Scott L. Mathis

Mass Group PR

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:20:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:10:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:20:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:15:00 +0000

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.

New Nine Holes

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:11:00 +0000

The new nine holes are certainly coming together, and soon our 18-hole course will be up-and running, adding to our reputation as the first golf course in Argentina to be surrounded by vineyards. (Though we’ll soon have to change our boast to; “We’re the first combined championship golf course, and championship tennis center, and championship polo center in Argentina to be surrounded by vineyards…”) Golfers will literally play through vineyards, walnut, pear and olive orchards, and enjoy breathtaking views of the Sierra Pintada Mountains with the Andes as its backdrop. The goal is to create a course that blends with the existing vineyards, indigenous plants, and topography so that it appears as one with the landscape. The design team has opted for a noninvasive approach by allowing the new course to “grow into” its surrounding, and once complete it should reflect a harmonious synergy with the natural beauty of its surroundings. The green will be 7,400 yards from the tips, and will be a challenge for the low handicapper; yet the 5 different tee boxes make the course accessible to the entire family.

Again, the entire 18-hole course will be open for play in May, 2009, but in the meantime the original nine holes are still open for play. Summer will be starting soon in Argentina, so I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of visitors, especially with the press we’ve been getting lately. Check out this media mention; Algodon Wine Estates Barrel Ownership Program.

Golf, Tennis & Polo

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:41:00 +0000

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Viñas del Golf’s original 9 hole course is currently being expanded to 18 holes. We thought it a top priority to push all of the construction for the sporting facilities to the front of our “to-do” list. Algodon Wine Estates is, after all, a resort as well as a boutique winery and gated living community, and we want to make sure the draw of it being an incredibly equipped and versatile sport center was finished- or least well on its way- before we have people living on the property. I’m very pleased to say that most of our plans for the new facilities are underway and construction for most of the projects will be finished by or around May of 2009. That’s a little over 6 months away from the day that I write this post. I’d say we’re doing pretty well. Every time I get back down to San Rafael, I’m always amazed at how much they’ve accomplished since my last visit. And keep in mind; I’m usually down there these days about once or twice a month. The sporting facilities are just another aspect of the estate’s family friendly draw. In the next few posts I’d like to explain a little further about what exactly we’re building, and hopefully I can find a few renderings to post, as well.

Desert Village

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:25:00 +0000

This sector has the highest knolls within the estate, and from here the views are spectacular. You can pretty much see everything. We have big plans for this area including the construction of a high-end luxury hotel and wellness spa. Preliminary plans for the hotel are still in discussions, but we’re hoping to include approximately 50 modern suites featuring elegant contemporary design, and state-of-the-art amenities and services. The luxury spa, fitness, and wellness center will be accessible to guests of the resort as well as homesite owners.

Homesites in this area will have incredible views of the estate, as well as the surrounding mountains. The estate’s largest reservoir will also be located here, as well.

Although construction for several elements of this part of the estate won’t begin for some time, once it’s finished this village will no doubt be one of the most exciting within the estate.

Important Notice

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:00:00 +0000

Thank you for your interest in DPEC Partners (DPEC) & InvestProperty Group (IPG). The ability to invest in private offerings of securities conducted through DPEC Capital, Inc., IPG's transactional partner, is generally limited by SEC regulations to persons who are “accredited investors” and who have a pre-existing relationship with DPEC Capital or its employees. Furthermore, anyone whose first introduction to DPEC Capital or IPG was through this website is precluded from investing in any current offering or one that is in the pipeline. Please visit the DPEC Capital website for more details about accredited investors by clicking here, or for more details about risks and suitability, please click here.

South Vineyard & Orchard Village

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:55:00 +0000

This village is very interesting. It’s mainly made up of fincas (productive lots; i.e. vineyards, orchards…) and as a result, many of the homesites in this sector are much larger than homesites from the other villages. Those who are serious about wanting to reside on a vineyard estate and produce their own wine will most likely choose one of these homesites.

