The project for the Maraey tourist-residential complex, in Maricá (RJ), is still in full swing. Even with the pandemic, the negotiations related to the US$2.16 billion project of IDB Brasil have advanced. An installation license separates the project from the beginning of the works, which should be released soon. The opening of the first phase is for the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024.
“In a year, things have progressed a lot. It was a long time in search of all licenses. So, leaving a greenfield project of this size to start construction is a very important milestone. The complex enters another level,” says Emilio Izquierdo, CEO of IDB Brasil. In total, Maraey will have four hotels and a hotel university. "We will have a convention resort, a luxury eco-resort, an all-inclusive and a golf resort", he explains.
Izquierdo adds that, of the four resorts, only one does not have a defined flag yet, that of golf. "We received two proposals and we are in the competition phase," he says, without revealing the brands of the other projects. He also highlights the complementarity of the projects, which would help to consolidate Maraey as a tourist destination.
“Our estimate is to attract 300 thousand tourists a year. This is done directly, but there is an indirect demand that can increase this account by up to 50%,” he comments. “Even after the pandemic, we maintained the masterplan, which has a sustainable bias and land use of only 6.6% of the total area (844 hectares). However, we adapt the apartments to the new trends, expanding the balconies, for example. We also created coworking spaces,” he adds.
According to Hotelier News, the release of casinos would be one of the developers' claims for the complex. Asked about the matter, Izquierdo did not deny it, but said that the project's success is not linked to gambling.
“For Brazil, I think it would be positive: it would boost tourism and job creation. Our venture, however, has business viability regardless of that, be it hotels or real estate,” he says. “We are focused on our tourism and housing proposal. The subject has been talked about for four or five years, but nothing has happened so far,” he adds.
Marey Complex: Residential
In the residential area, properties of different types (such as villas and apartments), as well as shopping centers and schools are planned. For him, the real estate sector responded satisfactorily during the pandemic. “Our proposal is fundamentally for the first home. The target audience is formed by cariocas and residents of Grande Rio seeking better quality of life,” explains Izquierdo. “With the pandemic, this vision of housing gains even more strength, and so does leisure tourism,” he adds.
The executive was confident with the potential of the complex, even with the probable scenario of economic crisis in the country in the post-pandemic. “From a macro perspective, expectations related to Brazil can be very positive. Corrections to the drop in GDP are indicative, as well as the Selic in historical lows,” he explains. "I speak regularly with national and international funds and, if the country moves forward on the reform agenda, 2021 could be a massive arrival of international capital," he adds.
IDB Brasil is controlled by Spanish companies, but also has American, Chinese and Brazilian capital. Among the controlling groups are Abacus Property Development and the Cetya Group, which does business in several areas, from exporting raw materials to real estate promotion. In its homeland, it has already developed other mixed-use projects like Maraey, in addition to hospitals and schools. In Brazil, it will be its first bet.
Source: Hotelier News
