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Find Us On FacebookWhile reviewing the (near) construction drawings for our model home last month, it became clear that the (US-based) structural engineers were designing systems capable of handling hurricane-force winds. An understandable tactic, I suppose, since we are all used to hearing about hurricanes battering the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and much of the US’s coasts every [...]
No Hurricanes
February 16th, 2010 by BenPress Release – Progressive Luxury Resorts Make Walls Obsolete for the Traveling Elite
January 8th, 2010 by FrancesCHICAGO, Jan. 6, 2010 — Luxury travel has assumed a new meaning among vacationers looking to be submerged in their destinations’ natural environment. In response to a growing demand for close-to-nature vacation experiences, some progressive luxury resorts are eliminating the physical barriers between travelers and their ultimate destination: nature. These high-end resorts now offer open-air [...]
Scale
December 14th, 2009 by BenIsla Palenque is 400 acres, covered mostly with mature forests, lagoons and mangroves. It also has a highly varied topography, meaning that if you are in one corner of the island, experiencing its specific qualities, you don’t necessarily understand any other part of the island. This makes it a difficult island to get to know, [...]
Press Release: Geotourism Engages Travelers in Authentic Cultural Experiences
December 1st, 2009 by FrancesCHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2009 — Tourism has undergone a dramatic shift in recent years and many in the industry believe the change is permanent. In the past, American tourists sought familiarity in even the most exotic destinations. Today, the more sophisticated consumer seeks experiences as unique as their destinations. This industry-wide travel trend, called “geotourism,” [...]
Press Release — Backpackers Pave the Way for a Wide Variety of Tourists to Flock to Panama’s Gulf of Chiriqui
November 16th, 2009 by FrancesCHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2009 — Panama’s Gulf of Chiriqui is so wild and unspoiled it draws the most adventurous souls to its lush wilderness. Destinations such as Coiba National Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriqui have coaxed trailblazing nature-lovers and water-sport enthusiasts to the area for years, [...]
Fun with GIS
November 12th, 2009 by BenJerrod wrote an entry back in July about walking the proposed road that had been staked for us by our topographers. Walking it, and understanding the topography of the area as well as Design Workshops’s intent, I was suspicious that the stakes weren’t quite where they were supposed to be. That, combined with a few [...]
ULI Sets Goals for Future Resort Developments
November 6th, 2009 by FrancesGreat article by Robert Krueger on the Urban Land Institute blog, about what resorts will look like in the future. Dare we suggest that we resemble that remark? Well, we do.
By the way, this article quotes Rebecca Zimmerman of Design Workshop, our site planners for Isla Palenque. Read it here: blog.
In case you aren’t up [...]
Press Release — Panama Emerges as a Prime Location for Close-To-Nature, Low-Density Resort Development
November 5th, 2009 by FrancesCHICAGO, Nov. 5, 2009 — Trendsetters in environmentally responsible real estate development are discovering the many benefits of constructing low-density resorts in emerging markets like Panama.
Some savvy resort developers are responding to recent customer demands for exceptional natural experiences without sacrificing profitability. The key is emerging markets. Mature tourism markets have high land prices that [...]
Affordable Net-Zero Energy Subdivision
November 2nd, 2009 by MarkI’ve mentioned this idea of “net-zero” before. It’s a term that means exactly what it’s saying: That an input is equal to an output. This is the true goal of sustainability. Too often the idea of sustainability is seen as be an expensive endeavor and that costs outweigh benefits. The argument against that has always [...]
Project Pricing in Central America
October 29th, 2009 by JerrodA listing of most of the large development projects in Central America was recently released by a brokerage firm that has offices throughout region, ranking them by sales price per square foot. I have always been supportive of sharing information and am glad that this firm has taken the initiative to put together such a [...]