I should say here that finca owners will have several options regarding their property's seasonal harvest and production. For example, a vineyard owner may choose have their vineyard tended, harvested, and processed by the estate’s staff and sold either under the Algodon label, sold to a third party, or ultimately under their own family label. A private wine cellar and tasting room are also available for estate owners who opt to bottle and label their own wines.

This village borders on the Desert Village area, and sits adjacent to where the future luxury hotel will be situated.

Personal Update

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:41:00 +0000

I am pleased to report that the "bill of sale" for the estate homesites will be complete this week, and as a result we can begin selling the estate homesites immediately. We already have approximately 27 estate homesites that people have reserved, and we anticipate executing those transactions as soon as possible.

Regarding our golf course; as you know we started with nine holes and recently began building the back nine. The new nine holes of the golf course have now been completely excavated and shaped, with the fairways, greens, and tees complete. The drainage piping and sprinkler system are now being installed, and grass will be planted within the next 2 months. The complete 18-hole championship course will be open by April/May, 2009. We are working fast over here! That progress alone should add some nice value to the project!

We have 300 estate lots for sale (ranging from 1 to 15 acres) roughly averaging about 2.5 acres (1 ha) located on the vineyards, golf course, polo fields and tennis center with views to the mountains. As well as 50 luxury Villa Townhomes with great views of the vineyards, golf course, and mountains, and 12 Tennis Villas (approximately 2,000 sq ft each, and situated in a beautiful 50 + year old olive orchard), which are really nicely located and look over the tennis complex and center court stadium, and are also adjacent to the golf course with more great views of the mountains.

As far as the Algodon Tennis Complex goes, we have been working with José Luis Clerc (# 4 ATP in the world from 1979 - 1985) who is now one of Argentina's most recognized and respected sports figures, and was recently featured as an ESPN commentator for the 2008 US Open. He will be operating a tennis academy and bringing exhibition and tournament play to our estate. The restaurant expansion will have a view over the center court (similar to the court set-up in Monte Carlo) so that persons who wine and dine can enjoy the match play from their table.

Our project is truly "coming together" and I look forward to showing you the amazing progress in the very near future! As with any project, there have been numerous changes, delays, and problems, etc., but overall I am very pleased with the progress and what the team in Argentina has accomplished.

The Algodon Mansion in Buenos Aires is moving forward nicely and will be open in less than 5 months. Get ready to book your rooms!!! The mansion is small (20,000 sq. ft.) but it will certainly be one of the most exquisite hotel properties any of us have ever stayed in (and I make that a promise!) On the next trip down to BA you will see that the scaffolding/cover on the building will be gone and our 1912 Mansion is truly the most beautiful building on the Street. More updates to come!!!

North Vineyard & Orchard Village

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:30:00 +0000

This area of land was just recently purchased so its design may change as the estate evolves, or once general construction begins. I can say that we plan to include a central Laguna, which approximately 8 large homesites will surround. I guess technically it’s not a “real” Laguna; however that’s what we’re calling it for now. There are several small bodies of water on the estate, and we need to distinguish them somehow. Laguna works for me.

There is also quite a bit of green space here, as well as vineyards and fruit orchards. I think the rendering says quite a lot. Immediately to the west of this area is the Vineyard & Golf Village, and directly to the south is the South Vineyard & Finca Village.

Vineyard & Polo Village

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:26:00 +0000

This sector is very exciting. Two polo fields are currently being laid-out, and will be ready for play by the spring of next year. The fields are centrally located in the village, and a polo clubhouse will sit between them. The clubhouse will include a wrap-around balcony so that event spectators can have a great view of both of the fields. The village will also include vineyards, walnut trees, and horse pastures, as well as stables, exercise rings, and a practice field.

Several homesite estates surround the polo fields, and many others are located on vineyard or fruit orchards for those who wish to cultivate a productive lot, or produce their own family label.

Letter from Argentina

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:38:00 +0000

Hello, I hope everyone is having a great week. I’m in San Rafael at the moment, and I have to say the expansion of the golf course is moving forward quickly. You’d be amazed to see the progress; as of now you can actually see the complete layout of the course, and the views are extraordinary. I think that Ricky and the team have really done an excellent job so far. They have scheduled completion for the course by April/May 2009.

