Last week I gave you a sneak peek at what we've been working on.
Today, I'm ready to share the full story.
Meet Baya.
Baya is a 20-key tropical landscape resort we're developing in Redland, Florida–just 45 minutes south of Miami.
But this isn't our typical “treehouse hotel” project…
We're creating the first tropical landscape resort of its kind in the United States.
One and two-bedroom Bali-inspired villas nestled among 25 acres of mature longan, mamey sapote, papaya, and banana trees.
Natural white coral grottos with crystal-clear spring water. An indoor-outdoor wellness center with spa, gym, cafe, sauna, and natural pools.
But here's what makes Baya special–it's built around an operational exotic fruit farm where guests can learn about tropical agriculture and experience a farm-to-table cafe with exotic fruits grown steps from their unit.
We're betting big on two converging trends that are reshaping hospitality.
First is the agritourism explosion.
The global agritourism market hit $33.8 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $111 billion by 2032–a 12.5% annual growth rate.
And there's virtually nothing like this in South Florida.
While small farmers are struggling with volatile crop prices and rising costs...
Agritourism gives them a sustainable revenue stream while giving travelers authentic experiences that connect them to the local culture.
Wellness Tourism is the Other Half
The second trend is wellness tourism, which reached $822 billion globally in 2022 and is growing at 9% annually.
Miami has become one of America's top wellness hubs alongside New York and LA. Year-round warm weather, beach access, and a health-conscious culture create the perfect environment.
And wellness tourists spend up to 41% more than average travelers.
They're not just looking for relaxation–they want transformation.
Baya delivers both through personalized wellness treatments and a setting that naturally disconnects you from the digital world.
The Location Advantage
Redland sits in Miami-Dade County, known for world-renowned tropical fruit farms and agricultural heritage.
We're 45 minutes from Miami International Airport, which welcomed 55.9 million passengers in 2024.
In 2023, Miami-Dade saw 27.2 million visitors who spent $21.1 billion, with 5.2 million specifically visiting the South Dade area (where Redland is located).
Here's the kicker—high land values in the area mean we have zero direct competition.
We've secured an attractive 99-year land lease that costs 3-4x less than what a traditional mortgage would be on the property.
With the lease locked up for nearly a century, we can still secure traditional debt financing and sell the hotel at a cap rate, giving us all the benefits of ownership at a fraction of the cost.
Some of The Team Behind Baya
I’m even more excited for the team I am partnering with to bring Baya to life:
- Steve Turk: Steve is a Miami local with 25+ years of luxury hospitality experience in the city as an executive at brands like Nobu Hotels and Loews Hotels. He's also the CEO of Tangy Management and host of the top-ranked hospitality podcasts “Good Morning Hospitality” and “Hospitality Mentor.”
- Banks Chisum: Banks led construction on both our Onera Wimberley project and Onera Fredericksburg expansion. He has 12+ years of commercial construction & development experience and is founder of JB Chisum Construction, a leading development firm focused on luxury landscape hospitality projects
- Edward Haynes: Ed has 15+ years of experience in modular and pre-fab hospitality structures and is co-founder EJH Distribution, a leading North American glamping structure distributor. They are the leading structure supplier to the North American events/hospitality sectors.
Interested in learning more?
We're currently raising the final round of funding from a small group of accredited investors who believe in what we're building.
Construction starts this November with an expected opening in December 2026.
If this vision speaks to you and you'd like to be part of it, reply to this email. We’ll send you more deal details and can discuss your fit as a capital partner.
Talk to you next week!
-Ben
Ben Wolff
Find me on X or LinkedIn
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