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Buccament Bay Beach Resort – Latest Site Pictures

26 May
The Pearl was hand built for Harlequin Hotels and Resorts in Indonesia. Following her completion The Pearl made her maiden voyage to Singapore where a cradle was constructed atop of a cargo vessel and shortly after her trip to New Orleans was under way.
The Captain and crew have now arrived in New Orleans and following some finishing works and mounting of parts, The Pearl is shortly to set to sea once more, as she makes her way to her final home in Buccament Bay.
While on route, final rigging work will be done, deck finishing and interior works, with the cannon port holes being added last, along with the cannons that will eventually lay rest to table tops and culinary delights served by the executive chefs of Buccament Bay.
Ye adventures of The Pearl continue……
Buccament Ships
BuyInvestment Property Caribbean
Caribbean Real Estate for sale
Ship Inside
Buccament Bay Update

FOR PRICING and BROCHURES Contact Amand Sawicz or Steven Warner by clicking here

 

Financial Freedom…..That’s what I’m doing.

07 May

Financial Freedom…..That’s what I’m doing.

Creating wealth and financial freedom is not easy but it is certainly something we are all aiming to do.

One only has to look to those investors who poured money into pensions, equities, stock and shares through 2008 and 2009 during the height of the turbulent global markets to see how quickly wealth could be eroded.  For some it was and still is outright painful.

Often acting on a whim or a trend – most people invested where the masses went and did not use foresight to carefully look at the real opportunities that were available.  They had a dream, like most of us do….but not a clear plan to get there.



2010 and beyond are going to be the years of great opportunity.


Those savvy investors who stayed out of the markets in 2008 and 2009 are going to be poised to re-enter the market and secure big discounts and see bigger rewards.  We see it happening already.

It is also interesting to know that investors are also changing their priorities now that the economic landscape has changed so dramatically. Investors are demanding solid and guaranteed yields from their investments.  The standard bank rates that are being offered are certainly not high enough to entice investors to keep their money in the banks either.

It’s really time to think very differently about how we go about creating wealth.  This is where property investment comes into the picture.  Be aware that creating wealth through property investment needs an element of careful thought, clear planning, exact execution, and certainly selective timing.  It takes a team with industry knowledge.

We at Global Investment Solutions have advisors who can talk you through international real estate investment.  We can tailor an investment strategy and offer advice to have you on your way to financial freedom.  We will share with our knowledge and provide solid advice so you can make informed decisions and really get a solid head-start in growing your investment portfolio.

Imagine being able to increase your total earned income with additional passive income from property and real estate.  Imagine the choices that will open up for you by changing the way you think about investing.

Its time to stop dreaming, and start doing!  Knowledge is power.  Once you have the knowledge, you can make informed decisions on how to create that wealth that you have been dreaming of.

Think to yourself; do you want to create more wealth and financial freedom?  We at Global Investment Solutions are passionate about sharing our industry knowledge and helping our reach their financial goals. So are you going to just dream? Or are you going to turn those dreams into reality? It’s up to you!

FOR PRICING and BROCHURES Contact Amand Sawicz or Steven Warner by clicking here

 

Launch event wins over Harlequin investors

05 May

Over 2,500 people flocked to a pre-launch event for Harlequin Property last weekend – and agents say their clients were “pleased” with the developer’s progress.

The two-day show at Wembley Stadium, hosted by brand ambassador Andy Townsend, gave existing and potential investors a preview of Harlequin’s Buccament Bay resort in the Caribbean.

“The idea behind the launch was to show everyone what we have achieved at Buccament Bay and demonstrate to the travel industry that Harlequin Hotels and Resorts will be a force to be reckoned with in the industry,” Harlequin’s chairman, Dave Ames, told OPP in a statement.

“It was also intended to give visitors an opportunity to ask me any questions they had about the resort and Harlequin’s other developments in the Caribbean and thank them for their patience, allowing us to complete a resort to the highest standards.”

Although it has experienced delays, Buccament Bay is set to open in November 2010 and will be Harlequin’s first completed resort.

“It is hoped that the progress of the development will give assurance that Harlequin is a serious developer that builds what it sells off-plan,” said Ames.


