Last year we told you about Bangkok-based Lebua’s plans to take Vegas-style day clubs to the water. It turns out, its innovative CEO Deepak Ohri is not alone.
Coming this fall to San Diego will be a pool party on Mission Bay with the launch of AQUAlounge, the first hospitality venture by local tech entrepreneur Brad Hunter, a project he has had in the works for six years!
Both want to expand, and if they are successful, they may change the way and where you party day and night, at home and when you travel.
AQUALounge promises to change the face of dinner and bay cruises in San Diego. Tech entrepreneur ... [+]
Generally speaking, the idea is to combine the hip vibe of trendy rooftop bars and lounges with a luxury party experience on the waves, somewhat akin to how Las Vegas resorts have turned underperforming space around their pools into cash machines, generating millions of dollars in profits.
Instead of typical sightseeing and dinner cruises serving up banquet chicken with sounds systems from the last century in stylistically out of date tour boats, the new concepts promise high energy, including pools, DJs, cabanas, bottle service, and cutting edge dining. The goal is to attract a mix of locals and visitors.
San Diego's Brad Hunter is hoping to replicate his success from the tech world
“When I started down this path six years ago, my goal was to completely rethink everything about the bay and dinner cruise space—the layout, the experience, the ambiance,” says Hunter.
“I found inspiration on my travels. With so many amazing new dining and entertainment experiences emerging around the world, it feels good to be a part of that revolution and to bring something unique back to San Diego,” he adds.
At 3,900-square-feet, the build out of AQUAlounge is projected at $5 million, and construction is scheduled to begin next month.
Asked about the long incubation period, Hunter says, “Designing and building a vessel so far from the industry standards has certainly created a fair amount of challenges.”
The indoor-outdoor, three-level vessel will feature year-round public and private events, as well as annual membership options.
There will two bars, plus private cabanas and daybeds offering bottle service and other 5-star experiences.
Hunter also has plans partnership with San Diego’s top restaurants and caterers.
On-board entertainment will embrace tech-forward features including synchronized light shows incorporating a fleet of drones, interactive displays, and top-of-the-line lighting, audio and visual components to enhance performances with DJs, live music and unique artistic displays.
With the ability to cover and heat all areas, Hunter says it will he expects his vessel to be a hotspot all year long.
San Diego, he says, is the ideal market for launch with 35.8 million visitors who spend over $11.5 billion annually when they come to town.
“Mission Bay is the largest man-made aquatic recreation area in the world, entertaining 15 million visitors annually,” Hunter claims, adding, “The area has the best year-round weather in the country, a lively hospitality scene, and breathtaking bay views, yet there are no viable options for enjoying great food, drink and entertainment on the water…it feels like a very exciting opportunity.”
While Hunter is new to hospitality, he brings an impressive track record from the tech world. As COO of The Mobile Solution he grew the company to 480 locations in 43 markets with over $400 million in revenues and $52 million in profits in just 10 years.
In 2010 he then launched his own company, Emerge Group, building a custom software platform providing commission reconciliation for wireless dealers. Today, Emerge Group’s software is used by some of the largest Verizon Dealers in the country and has expanded into the agricultural industry.
A longtime resident San Diego’s Pacific Beach area, he noted while there is a lively bar and restaurant scene, there were no modern options for people to enjoy food and drinks on the water.
For Lebua’s Ohri, who is widely credited with popularizing high-end al fresco skyscraper dining as well as bringing the Michelin Guide to Thailand, and Hunter, who brings impressive credentials from the tech world, we will now see if they can replicate the success of the Vegas pool parties on the water.
