NEARLY THREE DECADES AGO, the then-president of Venezuela decided that he needed a place on the beach. The result became ISLA DE ORO, a members-only Beach Club and Presidential weekend retreat built with government money to the absolute highest standards of luxury.

For years, the "island of gold" was the President's personal playground. He surrounded himself with the nation's top people: Owners and residents in the private towers included top generals, the governor of the capital, cabinet members, a senator, several congressmen, models, plus famous names from show business, media, banking and private industry. Even the man who later became Venezuela's vice-president had a beachfront condo here.

After the Beach Club was completed, a new federal law restricted the height and placement of other oceanfront property to no more than three stories high and no close proximity to the coastline ... making our condominium complex a unique and exclusive real estate treasure, with towers so tall and so near the waterfront that they can no longer legally be built anywhere else in the country.

Today, a major renovation project is underway, to update the property and to ensure that residences incorporate features that did not exist back when the Beach Club was originally built. With Internet access in every premium condo, American satellite TV, and advanced smarthome technology, we are creating updated Beach Club residences to rival the best the world has to offer.