Nicaraguan Post » Investing in Nicaragua

ETelecare opening call center in Nicaragua

nicaraguanpost — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:05:21 +0000

ETelecare Global Solutions Inc., an outsourcing company with executive offices in Scottsdale, is opening a call center in Nicaragua.

The center will be located in the capital city of Managua and employ more than 500 Spanish- and English-speaking workers. It will open during the fourth quarter, the Philippines-based company said Thursday.

ETelecare (Nasdaq: ETEL) operates customer service, sales and technical support call centers in the Philippines, U.S. and Central America.

Costa Dulce Nicaragua Releases its Second Phase, Ocho Senderos, to the Public

nicaraguanpost — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:00:24 +0000

Press release.

On Thursday, November 20 the developers of Costa Dulce in Nicaragua announced that its second phase, Ocho Senderos, is now on sale to the public; the neighborhood offers the only oceanfront homesites in the community and each comes with direct beach access to Playa Escameca.

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua (PRWEB) November 21, 2008 –
Ocho Senderos is the newest neighborhood within Costa Dulce; the area is comprised of 21 homesites on 7 acres of tropical wooded terrain just north of Playa Escameca. Ocho Senderos is Spanish for Eight Trails, from the 7 roads that make up the community plus the walking trail that offers direct beach access to Playa Escameca. The neighborhood offers homesites only steps away from the beach in an intimate oceanside setting, while Costa Dulce’s first phase neighborhood, Los Altos, is characterized by its openness, height, and sweeping views of the Pacific.

Tyson J. Harris the on-site managing partner of the development says of the new release: “While Los Altos will always capture the expansive beauty of Costa Dulce, Ocho Senderos offers owners an intimate, serene, tropical setting that is difficult to find anywhere in the world, much more in Nicaragua.”

18 of the 21 homesites remain on the market. Prices of the homesites range from $69,000 to $249,000. Please contact a local real estate agent or Costa Dulce for more information.

CONTACT:
Mark P. Sullivan
info at costadulcenica dot com
NIC # +505.677.1200
U.S. # 678.500.9199

About Costa Dulce
Costa Dulce is an oceanfront residential community located on the southern Pacific coast of Nicaragua between Playa Escameca and Playa Yankee, overlooking Santa Rosa National Park of Costa Rica. Costa Dulce’s international development team is committed to delivering the highest quality, fully-serviced homesites to its clients through sustainable development practices and professionalism throughout the real estate transaction. Costa Dulce’s website is www.costadulcenica.com. The Master Plan for the development, current Availability & Pricelist, and more information on Costa Dulce is available at: http://www.pronicadevelopment.com/Costa_Dulce/Costa_Dulce_oceanfront_community.html

Nicaragua may prove attractive to investors

nicaraguanpost — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:33:03 +0000

Sunday, November 02, 2008 -
Adventurous investors may be attracted by a new development in low-cost Nicaragua, writes Cathy Hawker.

Fortune may favour the brave, but few experts would argue that now is a good time to launch an off-plan development in an emerging market.

But while many investors are biding their time or restricting themselves to established resale markets, Canadian developer Kevin Fleming is hoping to persuade buyers to back on Central America with his project, the Seaside Mariana golf and spa resort in Nicaragua.

http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2008/11/02/story37140.asp

Sitel Expands Operations in NicaraguaS

admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:57:28 +0000

Sitel, a
leading global business process
outsourcing (BPO) provider, today
announced the expansion of its operations in Nicaragua, with the opening of
its second facility in Managua. Sitel will offer customer service,
technical support, sales and back office services to a major provider of
prepaid wireless customers in the United States.

Earlier this year, Sitel opened its first Managua facility to respond to
growing demand for Latin American-based contact center support. Sitel is
doubling its Nicaragua-based workforce to 1,200 employees to provide
multi-lingual services for a wide range of global markets. This new site
increases Sitel’s global footprint to 17 BPO facilities throughout Latin
America and more than 140 facilities globally.http://mobile-voip.tmcnet.com/news/2008/11/04/3758433.htm

Beyond beach cabanas – Paraiso Beach Hotel highlights the importance of eco tourism

nicaraguanpost — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:16:52 +0000

By Francoise Snobel.
Sustainable tourism is paramount to Paraiso Beach Hotel owners, Ton Bos and Mike Brower, two management consultants that left their company in Holland for a very different life on Big Corn Island. Their journey into hotelier status started out as a faraway dream that quickly become a reality after backpacking through Brazil. “We either had to stop talking about it or do it,” said Ton. And they chose the latter when their travels took them to Corn Island. The original owners of Paraiso Beach Hotel were returning to Canada and the property had just gone up for sale. “It was a real synchronization,” said Ton. “We passed the gate and just knew it would be a big turning point in our lives.” Three weeks later a deal was made. In January of 2005, Ton and Mike re-opened Paraiso Beach Hotel, a collection of Caribbean style cabanas that feel authentically “Corn Island”.

