Investors Subscribe to Purchase Equity in Lebanon Premier Western Ranch and Resort

An innovative resort venture which promises authentic western log cabins, horses and a Dallas Style Mud Wrestling ring complete with mechanical bulls and horses opens up share offering to private investors to own equity in a 65 unit resort in the mountains of Lebanon.

Few countries in the world today can boast a 30% increase in tourism and real estate values other than Lebanon.

The Ministry of Tourism has declared a surge in demand for hotel rooms, with number like 20,000 additional rooms could be added in the next five years.

Brand hotels such as Movenpick, Four Seasons, Intercontinental have all planted their roots firmly in the the Playground of the Middle East, and building is brisk and the market is dynamic.

However, one new development, under planning stages seems to stand out among the new projects planned for tourism and real estate development outside the capital, Beirut.

Dukesville as it is called, is a real American style western ranch, complete with horses and real Dallas Texas style modern saloon, with mechanical bulls, mud wrestling, line dancing, muscle cars, and the first drag racing track in the country.

The project is the brainchild a Chekri Helou, a native Lebanese who was inspired by the old wild western traditions during his living experiences in the USA.

Mr. Helou is no stranger to the Western Ranch business. He was one of the founders of another venue in Lebanon 3 years before, leaving that successful enterprise to complete his vision of a full hotel and ranch community in a more popular location.

Authentic Resort Entertainment, SAL will develop 65 units in the hills of Lebanon on a 42,000 metre parcel that enjoys views that tourists would die for, says Bassim Matta, Chairman of the Group.

The company has undertaken an agreement with an international hotel management company to operate the hotel aspect, and is in the process of accepting subscriptions from the public sector to allow individuals to become partners in this unique log cabin hotel resort.

Individuals may apply for cabin partnership and receive the lions share of the revenue, while also enjoying usage benefits annually. We predict on a worst case scenario the return on investment will be between 18% to 24% annually, says Matta.

Lebanon has proven it is resilient to geo political tension, and has always bounced back from what others may perceive as doom, but what the Lebanese have become to accept as everyday life in one of the most panoramic country sceneries in the world.

Situated 20 minutes from world class ski slopes and 20 minutes from spectacular beaches, Dukesville in Ajaltoun will attract 80 percent of its market share from the local market. Our clients love their children, but also demand the bet of entertainment when it comes to their own precious leisure time.

Our purpose built Western Star Saloon will knock the boots off of anyone who dares to try to sit quietly during one of our stunning shows. We are able to accommodate 150 persons in our boutique western style resort accommodation, and 300 persons per night in our restaurant ,saloon entertainment center.

We have appointed World Class Group, leaders in leisure resort consulting to guide the resort through the stages of hospitality development and investment products, including a form of shared ownership through condo hotel licensing.

According to Michael J. Tolan, CEO of World Class Group,” the project will meet its 10,000,000 required capitalization through small and medium investors who will benefit from the spectacular attractions that will drive traffic to this theme park resort.”

“Phase one of the project will open in 2010, and the resort completion, including a full amenity package which promises many surprises to the market, will finalize in 2011.

“Investors may participate in the ownership of the resort for as little as 18,000 usd.”

For Further Information, contact Michael J. Tolan, CEO, World Class Group on mjt@worldclass-uae.com

Shared Ownership concepts will be explored in a Summit to be held in Cyprus on 29 October, at the Hilton Hotel in Nicosia.

Tourism and Development companies can embrace structures to prosper in today’s marketplace.Fractional Ownership is already a buzz word in many board rooms hoping to increase sales by the successful application of this new formula for Cyprus.

The First Fractional Ownership Symposium in Cyprus will be held on November 29th, in the Hilton Hotel in Nicosia and will be opened by Mr. George Mintis, Vice President of the CTO.

The summit will unveil the latest trends worldwide, many of which could be applied in Cyprus by using existing laws in the Republic of Cyprus.

Developers and Hoteliers are invited to attend the event which promises to explore new horizons in creating new platforms for the Building and Tourist Sectors.

Organizers, World Class Group, led by CEO Michael J. Tolan, have over 25 years in shared ownership expertise in 15 country markets. Their PR communications unit has offices in Beirut, Dubai, and Malta.

