Puerto Rico’s tourism is at a crossroads between mass appeal and exclusive experiences. If you could redefine the island’s identity as a high-end destination, what would it be? And what role does 3RC play in crafting that narrative?

I wouldn't redefine it at all. The goal isn't to change Puerto Rico’s identity; it’s to celebrate it.

Puerto Rico is already one of the most naturally diverse and beautiful places in the world. Much of the Caribbean is fairly flat. Beautiful beaches, yes, but often geographically simple. Puerto Rico is different. It’s rainforests, mountains, mangroves, surf breaks, cliffs, historic cities, and bioluminescent bays. And here in Cabo Rojo, you have some of the calmest, clearest Caribbean water on the island. White sand. Flat, swimmable beaches. Consistent sunshine.

Puerto Rico also has structural advantages people sometimes overlook. US law. US currency. No customs. You can own property outright. It’s stable and accessible. Act 60 has been a powerful tool for sparking economic development, and its recent extension to 2055 gives long-term confidence to the market.

But beyond the geography and the economics, there are the people. The hospitality here isn’t scripted. It’s cultural.

If we are shaping anything, it’s a platform for authentic sophistication. We want to create a place where global brands operate at the highest level, but the island remains the undeniable main character. We are not building Esencia to flip. We are building to hold and operate for decades. When long-term capital commits to a place like this, it signals a profound belief in its future, exactly as it is.

Climate change isn’t just a challenge, it’s a design driver. What’s the most unconventional or innovative resilience strategy you’ve applied at Esencia, and how does it enhance the guest experience?

We made an early decision that Esencia would not strain local resources. The community is being designed to operate independently from the grid, generating its own solar power, storing energy, managing water systems, and treating wastewater on site. Critical infrastructure is underground and hardened for resilience.

One of the most important strategies has been restoring and protecting the natural dune system. Those dunes are not just ecological assets – they are the coastline’s first line of defense. We’ve also focused on architecture that works with the climate rather than against it, through orientation, shade, natural ventilation, and thoughtful material choices.

Resilience here isn’t a marketing concept; it’s built into the foundation. In a region that has experienced real storms, that matters.

The benefit is that sustainability also improves the guest experience: cooler shaded pathways, preserved beaches, quieter spaces, and infrastructure that simply works. The best resilience measures are often the ones guests feel without necessarily noticing.

From Waikiki to Los Cabos to Cabo Rojo, you’ve built in some of the world’s most iconic destinations. What makes Puerto Rico uniquely thrilling (or risky) for someone with your entrepreneurial approach?

What makes Puerto Rico so compelling is its authenticity. This isn’t a pre-packaged luxury market – it’s a place with deep culture, strong opinions, and a community that cares intensely about its future. That makes it exciting, but it also means the bar for developers is rightfully very high.

Over the past three years, we’ve learned that meaningful development here starts with listening. We went through an extensive public review process, including four days of formal hearings, and we treated that dialogue seriously. When concerns were raised about beach access, we committed to building public access roads and facilities. When questions came up around environmental preservation, we leaned on years of scientific studies to create a master plan that, as mentioned, reduces the previously approved footprint on the site by 80%, while preserving more than 75% of the land for conservation and recreation.

When alignment happens here, it feels meaningful. It feels earned. It feels like you are participating in something that will outlast you. That’s the kind of risk I’m comfortable with.

‘Connected communities’ is your mantra. Can you share a moment when the local community’s input fundamentally changed the vision of Esencia, and what it taught you about the intersection of luxury and culture?

The first two years of Esencia were dedicated almost entirely to listening and studying the land. We conducted more than 20 environmental and cultural studies – from archaeology and coastal flooding to flora, fauna, and environmental justice – and held over 100 workshops and one-on-one meetings with local stakeholders, from fishermen and religious leaders to small business owners and mountain biking groups.

One of the most meaningful moments came through the local mountain biking community in Cabo Rojo. As we spent time on the property, we realized the land had quietly become an important place for local riders, with informal trails running throughout the site.

Instead of removing that activity, we chose to embrace it. We walked the terrain with members of the community, listened carefully, and ultimately decided to formalize and expand access. Esencia will include sixteen miles of trails that remain open to local mountain bikers.

That experience reinforced an important lesson: luxury development should preserve and elevate what already exists culturally and socially. When that happens, a project feels connected to a place rather than imposed on it.