Anthony Foster has recently completed his tastings of Algodon Wine and Bombal & Aldao Wine. He says he is very impressed with two of our Malbec's, as well as our Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and one exceptional Merlot. He seems quite pleased and excited to back our line.

José Luis Clerc also made it to Algodon Wine Estates today, and we went over the plans for the tennis area. He suggested creating a mini-centre court, and two phases of six courts each. The center court would be "in-ground", and the restaurant’s 2nd floor dining patio will have views overlooking the court; similar to a popular tennis facility in Monaco. He is confident that he can bring some very important exhibition matches, as well as the “Clerc Tennis Academy” - and really make this project a success. He was also being interviewed by a radio station while he was here and gave us a nice mention.

José will also be in New York City for the 2008 US Open as a featured commentator for ESPN. Color me impressed.

When everyone gets here in October and November for the next due diligence trips you will notice some really big changes in the Algodon Mansion and Algodon Wine Estates!

Have a good week.
Scott

Wine & Golf Village

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:23:00 +0000

Our Wine & Golf Village is where you’ll find the estate’s boutique winery, as well as over 60 acres of vineyards that date back to 1946. The landscape in this area is quite unique, as it was originally developed by immigrants who settled in the area many years ago. The grassy knolls that still remain from their farming and land cultivation offer beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

Vinas del Golf’s original 9-hole golf course is also in this area. By the way, the golf course even as I write this is being expanded to 18-holes. It will be finished by May of next year, and we’re all very excited about the upgrade. The course is surrounded by vineyards, fruit trees, murmuring brooks, tree-lined roads, and a spectacular group of individual homesites and 50 casita villas.

Those who choose to live on a vineyard or orchard homesite can opt to have the land tended, harvested, and processed by our staff, if they choose.

The new tennis center sits just above this area, and will include 10 clay courts, one grass court, and a central mini-stadium. The tennis center will also include a large pool, a clubhouse and locker-rooms, as well as 12-18 townhouses. I’ll talk more about this later, as we’re still in the development stages. I’d like to post some of the preliminary renderings, as well. This is by far one of my favorite aspects of the development. I love tennis.

Village Sectors

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:18:00 +0000

The master plan for Algodon Wine Estates contains four main village sectors. The plan is currently laid out to include approximately 250 individual homesites, ranging anywhere between 1-15 acres each, for private sale and development. We’ll also be including about 50 villa condominiums or “casitas” within one of the areas, as well as 12-18 townhouses in another- both of which I’ll elaborate on later. The thought behind the project is that homesite owners when customizing their homes will have the option of choosing from several architectural designs that our estate planners, artisans, and design team can assist in choosing- always keeping in mind the overall integrity an Argentine vineyard estate. Determining which design works best for each individual property may be decided by several factors including location, landscape features, and of course personal taste.

The village sectors may be thought of as neighborhoods, if you will, and will include a Vineyard and Golf Village, an Equestrian Village, a Farming Village, and a Desert Golf Village. Most of the villages include homesites which are located on vineyards or orchards. Any one of these homesites is ideal for those interested in grape, olive, or fruit cultivation. Vineyard owners in particular will surely enjoy producing their own exclusive family label. Each homesite offers beautiful estate views and natural surroundings, and of course the privilege of being located within an immaculately cultivated vineyard and golf estate.