Positive feedback

Agents attending the event said their clients were pleased with what they saw. Greg Walters, managing director of Roc Investments, brought a coach of 35 investors to the event from Birmingham. “One client who had already bought with Harlequin has now decided to purchase more than one extra unit,” he said.

Louise Hoade, director of Principal International, said: “One couple who had been considering buying for some time were very positive. They felt reassured about the progress that has taken place and some of the partnerships.”

She added: “It wasn’t a day where they tried to sell. It was more about giving information.”

The event featured speeches from architects, restaurateurs and spa managers involved in Harlequin’s reorts, as well as a set from the Harlequin Performing Arts Academy and several West End actors.

Representatives from British Airways and the St Vincent and the Grenadines government also made appearances, while Harlequin’s ‘ambassador’ – football commentator and former player Andy Townsend – acted as compere.

FOR PRICING and BROCHURES Contact Amand Sawicz or Steven Warner by clicking here

 

I didn’t like broccoli when I was five!

28 Apr

I didn’t like broccoli when I was five!

Do you remember sitting at the dinner table when you were young and there was some vile food on your plate staring back at you.  Maybe it was broccoli; maybe it was peas, or the ever dreaded liver that scared you as a youngster.  While that food was looking at you, all you could hear in the background was your mother telling you lovingly that you at least had to try it, and you were not leaving the table till you had.

Now you are probably thinking to yourself what has what has broccoli got to do with investments. Well let me explain, as there is a very valuable lesson that our parents were teaching us that is extremely relevant to ones attitude towards investment; so bear with me while I explain.

I am sure we can all agree that the point to investing in general is to make money.  When we were young our parents taught us to “save for a rainy day”, and maybe even set us up with a few small stocks and bonds.  This is potentially where many of us would have been first introduced to the big world of investing.  As we got older the investments available became more intricate, however our purpose did not change.  We all still want great ROI from our investments.

Here is where I get to my point.   When I was young, there was no way that you could get me to eat broccoli.  Even today I am not partial to plain old steamed broccoli, but add some butter, a bit of salt and pepper and I can stand it.  Add some melted cheese to it, and now you have something that I actually will really enjoy.  I tried an alternative.  I was open minded to something new.  That’s the point!

There are many investments available nowadays.  It is really is important to know what all your options are.  New investments strategies come out all the time.  So the next time you say “No No No that investment certainly is not for me” before you have even had a chance to really look into it, think of what you are saying no to?  No I don’t want to make money?  No I don’t understand so it can’t possibly be worth my time to take the time?  You never know, it just might turn out to be exactly the “topping” your investment portfolio needs.

 

Come on and make a decision already!

23 Apr

Come on and make a decision already!

Indecisive Man investing internationallyNowadays it easier than ever to look up “advice” on the internet as far as investments are concerned; however 99% of the time, most investment web sites will either tell you something you already know, or have you shaking your head at the screen in disagreement.

Eventually you find yourself reverting back to old adages and sayings, and then finally either do what you had already decided, or, do absolutely nothing.  Sound familiar? Read on…..

Now what if you could avoid the inevitable road of perils and frustrations above and actually form a plan of action that would yield something?

Is that not that the point of investing in the first place; thus making all your time worth something on the internet and not just done in vain.

Venturing into new investments can be somewhat unnerving to say the least, even for the savviest investor, but new investments needn’t be baffling or scary.  There are a few simple questions that you can ask yourself that will inevitably help you decide what investment will suit your portfolio.  Overseas blue and greeen investing graph

First and foremost; how much do you have to invest?  Have a budget and stick to it.  Next, decide how long you would like to invest for.

Finally, decide what you want the investment to achieve. Now I know what you are thinking… I want to make money so I can retire and live happily ever after playing golf, and sipping cocktails on the beach.

That is however the end result of investing, not what you want one investment to achieve.  Instead, think more along the lines of whether your investment needs to be a reliable income generator, a tax break exercise, or produce a long term nest egg.

Obviously some investments can be a combination of the above.  Make Sense?

Once you have an idea of what you want to achieve, it will than be a lot easier to decipher which investments are most suitable for your investment strategy and will fit into your portfolio.