But their story does not end there, as running the hotel was just a small part of their relocation plans. Through their previous business contacts, Ton and Mike were able to gain the support of non-profit organization MITIALTO, where they raised enough funds to renovate one Big Corn Island school and build two more. In addition to this, Ton and Mike have improved the island’s education through teacher training initiatives and purchasing school materials. The next eagerly anticipated challenge for Ton and Mike is a Big Corn water project that is in the works, with the goals of clean drinking water, halting erosion and reducing garbage.
“These projects have nothing to do with reputation,” said Mike. “It’s just something you do.”
Paraiso Beach Hotel – Big Corn Island, Nicaragua
Tel: +(505) 575 5111
Website: www.paraisoclub.com
Accommodation:
15 cosy cabanas are dotted throughout the property, which is only 80 meters away from the beach. With palm tree thatched roofs and a well-maintained tropical landscaped garden, Paraiso Beach Hotel’s accommodation is a little piece of Nicaraguan paradise. Rooms are simple, but impeccably clean and very comfortable. Crisp white sheets, mosquito nets and Nicaraguan style furnishings adorn the wooden walled rooms and colourful hammocks hang outside private verandas. Cabanas are air-conditioned and have clean private bathrooms with showers.
Atmosphere:
Laid-back and friendly, the staff and guests make the Paraiso Beach Hotel experience a memorable one. The charm of the island is not lost at Paraiso, which is a big issue many developments face when introducing tourism. This has a lot to do with the owners, as they have become part of the community and want their accommodation to be authentic and non-intrusive. There is a real Caribbean feel here.
Food and Drink:
Paraiso has just recently renovated their bar, restaurant and kitchen. The restaurant, called The Buccaneer, is amidst the gardens in the open air and under a thatched roof. The menu is quite expansive and reasonably priced. Those looking for some fresh seafood can indulge in lobster, shrimp and whole fish, served Caribbean style, with garlic or with lime salt and pepper – all of which are mouth-wateringly tasty. Pizza, pasta, salads and soups are also available. A continental breakfast is complimentary for Paraiso Beach Hotel guests. The bar is stocked with plenty of drink options, from pina coladas to nica libres, guests can be choosy with their tipple.
Activities:
The Little Corn Island snorkelling trip is a must. Here guests have a scenic boat ride with plenty of snorkelling opportunities. Amazing marine life can be seen, including rays, nurse sharks, and brightly coloured tropical fish and coral. During this trip, the boat stops off at Little Corn Island, first to explore and then back again on a secluded part of the beach for some fresh coconut water (and rum, if you choose!). Those who want to kneeboard are offered a bit of watersport excitement and those who prefer a mellower afternoon can soak up the sun on the white sandy beach
The Last Word:
An authentically Caribbean retreat that prides itself on sustainable tourism – Paraiso Beach Hotel on Big Corn Island truly is a little piece of paradise.

Rancho Santana: A jewel on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast

nicaraguanpost — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:07:14 +0000