San Rafael!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:44:00 +0000

San Rafael is a city located in the southern heart of Mendoza, and is home to our premiere boutique winery, and wine and golf estate development, Algodon Wine Estates. I love San Rafael. It has a European countryside appeal that includes sidewalk cafés, tree-lined roads, green spaces, vineyards and wineries, museums, and all kinds of neighboring resorts and lodges. The city sees over 300 days of annual sunshine. And even though this is a quaint and quite city, it’s experiencing a full upswing of economic, cultural, and demographic expansion. While I’m sure the development of Algodon Wine Estates certainly plays a factor in that, this expansion was happening before we even got there. The city is also home to a branch of one of Argentina’s leading universities. And with the Sierra Pintada and Andes Mountains right there as its backdrop, the region is very family friendly offering plenty of things to do. The Rio Atuel and Rio Diamante, which surround the city, are two of Argentina’s most exciting natural attractions. These offer white water rafting, canoeing, camping, horseback riding, hiking, rock climbing, recreational fishing, and just about anything else you can think of. Valle Grande, which is Argentina’s miniature answer to The Grand Canyon, is also only 20 miles away. Las Leñas, one of the greatest ski resorts on the entire South American continent, is also right there. And since a major airport is just 10 minutes away from Algodon Wine Estates, getting there is a breeze.

Pure & Untouched

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:01:00 +0000

Mendoza is truly an extraordinary place. You may sometimes hear it referred to as the “Napa Valley” of Argentina. Though I have a feeling that this common analogy will prove to be short lived, as Mendoza continues to make a name for itself, and more and more people begin to recognize it as its own thriving entity worthy of world-wide attention. Mendoza is responsible for more than 70% of the country's wine production, an impressive number when considering that Argentina is the 5th largest producer of wine in the world. As the world's familiarity with Argentine wine grows, international demand grows with it.

The wines born of this region are world-class quality, and for the most part this place is untouched. It’s still pure. The country’s wine regions spread from the foothills of the Andes Mountains, and all the runoff water from the snowcaps and glacial melt is used for irrigation for the whole region. This is some of the purest water on the planet. And I don’t mind saying that I probably enjoy a glass of Mendoza wine a little more when I think about the incredibly pure water that grew those grapes.

Mendoza has clearly experienced an explosion in popularity over the past decade and the region is ripe with new winery and real estate development. I’ve witnessed it personally; there’s obvious evidence of it everywhere down there, and it’s one of the hottest conversation topics among the locals. Northern California also saw a real estate explosion in the 1980s and the investment analogy couldn’t be clearer. Mendoza real estate prices are currently a fraction of the cost you would find in any other major wine region in the world. Vineyard estate developments are popping up across Mendoza’s landscape; and this is a trend that seems to be rapidly growing in momentum. In fact, I’ll be so bold as to say that I believe we’re one of the trailblazers of this movement.

Bormida & Yanzon

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:53:00 +0000

I’m very proud to say that Algodon Wine Estates is one of the premiere wine and golf estates in all of Argentina. It’s also a member of Argentina Wine Hotels and is situated on Mendoza’s “Ruta del Vino” (Wine Trail).

Once we decided to move forward with the homesite offerings, I wanted to make absolutely sure this was done right. We did all kinds of research on master plan artists and architects, and when the smoke finally cleared, the one that most keenly stood out was a Buenos Aires architectural firm named Bormida & Yanzon.

Check out their website here. I imagine you’ll be just as blown away by their work as we were: Click here.

These two are fantastic architects, and they’ve designed wineries all over Mendoza. Some of these designs are truly breathtaking. I feel very fortunate that we were able to secure them to work on this project. While they won’t be building us a winery in the immediate future, they have created the master plan layout which you can see here: Algodon Wine Estates - Master Plan.

- And their design has helped us to determine more clearly defined village sectors within the community that we’re creating. I’ll expand on that later. Have a good evening.

Viñas del Golf

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:04:00 +0000

Algodon Wine Estates’ first incarnation was a much smaller-scaled wine and golf resort called Viñas del Golf. We’ve retained the name for the golf course, at present. It was named after José Jurado, who was Argentina’s #1 golfer during the sport’s Golden Age, and is probably the most recognized figure in Argentinean golf history.

José is considered “The father of Argentine Professional Golf.” It’s his grandson, Ricky, who created the estate (with his father, Ricardo) and who is still an active partner and voice in the evolution of the estate. Ricky and his father founded Argentina’s largest golf equipment business and embarked on a personal journey to combine two of their life passions: wine and golf. Thus “Viñas del Golf”; 741 acres (of magnificent landscape!) combining championship golf, world-class boutique wine production, and traditional Mendocinian (I know, it’s a new word for me too. It means “of Mendoza”; as in “Parisian” or “Italian”) structures and agricultural techniques.