Now…here is where investing takes real strength; but trust me this is the most important!

Once you have your solid well researched investment options in front of you, stop looking for more! Concentrate on details of each investment and work through each one methodically.  Do your own research, and due diligence.



Often people keep on comparing this and that with other things, and go by what Bob said down the pub – most of this information is usually incorrect. Using Bob’s information will always lead to procrastination and add unneeded confusion.

In the case of the unlimited investment property forums on the internet – hard as it is; be strong and try to ignore them.  Rarely are they ever supported by any actual proven fact and are riddled by inaccuracies and often blatant lies.  If you have questions – go to your source, and ask for written documentation.

All that forums do is prolong the indecision and again add confusion.  This will again cause procrastination which subsequently means you resort to either continuing to hide your money in the attic or, leave the cash in the bank because “its all just too much”.  So be strong, do your research, ask questions, and make a decision already.

Keeping yourInternational  investment make money facts straight and having a thorough understanding of each investment is absolutely paramount.

Make sure you know exactly what you are investing in, what is happening with your money, and what you are going to get for your money.  I can not say this enough times.

If you have any question about any aspect of the investment, ask your product advisor…and again ask for specifics in writing.  If they can’t explain it to you in a way you understand, and can not provide you with substantiating documentation…. move on.

Using new international property investment vehicles needn’t be complicated or scary.  As times change so do investment options.  What you need to do is focus and get a clear understanding of the investment.

Once you know this you can weigh the risk vs the reward.   Play this against where you want to spend your time golfing and drinking cocktail on the beach, and then decide if it fits into your portfolio strategy.

The end result with any investment is ultimately understanding it to make the right decision. Once you understand and weigh this against your goals, you can than make an informed investment decision.

So go on….you can do it!  Make a decision already!

Request more information on international property investment vehicles from our experts by clicking here


 

St. Vincent Resort Launch @ Wembley Stadium on 24th & 25th

08 Apr

Harlequin Logo

Buccament Bay

Global Investment Solutions are delighted to announce that Harlequin Hotels and Resorts will be hosting an open weekend at Wembley Stadium on 24th & 25th April 2010 to celebrate the opening of their first resort in the Caribbean – Buccament Bay Resort in St Vincent & The Grenadines, in July 2010. This will be an opportunity for clients to meet the entire team behind the opening of the most exciting new resort in the Caribbean.

There will be a host of important attendees present on both days including the Prime Minister of St Vincent & The Grenadines, to talk about this wonderful island and the Government’s support for the stunning Buccament Bay resort. Also present will be several Government Ministers and Caribbean High Commissioners for St Vincent & The Grenadines, Barbados, St Lucia and the Dominican Republic, the islands where Harlequin Hotels and Resorts will be opening other resorts.


Harlequin’s Ambassador Andy Townsend, ex-Chelsea and Republic of Ireland player, will be compering the weekend and will provide an update on the Harlequin Sports Academy.

Ex-Liverpool footballer, David Fairclough, and other Liverpool personnel will also be on hand to talk about the Liverpool Football Club Soccer Schools, the first of which will be opening at Buccament Bay Resort in July.

Pat Cash will be talking about the Pat Cash Tennis Academies, the first of which will be opening at Buccament Bay Resort in July, as well as the new Pat Cash Tennis Hotels that we are planning to build at Buccament Bay Resort, Las Canas and The Marquis Estate.

Harlequin Performing Arts Academy. Global Investment Solutions are also proud to announce that stars from the West End and Broadway will be performing in a new music and dance extravaganza, Bringing the Best of Broadway to the Caribbean, on each day at 4pm. This is a show not to be missed! Performers will include Michael McCarthy, West End and Broadway star, famous for his performances of Javert in Les Miserables and Paul Morrissey, who has recently finished performing in Phantom of the Opera in the West End.


