Martin Aquatic Announces Key Hire, Surf Park Project, and Major Branded Aquatic Destinations

On the heels of exciting waterpark openings such as the Island Waterpark at Showboat Hotel, Martin Aquatic has announced the hiring of its new Vice President for Blue Mar Basins™, Alessandro Orio, who will oversee major developments using the company’s patent-pending technology for multi-acre aquatic amenities. This latest hire demonstrates Martin Aquatic’s considerable growth in the past few years as large projects are coming down the pipeline, including the surf park development Surf ATL, as well as a series of new vacation destinations branded with the most celebrated name in sports: Sports Illustrated Resorts.

Orio comes to Martin Aquatic from Myrtha Pools USA, where he gained more than a decade of experience in pool construction and aquatic project management in the resort and hospitality sector.

“Having worked with Alessandro as a client for so many years, we knew his understanding of this industry would make him the right fit for leading the development of large-scale aquatic projects,” said Josh Martin, President & Creative Director of Martin Aquatic. “It is perfect timing for him to join Martin Aquatic as the first of many Blue Mar Basins™ sites start moving into the construction stage.”

Orio will use his design and operations expertise developing major destinations that use Blue Mar Basins™ technology, such as the project Martin Aquatic announced earlier this year with a 20-acre surfable lake at Thermal Beach Club in the Coachella Valley.

With their sizable scale, many of Martin Aquatic’s large Blue Mar Basins™ projects remain confidential. However, one of the latest to publicly announce its plans is Surf ATL (https://www.surf-atl.com), a multi-phased property centered on a customizable wave powered by Endless Surf. Located outside of Atlanta, Surf ATL focuses on connecting and building the regional surf community through its planned development, with amenities that offer every level of rider a deeper enjoyment of the sport. Martin Aquatic is serving as the aquatic consultant and designer, assisting in the design, layout, and operational considerations with its Blue Mar Basins™ technology.

“We have loved helping the Surf ATL leadership transform their vision into a tangible site design that welcomes surfers of every level while also offering fun aquatic amenities to their families,” said Martin. “The passion that they have for fostering a love of surfing within the community is so contagious, and we are incredibly grateful to be a part of this project that will leave a lasting impact on inland surf culture.”

Another major development that Martin Aquatic is working on celebrates surf—as well as every other sport. Sports Illustrated Hotels & Resorts has tapped Martin Aquatic to create an Experience Park concept that encapsulates its iconic media brand and the adventurous spirit of athletic competition. Martin Aquatic has started the project (planned for a soon-to-be-announced destination) using a site plan that blends casual and extreme waterpark attractions and land-based entertainment. On top of that, each amenity is overlaid with sport themes that gamify the entire guest experience.

“Working with the team at Sports Illustrated Resorts has allowed us to showcase our creative design capabilities in new ways,” said Martin. “The mix of waterpark attractions and dry land adventures has combined for what will be an iconic vacation experience. It’s just another example of how we are focused on developing world-class Aquatic Leisure Destinations™.”

Along with this first property, Martin Aquatic has been selected to help develop a number of other unique Sports Illustrated Resort property locations around the country.