qualities are exemplified by a few pastimes, and notable among them would be the appreciation of fine wine and the pursuits of golf and tennis. The link between wine and golf is so fundamental that a feature article was recently published that explores this connection. It’s a fun read.

See Travel and Leisure Golf, March/April 2007, Reds, Whites and Greens

See you next week. In the meantime, have a great week!

Algodon Brand

I’ve recently been asked to talk a little bit about the name idea for the Algodon, so I’ll do that today. My original goal was to create a brand name of distinction, refinement and elegance- a name which conjures “a clean and pure appreciation for the good life, and a sense of refined culture.” Obviously, that’s a big order. So after much careful thought, we decided to run with the word “Algodon,” which means “cotton” in Spanish. Though my Mississippi grandparents were cotton farmers at the start of the 1900s (“when cotton was king!”), for the most part I initially associated the word with the Cotton Club days of the Roaring 20's, and even that sophisticated glamour so often associated with the 50's "Rat Pack". This was a time when travel and leisure were synonymous with culture and sophistication, and that’s the feeling I was going for. My desire is to make Algodon- both as a brand and as a destination- the modern day equivalent in an active, global lifestyle, and ultimately “a destination where the best elements of the illustrious past and the affluent present meet.” Above I’ve quoted some of the language we used when initially defining our brand identity, and I think the language that we came up with worked really well for us.

Bottom line, the Algodon brand represents a lifestyle. My goal and my company’s goal is to continue seeking out distinguished properties which encapsulate old-world charm and sophistication, and to refurbish them with modern day service, technology, and amenities.

I’ve been asked if I am looking to create a hotel chain. The answer is no. I prefer to think of this as simply a collection of exclusive properties within Argentina, which operate under the Algodon brand. And who knows? From there we may expand into other leading cultural cities of the world. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…

My Trip to Buenos Aires

When I arrived in Buenos Aires in 2003, it was common knowledge that the economy had recently suffered a debilitating blow, that the country had defaulted on its national debt and that the unemployment rate was soaring. Since I am by nature a contrarian, this was part of my motivation for going. Although my expectations were somewhat tamed by media coverage about the economic and social problems, I had hoped to enjoy the city’s charms and the value of its currency which had devalued by about 70% from its previous level. In fact, I was “wowed” to find a vibrant world-class city, full of sophisticated, well-dressed and happy people, historic beautiful neighborhoods with lush green parks and public monuments, wide-open boulevards lined with buildings boasting some of the finest architecture I had ever seen. I was also enthralled with the great shopping… markets…. music…. dancing…. wonderful food, wines and entertainment. I knew then why they call Buenos Aires the Paris of South America, at a third of the price here in the States and an even larger value discrepancy in comparison to the major European cities.

My enchantment with the city prompted my interest to learn more about the local real estate market. The more I learned, the more convinced I became that there was a huge opportunity, that prices were extremely low compared to other leading cities and with the economy and tourism rebounding strongly, many elements of risk had already greatly subsided. I was determined to take action.

But that’s enough for today. Next time I’ll be talking about how my vision has indeed been realized by my companies (InvestProperty Group and DPEC Partners) in the creation of a luxury boutique hotel (“Algodon Mansion”) in Buenos Aires, and then later a very beautiful wine and golf resort (“Algodon Wine Estates”) in San Rafael- the southern heart of Mendoza.

Life is good!

My First Entry

Here we go- my first blog entry. I’ve been asked by several friends and coworkers; “What’s possessed you to write an online diary?” So first off let me say, a daily “diary” is certainly not my intention in creating this journal. I’m not here to talk about what I had for breakfast this morning (delicious as it was.) I’d like to think of this as a way to share my personal knowledge and experience regarding current and timely investment opportunities with my friends, family, clients and partners. This is also a great venue for me to keep those same people informed of my companies’ latest endeavors as well as the evolution of our projects.

As many of you know, I’ve taken a particular interest in Argentina’s real estate market, specifically Buenos Aires and Mendoza, after remarkable investment opportunities were made available due the country’s economic crisis several years ago. And though these opportunities have been much publicized, I’ve still been asked; “Why? Why Argentina?” I would like to say that my black box, which is fed with copious amounts of charts and data, issued a proclamation that the time was ripe to enter the real estate market there. However, things don’t normally work that way, at least not for me. My determination to enter this market really began as a personal journey, a tourist visit to Buenos Aires in fact, and was gradually transformed by my experiences and what I witnessed firsthand, into a determination to pursue a vision. So, while in the past few years there has been a lot of positive media coverage relative to Argentina’s real estate market, there is a big difference between words and action. Hence, I have used my conviction to take action and enter this market and am currently in the process of turning my vision into what I feel will be a profitable business and investment opportunity.

Next week I’ll tell you a little bit about my first visit to Buenos Aires, and what specifically it was that really clarified my vision and opened my eyes to the amazing opportunities Argentina offers its investors.

Until then…