Most importantly clients will be able to meet the Harlequin Hotels & Resort’s Hotel Management Team. Gary Sims will be introducing members of Harlequin’s Senior Management Team whose experiences in five star resorts around the world will be key in delivering the quality and high standards at Buccament Bay Resort. The team’s management experience encompasses Le Touessrok in Mauritius, the Beverley Hills Hilton in Hollywood, the Waldorf Astoria in New York, the Starwood Group which owns hotels such as the Westin, W Hotels, Sheraton and St Regis, and Nikki Beach. This demonstrates the strength and depth of experience of the management team that we have in place to help guarantee the success of Harlequin’s resorts in the Caribbean.


This is an event not to be missed.  If you would like more information please contact Global Investment Solutions directly!


amanda.sawicz@globalinvestmentsolutions.ca

 

The Sister Islands open for business!

07 Apr

In a move to drive investment and business to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, a delegation of Cayman Chamber of Commerce members traveled to Cayman Brac to meet with Mr Moses Kirkconnell, president of the Sister Islands Tourism Association.

Chamber President Stuart Bostock, Councilor Shayne Howe, Member Brad Watts and CEO Wil Pineau, CCE, travelled to Cayman Brac and met with Mr Kirkconnell and other members of the Tourist Association in establish a long-term partnership.

The two groups have agreed to work together on several projects to encourage inward investment and tourism in the Sister Islands. One of the initial strategies will be to develop special travel, meeting and incentives packages to encourage businesses operating in Grand Cayman to consider Cayman Brac and Little Cayman for conferences, retreats and special events. Plans are also being developed to organise special events that will attract more visitors to the Sister Islands.

The Sister Islands are open for business,” said Mr Bostock, “and the Chamber encourages everyone to take advantage of the natural beauty and affordable opportunities that are available to investors, visitors and residents.”

For more information about opportunities in the Sister Islands click here now!

Visit www.sisterislands.com orwww.itsyourstoexplore.com or www.naturecayman.com

 

Cayman and Cuba talk tourism – Canada

27 Mar

McKeeva Bush and Marrero CruzA delegation to Cuba headed by Premier McKeeva Bush who is also the Minister of Tourism, held exploratory talks on a tourism partnership with Cuba and the Spanish hotel chain Sol Melia last week. Premier Bush met with Cuban Minister of Tourism Manuel Marrero Cruz and executives of Sol Melia.

The talks are a first step in attracting more European and Canadian visitors to Cayman and a new hotel brand for the Islands. The talks also included potential cruise tourism originating from Cuba. The aim of the partnership is to promote a two-destination travel package whereby tourists can visit Cuba and the Cayman Islands.

The Bahamas, Costa Rica, Mexico and Jamaica are among those countries that already have a multi-destination partnership with Cuba, allowing them to tap into the two million tourists arriving in Cuba annually.

This is not the first attempt that Premier Bush has made to establish a tourism partnership with Cuba.

The Premier recalled that, “between 2001 and 2004 I started meetings with Cuba to get an agreement. After May 2005, nothing was done and these Islands lost a tremendous opportunity to partner with Cuba for multi-destination tourism.”

Premier Bush said, “Cayman has the advantage of its proximity to Cuba and this is an excellent opportunity to diversify our tourism market and lessen our dependence on our current market. A tourism partnership with Cuba gives us the ability to significantly increase our share of the European market which might otherwise be difficult for Cayman to achieve.”

Of the 2.5 million tourists that arrived in Cuba during 2009, 60 percent originated from Europe and 30 percent from Canada. European tourists are known for taking longer vacations than American tourists, making them ideal multi-destination prospects.

Sol Melia operates 313 hotels in 27 countries on four continents. Its hotels are rated 3, 4 and 5 stars. It is the largest resort hotel chain in the world and a leading brand in the Caribbean and Latin America. The company is well established in Cuba.

The delegation met with Francisco Camps, President of Sol Melia Cuba Operation, Gabriel Garcia, Director Commercial Sol Melia Cuba and Martin Aragones, Sol Melia Cuba and Canada. The Sol Melia executives expressed an interest in pursuing development opportunities in the Cayman Islands with an eye on Cayman Brac.

It is envisioned that Cayman Airways will be the carrier between Cuba and Cayman. Cayman’s national carrier currently serves the Grand Cayman-Havana route three days per week.