While some residential communities have suffered as a result of the real estate recession in the USA, Rancho Santana continues to thrive with new houses going up every month.
In addition to the healthy rate of single-family construction that is going on, there are five more neighborhoods currently underway: the Seagate condominiums, 24 oceanfront luxury condominiums with unobstructed views and beach access, well located just a few steps from the clubhouse and spa. The Seagate beach village, 90 oversized single-family home lots, starting at $46,000 that comes with a choice of three building plans for a beach cottage.
These sites are set in a village environment along the picturesque Limon River and within walking distance to the beach and all the Ranch Santana amenities.
Visto Del mar, a condo-hotel development consisting of110 income producing hillside cottages with sea and mountain views starting as low as $139,000.
The Estates, a privately gated, upscale community of 50one+ acre lots with spectacular ocean valley and mountain views, and finally a new 200 acre eco-friendly mountainside reserve which will feature 100 eco-friendly cabins in a natural tranquil forest environment with stunning panoramic views.
Rancho Santana was once my dream and the dream of my American and Nicaraguan partners. But now it’s a reality for more than 350 property owners and residents who have come here to take advantage of Nicaragua’s Riviera coast. Around us other, smaller developments have popped up in recent years. Together they have created thousands of jobs for local residents and pumped tens of millions of dollars into the Tola community and into Rivas and Managua, the two cities that most directly benefit from this new and exciting surge of development.
Ranch Santana retains all its immense natural beauty in developing our community; we took plans to ensure that the natural integrity of the land was never altered. The groomed dirt roads were groomed along the cow paths. The ravines and gullies that bring the rainwater to the sea are undisturbed. The hillsides have not been leveled to accommodate track housing, as has now been done elsewhere around here.
The monkeys and parrots are thriving. The turtles come to nest on our beaches. And the waves are still amazing.
The hiking, biking and horseback riding at Ranch Santana are spectacular. But the crown jewel of our bedizened community is out five beaches. Two of these beaches are beautiful hidden coves that can only be reached on foot from within the community. The other three beaches are wide with pinks sands and a beautiful shoreline.
Because of nearby Lake Nicaragua, these beaches enjoy offshore winds about 3330 days a year. This creates two constantly great surf breaks nearly all year long; one in Playa Santana and one in Playa Rosada.
From the south end of Ranch Santana surfers have access to two more great breaks, Panga drops and Colorado are just a short walk down the beach.
All around Ranch Santana you can see signs of what the future will bring. Many of the small, wooded framed shacks that once housed the local farming families, have being renovated or replaced entirely with brick and stucco homes, that are painted in bright colors and fronted by little gardens and and colorful native flowers. In the towns of La Salinas and Limon you will find dozens of new local restaurants, serving local residents along with visitors from Nicaragua and abroad.
The children at the local schools have new bags and uniforms (thanks to donations given by Rancho Santana’s development office and many of it’s residents)
Many of the employees at Ranch Santana receive free English training. And the Roberto Clemente Health Clinic established in 2002 by the developers of Rancho Santana, services more than 1000 patients a year, on 24/7 basis.
Rancho Santana is a proven community with a 10-year history of continual expansion and improvements and a record of servicing it’s ever- growing population of US Nicaraguan and international property owners.

Piedras y Olas, majestic above the bay

nicaraguanpost — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:59:08 +0000

Piedras y Olas is a unique socially conscious hotel and real estate development project that pairs a thriving for-profit hotel business with their nonprofit partner, Foundation A. Jean Brugger. At Piedras Y Olas they continue to be an active, vibrant, welcoming and responsible member of the community in San Juan del Sur. Through their partnership with the Foundation they provide educational funds, school uniforms, a scholarship fund, on-site vocational training and long term employment for hundreds of San Juaneños and surrounding communities.
Piedras y Olas is comprised of hundreds of curving brick stairways flowing through the property, connecting statuesque Villas to rejuvenating pools, gourmet restaurants to contemplative vistas and cozy cabinas…all intertwined to offer their guests time to enjoy a sense of connection to nature and make the most out of the varied and extraordinary views glimpsed from their hillside properties.
With an attentive and friendly staff your every possible need or special request is always fulfilled. The service is superb offering the most elegant gourmet dining in town. Piedras y Olas puts quality and attention to every detail first. With breathtaking ocean views, locally hand crafted furniture, tropically landscaped gardens and high ceilinged rooms you will notice the by playing a proactive and vital role in the development and sustainability of the community, particularly in its children. Their partnership with Foundation A. Jean Brugger provides many educational opportunities for many young people in and around the community.
Their community projects include a school uniform project, a scholarship fund, school supplies and books, as well as environmental projects concerning reforestation and trash collection to name a few. They also are involved in vocational training and offer a special outing and luncheon for ancianos in San Juan del Sur. One of their recent projects concerns an art gallery, La Galeria del Sur, which acts to promote local Nicaraguan art and artists.
Another component of Foundation A. Jean Brugger and partner to Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort is the veterinary clinic. Stones and Waves Veterinary clinic is not only dedicated to providing quality healthcare for domestic animals but is also a developing wild life center. They are striving to provide the same level of care for captive wild animals in and around San Juan del Sur with the goal to rehabilitate and re-release them back into their natural environments.
Piedras Y olas has two top class restaurants, La Cascada and Bistro La Canoa both offering unique international cuisine with breathtaking views of the bay. With happy hour from 4-8 pm Wednesday and Friday, there is no better place to sip on a strawberry margarita while watching the breathtaking sunset.
The resort has 3 infinity pools including a half size Olympic lap pool. Activities include surfing lessons and surf trips, yoga classes, fishing trips, horseback riding, ATV tours, and much more!
Piedras Y Olas is a unique tourism and development project of the highest quality, one that should not be missed on anyone’s trip to Nicaragua’s beautiful Pacific coast

The unseen virtues of Managua, Nicaragua

admin — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:16:00 +0000

Nicaragua’s capital city has a lot more to offer foreign visitors than a short layover on the way to somewhere else

By Regis St Louis

http://www.miamiherald.com/living/travel/weekly-features/story/726514.html

Nicaragua Looks to Become Retirement Destination

admin — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:43:59 +0000

The Central American country of Nicaragua is hoping to follow in the footsteps of its neighbor to the south, Costa Rica, and become a popular destination for holiday travelers and especially retirees. With some 450 miles of coastline on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, great weather and some of the lowest property rates in the Western Hemisphere, the country is poised to become a property hotspot.

