Vivaldi Resorts is pleased to announce that Ogilvy Lakes has won the Gold Medal and Blueberry Lake the Silver Medal in the Homes Overseas Best Canadian Development Award. The Homes Overseas awards are widely regarded as the most sought-after in the international property industry.

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MONT TREMBLANT RESORTS WIN GOLD AND SILVER MEDAL IN 2008 HOMES OVERSEAS AWARDS

VIVALDI RESORTS' OGILVY LAKES AND BLUEBERRY LAKE PROJECTS SCOOP TOP TWO POSITIONS IN BEST CANADIAN DEVELOPMENT AWARD

(MMD Newswire) December 4, 2008 -- Vivaldi Resorts is pleased to announce that Ogilvy Lakes has won the Gold Medal and Blueberry Lake the Silver Medal in the Homes Overseas Best Canadian Development Award.

The Homes Overseas awards are widely regarded as the most sought-after in the international property industry.

“Canada represents a safe haven in the current climate and an excellent bet for a stable long term investment so we are delighted to be recognised as best of breed in this category” says Vivaldi Resorts owner Alex Porritt.

A recent IMF survey ranked Canada as one of only two developed countries where house prices remained undervalued – the same survey concluded that prices in the UK and Ireland were nearly 30% overvalued.

The World Economic Forum ranked the Canadian Banking System as the strongest in the world and unemployment remains close to 30 year lows.  Furthermore the country is blessed with natural resources including the world’s second largest reserves of oil and the most freshwater which in turn makes Canada the world’s biggest producer of hydro-electricity and has led it to be dubbed an “energy superpower”.

SUCCESS FROM THE START

The Homes Overseas awards are the cherry on the cake for the Vivaldi Resorts team, who have overseen remarkable successes in their Canadian developments since day one.  Representing an entirely new approach to holiday homes in the Laurentian Mountains, Blueberry Lake Resort sold 50 homes within three weeks of its launch into the UK market.

Already, over 60% of Ogilvy Lakes has been pre-sold and while the global economic situation will likely slow sales in 2009, Vivaldi Resorts estimates that demand will continue as people look for a safe place to invest compared to the volatility of other countries and of the stock market.  Construction has begun on the first 8 houses in Phase 1 and the first units will be delivered in Spring 2009.

As with Blueberry Lake Resort, Ogilvy Lakes investors buy houses off-plan from a selection of four luxury designs.  Within 1 to 4 years (depending on the order of build schedule) the investors will be the proud owner of a traditionally-built Canadian log home of exceptional quality.  Between 2350 and 3250 square feet, four or five bedrooms, and situated on individual plots of at least one acre, the finished houses will be fully equipped with every modern amenity – including 42” plasma TV, pool table and hot tub – and fully furnished with luxury contemporary furniture.

Both resorts feature exceptional facilities that really differentiate them from their competition.  At the centre of all Vivaldi Resorts is the log clubhouse that features a spa, restaurant, and bar as well as conferencing facilities for up to 120 people.  “The clubhouse is key because it gives a focal point to our resorts and it is also crucial to our ability to generate revenue for our owners during quiet periods for tourism,” says Alex Porritt.  “In November 2008, in what is traditionally the slowest month, we were extremely busy on the corporate side and tripled our revenue compared to the previous year.”  Facilities catering to tourists are also impressive: in the summer guests can take to a private network of hiking and biking trails, swim in the lake or outdoor swimming pool, laze in the indoor pool, enjoy a relaxing meal at the lakeside restaurant or a round of golf at Ogilvy Lakes’ existing private 18 hole course.  In the winter, there is skating on the lake or on a floodlit rink and the trails are groomed for cross country skiing and snowshoeing.  Quebec’s snowmobile network, which gives access to nearly 33,000 km of trails, is easily accessible from Blueberry Lake and a shuttle service operates from both resorts to nearby Mont Tremblant, the number one ski resort in Eastern North America.  Whatever the season and whoever the guest, there truly is something for everyone.

IN TUNE WITH NATURE

Another central theme of Vivaldi Resorts’ projects is their respect for nature.  The company commits that the number of houses it builds at each of its projects will never exceed 25% of the acreage.  This ensures that purchasers are guaranteed that the wilderness paradise that they buy into stays that way.  “Too often,” comments Alex Porritt, “buyers are attracted by a ‘back to nature’ experience only to find that a few years down the line, they are on a project of 500 or 1000 homes.  With us, you can be certain that won’t happen.”

Vivaldi Resorts have also been quick to embrace alternative energy innovation.  The majority of houses built by Vivaldi Resorts now come with geothermal heating and cooling systems thanks to purchasers’ desire to make a difference and an innovative guaranteed savings scheme offered by Vivaldi Resorts.  Savings can be anything up to 65% so if owners choose to install when the house is built and add the cost to the mortgage, Vivaldi Resorts guarantees that the savings on electricity will be greater than the increase in the mortgage payment.  If they are not, Vivaldi Resorts makes up the difference.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT - SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

A particularly attractive feature of an investment in a Vivaldi Resorts development is the peace of mind that owners enjoy, knowing that their investment is paying for itself via the guaranteed rental income scheme.