Not only does the multi-destination partnership offer increased traffic for Cayman Airways, it also means that European tourists can arrive in Cayman in greater numbers without extending the runway at Owen Roberts International Airport to accommodate long-haul aircraft.

Cuba asked Cayman to evaluate the possibility of expanding Cayman Airways services to other Cuban destinations, in particular Santiago de Cuba. The discussions also looked at the potential for cruise tourism for Cayman. Cuba is in negotiations with European cruise operators to position vessels in Havana. Grand Cayman would be on the cruise itinerary out of Havana.

The Premier discussed the opportunities that Cayman’s cruise-related businesses should be given if cruise ships from Cuba call at Grand Cayman.

With a view to moving forward, plans call for establishing a joint Cayman Airways – Department of Tourism office in Havana. The office will market to air and cruise visitors and provide airline customer service. The presence of such an office enhances the Cayman Islands’ brand recognition amongst the Canadian and European markets that it aims to develop for multi-destination and cruise tourism.

Accompanying the Premier for the talks were Tourism Chief Officer Carson Ebanks, Deputy Chief Officer Dalton Watler, Cayman Airways Airports Manager Ivan Forbes, Manny Gonzales of the Department of Tourism, businessman and CITA representative Harry Lalli and Pirates Week Deputy Director Bernie Bush.

A second meeting is planned for the near future.  Read more about Cayman Land Opportunities.

 

What is the difference between Timeshare, Fractional Ownership and Full Ownership.

22 Mar

I have been asked on so many occasions whether a timeshare is a good investment, so I thought it would be beneficial to address this question. The questions is posed a lot by our Canadian investors since many Canadians purchase timeshares in Florida.

I am also going to explain the difference between timeshare and fractional ownership. Learn more…

Watch the business model video…

Timeshare

Unfortunately, when I hear people say “investment” and “timeshare” together in the same sentence, it almost always means they have a major misconception about what timeshare really is.

An investment is money committed or property acquired for future income.

Thus, one would invest money and/or capital to increase their money and/or capital.  It is then assumed that you would have this increase in your “investment” to use towards other goals and/or investments.  Agreed?

So the question still remains; Are timeshares a good investment?

NO. Timeshares are not a good “investment” A timeshare is a disposable purchase that retains little value over time much like buying a big screen TV.

Timeshares are similar to purchasing your vacations in bulk.  You are purchasing an “option” to take your holidays in a specific resort for the rest of your life, paying a one off payment and therefore beating inflation of vacation accommodation costs.

YOU DO NOT OWN ANYTHING.

You do not own any of the property, just the option to use it for a set number of weeks, which is dependent on availability.

This should never be thought of as a vehicle for investment.  As soon as you have purchased “timeshare weeks”, it is a known fact the resale value is very low, and they are very difficult to resell.

If you are a large family that will be holidaying regularly for many years in the future, this can save you money as the cost of your holiday is fixed.

What you do need to be cognizant of are the yearly costs.  These costs include annual fees, and maintenance fees for the upkeep of the apartment.  These are subject to increases.  Quite often these fees become higher than paying for a normal week’s holiday at a hotel, resort or self catering accommodations. This is a leisure product and will NOT make you any money, profit or income from your investment. Learn more…

Watch the business model video…


Fractional Ownership

Firstly let us define fractional ownership.  Fractional ownership is “any arrangement where a group of people (numbering from 2 to 10 or more) share the ownership of an asset and also share certain rights to use the asset” Unfortunately however; some so-called fractional ownership schemes are closer to timeshare than they are to true fractional ownership.

When investigating whether to purchase a “fraction” it is essential to know what your relationship to the actual asset being purchased. This is crucial.  The best way to protect be protected is to be identified as the legal joint owner of the asset as many timeshare schemes are marketed as fractional ownership.  This is where several clients get into difficulties.

Another area that could cause difficulties with this form of investment is the resale process. Of course you can always opt to sell your quarters to someone else; however, this can be very complicated process, and often people would rather buy their own WHOLE property instead of just purchasing a share within an asset.

Another area of concern would be usage.  Let us work on the assumption that four persons have purchased a holiday home.  This scenario would give each of the parties 13 weeks usage per year.  Working on a rolling schedule, each party would have the property for Jan, Feb and March one year, than April, May, June the next and so on.

