Andrew Ashcroft is a citizen of Belize, where he lives and works. His personal ties to Belize go back generations, to 1953, when his paternal grandfather served as a colonial officer in what was then known as British Honduras. Prior to founding Alaia Resorts, Andrew spent 18 years in various banking and real estate investment positions in the Caribbean.

As managing director of British Caribbean Bank, he grew the bank’s portfolio from $30 million to $400 million, putting it at the forefront of the hotel/condo boom in Turks and Caicos. In this role, he provided financing for a number of major real estate projects, including The Gansevoort, Beach House, Blue Haven, and Alexandria.

Robi Das is the Director of Acquisitions for Alaia Hotels and related entities. His primary roles include new business development and acquisitions.
Mr. Das is also lead on all quantitative analysis and capital markets activities with strong relationships at both the local and institutional levels. Mr. Das has over 12 years of experience in Real Estate and Private Equity.

Prior to joining, Mr. Das was a Managing Director of the Capital Group in the Miami office of Newmark Knight Frank, (Nasdaq: NMRK) originally owned through a partnership between BGC Partners and Cantor Fitzgerald. He specialized in distressed assets and recapitalizations in the Southeastern United States and the Caribbean. His primary focus was debt and equity in all product types with a niche focus on the resort hospitality and marina sectors. His client roster included a blue chip list of the marquis assets in the Caribbean and South Florida.

Waypoint Resort Real Estate has worked with some of the most well respected resort developers and hospitality brands in the world. Past and current brands they have worked with include: Fairmont, Raffles, Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf-Astoria, Hyatt, Hard Rock International, Grand Hyatt, and Marriott Autograph. Waypoint has worked through the United States, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Belize, The Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, and St. Lucia. Waypoint has sold and closed over $4 billion in resort real estate. They currently have over $500 Million of real estate under management.

International Environments (IE) is owned and operated by brothers Daniel and Carlo Arguelles. Graduates of Arizona State University School of Architecture, are pioneers in providing design resources for developing countries, starting with their own, Belize. Over the past 10 years in Belize, IE has been able to grow and develop ideas that complement the country’s demand for planning and development scenarios. Their experiences have allowed them to engage people, communities, and places from the northern borders of Belize to the southernmost regions of the country, near Guatemala. IE’s design-build footprint reaches from the islands and coastal lands in the east to the inland villages of the western parts of the country as well. They are a formidable source of knowledge to design and execute sustainable growth scenarios in the best interest of Belize.

Founded by Debora Aguiar in 1990 with headquarters in São Paulo, Brazil, Debora Aguiar Architects is one of the most important architectural and interior design offices in the country. Its architects, interior designers, and consultants work across several areas of the industry for domestic and international clients. The firm values its long-term relationships with clients and seeks opportunities to transform creative and innovative ideas into well-executed projects, bringing beauty and sophistication together with comfort, security, dynamism, and assertiveness.

Quinn is a lifestyle public relations agency with global impact. Its disciplined, strategic approach to PR has built some of the largest audiences in the world. Quinn develops creative strategies that build the reputations, tell the stories, and grow the businesses of lifestyle brands around the world. With offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami and affiliates worldwide, it serves clients in travel, real estate, spa, experiences and retail as well as many food, wine & spirits brands. Quinn works collaboratively to develop narrative-based ideation, resulting in strategies that capture the attention of today’s sophisticated consumer. It integrates multiple communication channels with partnerships, events, and ideation to produce work that is highly effective—and measurable. Its innovative initiatives, which are recognized globally, have resulted in a number of industry “firsts.”

Ilona Creative Studio is a multi-platform media company specializing in marketing, branding, and communications solutions for the leaders and tastemakers in the lifestyle realm. From real estate and hospitality to fashion and culture, ICS’s diverse skill set straddles the worlds of photography, design, editorial, strategy, and technology. ICS is client-centered and collaborative, and at its core, is powered by precision, elegance, and creativity. ICS creates fully integrated campaigns known for their sophisticated edge and distinctive point of view.