Fractional Ownership is a relatively new concept in Cyprus, however major developers are now looking into this aspect of real estate offerings to pepper their income streams with additional revenue sources.

“Developers that responsibly embrace the holistic concept of providing investors with superb benefits, management and quality with a sensible value offer will excel in today’s market place” said Tolan.

Fractional Ownership is one form of the shared ownership matrix, we also have models whereby hotels in Cyprus could also benefit by using a hybrid business model, which is covered under the current law” he added.

Fractional Ownership models may be applied to up market residential developments that offer services to end users they would have come to expect from a five star hotel, therefore the marriage of hotels and developers is essential for a healthy growth cycle in Cyprus, said Tolan.

The Cyprus Investment Festival, held in Beirut, Lebanon was officially opened by his Excellency, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Kyriakos Kouros.

During his address he pointed out the strategic alliances currently available to investors in Cyprus and its market stability.

“The Cyprus investment Festival has launched this initiative and we are pleased to support this event”, he said. “ We are open for business in Cyprus, and our doors are now open for investment” he added.

The Cyprus Investment Festival organizers, World Class Group, a PR and communications consultancy unit based in Dubai, launched the Cyprus promotion to the Middle East with its first leg of the festival in Beirut. The Cyprus Investment Festival will showcase the advantages of investing in Cyprus throughout the Middle East later in the fall of 2009.

Among the participating partners of the Cyprus Investment Festival are seasoned development groups in Cyprus, Iacovou Brothers Development and Pafilia, and other quality boutique developers.

The aim of the festival is to inform potential investors of new opportunities of foreign investment in Cyprus, in particular a new resolution in the counsel of minister’s decision to allow non-Europeans to apply for permanent residency status when purchasing a property in Cyprus under certain criteria. The organizers are promoting this as the new ‘Open Doors’ policy of Cyprus.

Organizers of the festival were impressed by the growing number of investors from the Middle East expressing interest in making substantial commitments in Cyprus. “Cyprus is the gateway to the EU for the region, and having the lowest corporate tax has also attracted many international companies to set up shop in the country,” said Mr. Michael J. Tolan, Ceo of World Class Group, organizers of the Cyprus Investment Festival.

Visitors from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the UAE were in attendance to the Festival. Many of these investors showed high levels of interest in investing in Custom Villas and other income properties that enjoy a strong rental demand by vacationers who rent luxury villas by the week.

“ Now is the time to seize opportunities in Cyprus which enjoys a stable economy in spite of the global so called crisis” he added.

The Cyprus Investment Festival will be held in Beirut at the Phoenicia Hotel throughout the month of August. Investors were enlightened to new developments in Cyprus such as a new world class marina project in Paphos, destined to attract the jet set of the Mediterranean to Cyprus, several new golf courses including one in Larnaca and rumored talks with major theme parks groups which will add to the already growing tourist market.

“Many investors who have been perplexed by the world economy now view Cyprus as the darling safe haven of Europe”, said Tolan. The number of incentives that are available to major investors including grants from the EU attracts other investors. Fractional Ownership, introduced in Cyprus by World Class Group earlier this year, also got the attention of speculators who desire to acquire assets in Cyprus while having a lower exposure and a deeded slice of a superb vacation property.”

“On the upper tier of the scale, we have inquiries ranging from 500,000 to 10,000,000 Euro level investment in properties and joint ventures.”

Hundreds of visitors surveyed were interested in various areas of Cyprus, the Protaras and Famagusta areas were popular on speculation of reunification of the island, while Larnaca and Limassol remained front-runners, followed closely by Paphos and Polis, the new frontiers of buy to rent properties.

The Cyprus Investment Festival will tour Dubai, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Malaysia over the next few months’. George Mintis, Vice President of the Cyprus Tourism Organization, said “The Open Doors policy of Cyprus has opened a new gateway to the EU for many investors in the Middle East and around the world”.  “There are opportunities for any entrepreneur to secure safe and profitable investments in our country. Cyprus boasts the lowest corporate tax rates in the EU, and is attracting many multinational companies to relocate to the island of smiles,” added Mintis.