When it comes to rental income and usage, you could find you are unable to use or rent the property if your time is allocated within a rainy season. Sharing brings with it the difficulties of negotiating with multiple people, often strangers on all aspects into all of the management and usage issues that come with groups.  Learn more…

Watch the business model video…


Full Ownership

When you own your own investment you can do exactly what you want with it! You can use it, get a management company to rent it for you and capitalize on the rental market.

Full ownership means exactly what it says, YOU have the TITLE DEEDS to the property and it is entirely yours. Our product may be located in the Caribbean, but it is the same as the home you own now! The difference is that we have a hotelier overseeing and operating the development as a hotel to earn you maximum rental returns. Should you no longer wish to rent your property, just let the hotelier know and you can use it whenever you like! When you sell the property, all the profits are yours. Our properties are up to 50% below market value, therefore on resale the profits are accurately projected to be high!

So which of these 3 would you prefer to invest your money in?      Learn more…

Watch the business model video…

Ask a question or request information by filling out this form and you will automatically be entered into a draw for a free two week vacation  with flight and accomodations included. This will also provide you with an opportunity to visit one of our developments and see for yourself the site progress as it nears completion.  fill out this form with valid information.  Fill out form here….

 

2010 Investment in Brazil

16 Mar


Brazil Carnival Woman

2010 is going to be a very exciting time for international real estate investors.   One of the top areas to keep an eye on is Brazil, particularly along the Northeast coast.

This region boasts some of the world’s most glorious beaches, and there are big infrastructure projects on the horizon.  This is an area where the already-increasing property prices are certainly going to see a spike this year. There is lots of good news for investors looking at Brazil, and the best news is: The best is yet to come.

As I am sure many of you are aware, Brazil has been chosen to host the Soccer World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016.  All great news for investors.  What’s even more encouraging is that news outlets recently reported that Brazil is sitting on 12 billion barrels of oil – this in a nation that was already energy independent before this discovery. Credit-rating agencies have upgraded Brazil to “investment grade.” And Brazil has led Latin America’s recovery, with a projected 5% growth next year. One would only need to look to Brazil’s stock market, the BOVESPA, to see it is up 81% for the year-to-date.

The best opportunities still remain in this nation’s Northeast and the surrounding stunning coast. Last year, this coast was Brazil’s #1 domestic tourism destination. The city hosted 3 million Brazilian tourists and 250,000 foreign tourists. In fact, it has been number one for three out of the last four years. This is where Brazil’s wealthy come to relax on the beach.   This is where things get interesting for investors.

As I write this, there’s a huge shortage of hotel rooms and short-term rentals, and development land is very limited in this area. This spells great opportunity for our investors, but there are two other major driving forces at play, which make this country an even more attractive to investors.

Brazil  Beaches are amazing and investing in Brazil is hot, hot, hot!

The big buzz along the Northeast coast is the huge investment in tourism and infrastructure that is coming as a result of the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016.  The government is spending 9.8 billion reals ($5.5 billion) in the lead up to the 2014 soccer World Cup alone and even more so for the Olympics. Infrastructure projects will take up 63.3% of this spending. In June this year, the government released a list of projects that will be delivered for the 2014 games.

Secondly is the government funding for tourism.  These projects include 850 million reals to be spent on tourism projects – gentrification of urban areas and the installation of attractions like the state aquarium. Large amounts will also earmarked to improved Internet access, better equipment for the police, hospital upgrades, and the list goes on and on.  Transport infrastructure, with a 6 billion reals spend, is the big winner. The government is committed to projects that will encourage and facilitate the economic development in the Northeast.  There is also going to be a major upgrade in road (a new ring road), rail (metro system), bridge, port, and airport infrastructures. This will make certain areas more accessible and desirable, which will, in turn, drive up real estate prices. Again all spelling great news for investors!

To view investment opportunities in Northeastern Brazil click here.


We have a complete Market Survey available for clients.  Contact us at info@globalinvestmentsolutions.ca to have this document delivered to your inbox.

 
 
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