Those original 741 acres were eventually increased significantly when my companies partnered with Ricky and purchased adjacent properties, resulting in an increase of vineyards and other cultivatable areas, and an amazing addition of the neighboring desert hills. The expansion brought the total property to over 2,050 acres, and every new parcel offers spectacular views of the Sierra Pintadas as well as of the property itself.

Believe it or not, creating the homesite offerings for this estate was more of an afterthought. Initially, I was thinking; “Wow, this is going to be a fantastic wine & golf resort…” Yet as more and more connecting acreage was purchased, it soon became evident that homesite offerings were the most logical next step. See you next week.

A Fitting Compliment

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:13:00 +0000

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 Wine Estates

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 04:21:00 +0000

I just flew back from business in San Rafael, and realized as I read through these entries that I haven’t mentioned Algodon Wine Estates yet. So, for those of you who don’t know what Algodon Wine Estates is- let me start by saying that as I traveled more broadly in Argentina, particularly to the splendid Mendoza wine region, I stumbled upon what I felt were incredible opportunities:

-opportunities to invest in luxury agrotourism targeted to both Argentinean nationals and international tourists.
-and an opportunity to create an elite, gated, golf course/winery community.

Hence Algodon Wine Estates was born. Now let me just say here on a personal note- this has to be one of the best ideas I’ve ever had. I may even retire there myself one day. In my opinion, it’s not only an incredible investment opportunity for both myself and my business partners, it’s honestly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to.

Here is the real estate tag we use that I think pretty much sums up what Algodon Wine Estates is about:

“Algodon Wine Estates (AWE) is situated in the hills of the Sierra Pintada Mountains at the base of the Andes, in San Rafael, Mendoza. Our stunning Argentine vineyard and golf estate encompasses over 2,050 acres (830 hectares) of picturesque terrain that harmoniously intermingles with multiple golf courses, lush vineyards, fruit and olive orchards, water reserves and channels, and spectacular tree-lined roads. The enormous estate also features a boutique world-class winery and tasting room, a traditional Mendocinian lodge, clubhouse, and an award-winning restaurant. Some of the property’s original structures, whose elegant rustic style adds a certain element of charm and comfort to the estate’s overall character, date as far back as 1921. The vineyard’s oldest vines date back to the 1940s and are comprised of seven varieties of grapes including Malbec; Argentina’s signature varietal. AWE’s surrounding resort and lodge frame this vineyard and golf estate, creating an alluring sanctuary of relaxation and tranquility.”

Period. This place is truly magnificent, and it amazes me that what started out as a boutique winery and golf estate- has become a multimillion-dollar homesite development project that buyers are scrambling to own a piece of. More on Algodon Wine Estates next time.

Let’s get busy!

Algodon Brand

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:49:00 +0000

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…

Formula For Success

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Tue, 20 May 2008 03:27:00 +0000

As I mentioned in a previous post, Argentina’s booming economy and real estate market are presenting unparalleled investment opportunities every day, and are attracting savvy international investors from all over the world, including us. When approaching the real estate market, we felt that an ideal investment sector for ourselves and our investors would be the hospitality sector. I personally feel that identifying underperforming commercial properties and repositioning them into hotel or mixed-use properties is a formula for success.

Argentina’s uninterrupted property appreciation has roughly seen a 50% increase in real estate values since overcoming its financial crisis in 2002. So it’s logical to me that, while property appreciation alone may be well worth the initial investment, capitalizing on that investment to create an additional primary source of income should be our ultimate goal. A successful luxury boutique hotel such as Algodon Mansion may potentially generate multiple revenue sources from a single piece of property. That’s good news to me.