When their house is completed, owners have the option of entering it into a fully-managed rental pool.  Vivaldi Resorts undertakes both the promotion and management of the property as a rental holiday home.  During the first year of ownership, Vivaldi Resorts offers a choice of either a one-year rental guarantee set at 7% of the purchase price of the property or up to a 5-year mortgage guarantee.  Under the terms of the mortgage guarantee, the owner decides how long they wish to have their mortgage covered for.  During that time, Vivaldi Resorts guarantees to pay the mortgage, but they also keep all rental revenue over and above the mortgage payments.  “We’re confident in our rentals” says owner, Alex Porritt, “Obviously, in offering the mortgage guarantee, we believe that we will generate income in excess of the mortgage payments and make additional profit for our company, but we are also giving our customers greater choices so they can manage their own risk profile.”  

Some houses at Blueberry Lake are already achieving gross yields in excess of 8% in just the second year of the rental program with strong growth forecast for 2009.  “80% of our rental business comes from within a two and a half hour drive which means that we are less affected by people tightening their budgets than other resorts might be and, in fact, we could even benefit from a trend to holiday closer to home,” points out Alex Porritt. With over 5 million people within that catchment area, the potential market is certainly significant, and with 100% of guests saying that they would stay again and would recommend Blueberry Lake to a friend, repeat business is unlikely to be a problem.

Owners at Blueberry Lake see it not just as a sound investment, but also as a supremely relaxing home-away-from-home.  One satisfied owner described his property at Blueberry Lake as “…definitely the best investment we have made of the very many we have made over recent years.  We are thrilled with all the facilities - it is obvious a great deal of thought has gone into everything.”

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Part of Vivaldi Resorts’ success is due to the fact that they were early to recognise the appeal the Laurentian region for European and North American visitors. Since their initial investment in the Laurentian Mountains they have watched the area’s tourism industry grow in leaps and bounds.

4 SEASONS OF ACTIVITIES

The Laurentian region truly is a natural playground.  In the winter, as well as world class skiing at nearby Mont Tremblant, dog-sledding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are just a few of the many activities available.  Quebec is also the home of the snowmobile, claiming both its invention and the world’s biggest network of trails.

In spring and summer, the lakes and rivers come alive offering great fishing and every watersport imaginable.  Canada is also a golf hot spot with more courses per capita than the US, the UK and traditional golfing meccas such as Spain and Portugal.  Ogilvy Lakes itself is located within an easy drive of nearly 50 courses as well as having its own 18 hole golf course.

In the autumn, the landscape is ablaze with red and orange as the cooling nights and warm days bring out a festival of colour.  For many, this is the best time to see the Laurentians and completes a full four seasons of activities – great news for tourists and investors alike.  

THE GREAT OUTDOORS - CLOSER TO HOME

With its wealth of natural charms, the Laurentian region has long been a favourite getaway destination for visitors from nearby Montreal, just an hour from Ogilvy Lakes, and Ottawa as well as cities slightly further afield such as Toronto, New York and Boston.  To European visitors,the word “Canada” typically conjures up images of the Rocky Mountains in the west.  But thanks in great part to Intrawest’s commitment (over $1 billion invested into Mont Tremblant and a further $1 billion by 2012 during which time visitor numbers are projected to double from the current 2.5 million per annum) the region is building an impressive reputation over the pond and Tremblant has been voted Eastern North America’s number one ski resort for twelve consecutive years!  For European travellers it represents a far more practical holiday destination – no gruelling 10-hour flights or 8 hour jet lag, especially difficult for family holidays.  There are daily direct flights from London to Montreal, with flight duration a little over six hours.  And it’s more affordable for families: a number of low cost airlines have started up new routes to Montreal from London and other major European cities.

Additionally, Mont Tremblant is one of the few resorts in the world served by its own International Airport – Aspen and Steamboat being the most notable.  Continental Airlines have just announced that scheduled flights will run daily from New York into Mont Tremblant International Airport further increasing access into the lucrative Eastern US market and allowing connecting service worldwide.   Andy Wirth, executive vice-president of sales and marketing for resort-operator Intrawest Corp says, “It's a great boost for Tremblant and an important first step to increasing accessibility to the resort long term."  He added that having a direct service to Steamboat Mountain Resort, another Intrawest development, “was probably the no.1 contributor to its success”

With a new airport, an influx of investment capital and exciting and innovative property developments such as Ogilvy Lakes and Blueberry Lake, you’ll see this beautiful Laurentian area go from strength-to-strength.  Vivaldi Resorts’ proven successes and pioneering approach to resort development will ensure it remains a key player in this booming region.

MORE INFORMATION

Blueberry Lake: info@blueberrylake.com or www.blueberrylake.com

Ogilvy Lakes: info@ogilvylakes.com or www.ogilvylakes.com

For both projects, telephone (1) 819 686 1413.

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