Uncertain times require visionary thinking, courageous ideas and extraordinary drive. Perhaps no one knows this better than Alina de la Vega (@alinadelavega) and Felipe MacLean. In the spring of 2020, the young couple, who live in Key Biscayne with their children, took stock of their investments and began programming their future.
“The sudden stop was a bit shocking to me at first, but spending more time at home gave me the space to think big,” says MacLean, a former professional athlete and self-made entrepreneur with investments across the U.S., Europe and Latin America. Adds de la Vega, a successful real estate broker for her family-owned One Sothebys, “We took the last year as an opportunity to innovate and create.”
Felipe Maclean and Alina de la Vega with their children at their home in Key Biscayne
One of the new sectors you invested in during the pandemic was hospitality. What can you tell us about that?
Felipe Maclean: When COVID hit, one of Marriott’s top executives for Latin America and the Caribbean was furloughed. We hired him and began the process of developing a one-of-a- kind barefoot luxury development in the Caribbean. We’ve assembled a dream team to work on the project: an award-winning South African architecture firm, French multinational construction group and Singapore’s most cutting-edge sustainable timber contractors.
Where is this project—and when can we go?
FM: We are in the final round of selecting the operator and hope to welcome guests in 2023. It is a private island resort in the Exumas, a 90-minute flight from Fort Lauderdale. But this will be unlike any resort in the Bahamas. As a destination, we want it to be energizing and relaxing, a place to be both adventurous and creative. And it will have a world-class wellness facility.
Is wellness a passion for you both?
Alina de la Vega: Yes, we like to think of it as active wellness—and it has always been a big part of our lives. But during the pandemic we realized that wellness became a necessity for many people. We developed a holistic wellness line that uses the highest quality hemp-derived CBD, which we have access to because of Felipe’s investments and knowledge of the cannabis industry.
What can you share with us about the new line?
ADLV: It’s called DOTE and will launch in September with five products, including supplements, tinctures and topicals that are formulated to help you sleep better, recover faster and train stronger.
Felipe, what’s your experience in the cannabis industry?
FM: The cannabis industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. and was declared as essential service during the pandemic. We have a large investment in a state-of-the-art cannabis operation in Las Vegas (solaceholdings.com), and are looking to grow our investments in the industry. There is plenty of opportunity to capitalize on the still new and fragmented cannabis industry.
What else can we expect from you two in the months to come?
FM: My investment company Yntegra (yntegragroup.com) will be making a major announcement in the cannabis space. And Alina will be giving birth to our fourth child. We're looking forward to a very exciting summer.
Photography by: Courtesy of Felipe Maclean and Alina de la Vega