While the Algodon Mansion will serve as a high-end, private hotel for distinguished guests, we also hope to appeal to the local community with the restaurant, lounge and spa. Our goal in the property’s renewal is to reclaim the old world charm and sophistication of its original 1912 architecture, while at the same time denoting an aesthetic value of modern elegance and functionality. We’re all proud of it. By respecting and maintaining the integrity of the building’s original facade, we believe the finished product will add to the beautification of the neighborhood; attracting a loyal customer base and becoming a travel destination for both the local community and visitors to Buenos Aires.

Next week I’ll talk about the name we’ve chosen for the hotel brand, and how we reached the decision to call our project “Algodon.”

Have a great week!

Algodon Mansion

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:50:00 +0000

“Perhaps the most tangible sign of Argentina’s economic recovery, is its booming real estate market, which has transformed Buenos Aires, the capital, into a construction site.” - The Wall Street Journal

I love that quote. Tourism in Argentina is thriving right now, and has been for the last several years. I see it every time I go down there, and my favorite hotels are always almost booked to capacity. Argentina is literally the leading tourism destination in all of Latin America, and had over 4.5 million visitors in 2007. The Argentine Tourism Office says that visitors from the US alone grew more than 35% between 2005 and 2007. I like those numbers! 2.2 million foreigners visited Buenos Aires last year, and Buenos Aires City Tourism Bureau did a study that found foreign tourists prefer four and five star hotels (who doesn’t?), and that 2007 occupancy rates exceeded 85%. Things are looking good for our hotel project.

The mansion we purchased is absolutely amazing. It was previously a private residence and is located at 1647 Montevideo Street in the heart of the embassy and luxury hotel district, Recoleta. The Mansion is a magnificent 20,000 sq/ft estate that was built in 1912. It’s a 5-story building, but we added a subbasement during the renovation, bringing it to 6-stories. The architectural team we decided to use for the renovation is headed by internationally acclaimed architect, Gerhard Heusch. He’s got a great portfolio, and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing some of his past projects in person, including The Grand Havana Room in both New York and LA.

The hotel will feature 10 luxury suites, a 5-story hanging garden, and rooftop pool, spa, and bar. Watching the completion of this project has been a real experience. These days, I get down there to oversee the project just about every other week. One of the highlights for me has been the construction of the rooftop pool. Wow. It’s going to be truly fantastic. The hotel is also going to have a restaurant featuring South American & French-fusion cuisine, a private dining room with a wine cave and humidor, library bar, wine cellar, and an outside dining patio that features an A-framed glass ceiling. This project has become very personal to me, and I have to say that I’m quite proud of it.

With Gerhard’s help (as well as the rest of our incredible work team down there), Algodon Mansion should be opening its doors in December. That’s right around the corner, and we’re all very excited about it. The plan is to have a wonderful New Year’s opening party for our partners and friends. I’m looking forward to it.

I’ll be here next week with more about Algodon Mansion…Gotta go, I have work to do!

Taking Action

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Mathis) — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:20:00 +0000

During the period leading up to the economic collapse, the Argentine peso was artificially pegged to the dollar on a one-for-one basis. This action artificially inflated the cost for foreigners to visit Buenos Aires and consequently reduced the volume of tourism and the demand for development of additional hotel infrastructure. In recent years, the situation has dramatically reversed - demand has far exceeded the supply of quality hotel and other tourist-oriented facilities, especially in the category of premium intimate properties.

I have spent a lot of time since my first visit to Buenos Aires both studying and focusing on the hotel sector of this rapidly rebounding city. In January 2007, my company InvestProperty Group closed on the purchase of a magnificent old mansion located in Buenos Aires’ most elegant residential neighborhood, Recoleta. This neighborhood is truly unbelievable. It’s like the Beverly Hills of Buenos Aries. It’s known for its broad tree-lined avenues, fashionable boutiques, high-end restaurants, cafés, art galleries, and exquisite French architecture. I can’t go on enough about this place, it’s unquestionably the city’s most cultured neighborhood, and that’s why I thought it would be the ideal location for IPG’s flagship luxury boutique hotel, “Algodon Mansion.”

I’m out of time for today, but I’ll write more about this project in my next entry.