Nicaragua recently launched its own pensionado program to attract potential retirees. Any person over 45 with a pension or salary of more than US $500 a month can import up to $10,000 worth of personal goods and a car duty free and be exempt from taxes on foreign income and property for ten years. Average prices are much less than in other neighboring countries and the country has seen some new developments in recent years that offer idyllic property along both coasts.

According to eh Economist Intelligence Unit the country is the Western Hemisphere’s second safest behind Canada. Property costs for a quarter acre beachfront lot averages $159,000, about a third of what the same would go for in Costa Rica. The major airport in the country is August Sandino International Airport, or Managua International Airport (MGA), located near Managua. From there, it is best to rent a car and drive as that is the best way to get around the country.

Why Advertise in The Nicaraguan Post?

nicaraguanpost — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:06:27 +0000

Advertising in a newspaper is not an exact science. If you think the placing of one ad will make the doors of your business cave in with the weight of a thousand new customers,then you will be very disappointed.
Advertising is about creating name brand recognition; over a period of continuous ad
placements you will gradually see your return
in plenty.
It also very important to make sure your business is ready for an influx of new customers,you only get one chance to make a first impression and today’s customer will be tomorrow’s recommendation.
Below are 10 reasons why advertising in a newspaper can help your business to flourish, beyond your wildest expectations.
1 People with higher education are more likely to read newspapers, people in higher responsibility, higher income professional positions read newspapers more frequently than the average person.
2. Frequent advertising means you never miss out on a potential client.
Frequency builds awareness. Awareness builds familiarity and familiarity builds
trust. Conventional wisdom says that your audience needs to be exposed to your ad 2.5 times to sink in and build awareness. Just like dieting, advertising gets the best results over time. Each ad builds on prior
brand recognition.
3. Frequency offers you the best rates. Most newspapers today offer significant incentives for increasing frequency. Whether these incentives are for repeating an ad in a certain period or for contracting to run a certain amount of space over time or investing a certain amount of money, newspapers recognize the need for frequency and encourage customers to use it.
4. Today’s ad may influence a client to become aware but the next one will close the deal for a lukewarm prospect. Frequent advertising helps you beat your competition.
If you are not advertising as much as your competition does, who is more likely to reach the consumer who is ready to shop?
5. As customers we want to be led, we want to know where to stay, we want to know where is the best place to eat . By having your ad in a paper, it already gives the consumer a sense of confidence about your business.
Everyday you:
* Open your store.
* Keep your shelves stocked.
* Keep your phone connected.
* Have your staff come to work.
Shouldn’t you invite customers in by advertising frequently?
6. Coupon ads are a great way to direct consumers to your business, by running a special discounted item in your ad, it will draw the consumer to you and you will then have the opportunity to show them all the other great things your business has to offer.
7. Co Op advertising is another way to get your message out there. If you have a business in a mall or in a leisure area, say for instance Zona Hipa in Managua; you can pool your resources with the other businesses to buy one large ad that will bring traffic to your area for allof you whilst keeping your advertising cost well within your budget,
8. Shopping convenience - inserts
Newspaper inserts are a proven method of advertising for many reasons.
To consumers, thumbing through the colorful advertisements are an ideal way to
“browse the aisles.”
9. Frequency helps your advertising cut through the clutter.
Mohammed Ali did not become heavyweight champion of the world by punching 20 people one time each. No, he became the champ by punching one guy 20 times. By applying frequency to the poor opponent’s head, Ali was able to bring his message home.
Have you ever trained a puppy? Did you find yourself repeating your commands? Is that more likely to get the pup to change behavior? Repeating yourself to a target consumer increases the odds that your message will get through.

10. An ad in a newspaper can stay in the prolipheral vision of a consumer for up to 10 minutes while he is reading the news on that and the adjacent page.
Come join us at the The Nicaraguan Post;
we offer the lowest advertising rates of any
comparable news publication in Nicaragua.
The paper is free online www.nicaraguanpost.com giving your ad an audience around the world. Get to that custmer before they arrive in Nicaragua.
All customers on long term contracts of 4 weeks or more , will get a free feature article in the paper and on line about their business.
As we approach our peak season ,we are all nervous whether the melt down in the USA will affect us. This is not a time to be left behind.
At the Nicaraguan Post our goal is to help small and large businesses alike to achieve the success that is so sorely needed to bring about the growth and prosperity for everyone in this beautiful country we call home.
Call 955-0441 / 552-3053 or mail us at:
nicaraguanpost@gmail.com