John W. Snow
73rd United States Secretary of the Treasury
“Mike has been working and living in the Caribbean region for over twenty years and knows the Cayman Islands and all its local issues well. His combination of large project development, construction, management and operational experience in the region gives him insights only available to someone who has actually taken on such a project and brought it to a successful conclusion. Mike knows intimately the challenges o working in the region and working with the local people.”
What our clients and partners are saying
Greg Norman
Chairman & CEO, Great White Shark Enterprises
“I especially want to thank Mike, a lot of you probably know him and a lot of you probably don’t know him. I have known Mike for 15 years, and in my business when you have a connection and relationship with someone like Mike it goes beyond friendship in a lot of ways.
I can remember walking around this golf course when we started to build it, walking through mangroves and surviving hurricanes, only to see Mike’s dream come out of the ground to where it is today.
To be able to host the people in this room today, the individuals that make the world go around, is very special. It does not take much, if I have respect for somebody, that if they ask me to do something I am there. I have a lot of respect for Mike, a lot of respect for what he has done in the world of business and it is a honor to be here today in front of everybody.” Greg Norman
2012 Cayman Alternative Investment Summit hosted and organized by Michael Ryan.
Mitsui Chairman & Allan Guest, Former CEO
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (London Management) Ltd
“Our involvement with Mr. Mike Ryan and/or Condoco began in June 2000 and forms part of the principal debt financing in collaboration with Royal Bank of Scotland for the purpose of constructing the Ritz-Carlton development in Grand Cayman. In the course of the project we have, in conjunction with the Royal Bank of Scotland, provided total debt support for US$180M which is currently amortising down to the successful operation of the Hotel and sale of condominiums.
During the course of the development, Mike Ryan and the Development Group have established a strong and open relationship which has enabled all parties to work effectively to overcome some significant unforeseen challenges and, in particular, the quality of strength and leadership of Mike Ryan and his team has ensured the success of the development for all concerned.
It goes without saying that the professionalism and integrity of the individuals and companies with whom we choose to do business is of the utmost importance to our company, not least because of the consequential impact which our partners' conduct necessarily has on our own commercial reputation. Our decision to work alongside Mike Ryan and Condoco in respect of the Grand Cayman project was therefore something which was not entered into lightly and only embarked upon after a detailed and rigorous analysis of every aspect of the proposed development and the integrity of our putative partners. Our shareholders would, of course, expect nothing less.
1 am happy to state that over the past 6 years, we have enjoyed an excellent and productive working relationship with Mr. Ryan and/or Condoco. In particular, we have found him/them to be both highly professional and deeply committed to the success of the Ritz-Carlton development and to have proved themselves fully capable of overseeing the construction, marketing, and opening of a project of substantial size and complexity. Now completed, the resort is a world-class and highly prestigious hotel and condominium development on a scale and standard unique in the Cayman Islands and, moreover, one whose quality is comparable with any high-end luxury resort in the Caribbean region. We are proud to have been involved in the successful delivery of the Ritz Carlton project and would have no hesitation over working with Mr. Ryan in the future were the right opportunity to arise.”
Simon Cooper
President & Managing Director Asia Pacific for Marriott International, Inc & Former President & COO, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.
In 2004 Simon Cooper had the following to say about Michael Ryan, “I have known Michael Ryan for three years in business related to The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman project. My impression is that he is very focused on bringing the project to fruition no matter how challenging the business and physical environment. He is passionate in pursuit of his vision, with a personal commitment to the project and everyone associated with it.”
Honorable Robert L. Livingston
Founding Partner, The Livingston Group & Former Elected Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Robert Livingston met Michael Ryan approximately 18 years ago when they were introduced by a mutual friend in Costa Rica. “He needed some help trying to persuade the government to follow through with his effort to buy some land. Later, he introduced me to folks in the Cayman Islands and now we represent them in Washington,” Livingstone said.
Describing Ryan as sophisticated, well educated and energetic, Livingston said, “He’s one of the brightest young people I know. He’s a very strong family man. He protects his wife and family. He’s energetic and community minded. He’s a talented guy.”
Commenting on Ryan’s skills in business, Livingston added, “I think he’s a great businessman; I’ve always been impressed with him. He’s always been forthright, totally above board with me. He’s a great people person, very impressive. He’s probably a very good salesman and I don’t mean that in the pejorative sense. He pays great attention to detail. He has his head on his shoulders in my opinion. I’ve met a lot of people in my time and Mike Ryan is one of the most impressive people I’ve met.”
Donn Davis
Co-founder and Managing Partner, Revolution Growth & Former Chairman & CEO, Exclusive Resorts
Donn Davis and Michael Ryan have known one another for over 12 years. “We met when a company I was CEO of, Exclusive Resorts, was starting to look to buy into high-end development projects. I have met personally with Mike many times over the years and consider him a trusted business colleague. He was one of Exclusive Resorts’ development partners and we would do business with him again in his next phase or his next project.”
Describing Ryan as an “excellent developer,” Davis says, “He is passionate, tenacious and determined to deliver excellence in both his hospitality product and his real estate product. He has vision to create significant, valuable, and lasting developments. He is both creative and bottom-line oriented, which allows Mike to successfully ‘connect the dots’ on large projects.”
“Mike is a pioneer, one of the few who understands that consumers who buy real estate must be your first priority and you must ‘super-serve’ them. That is not a mindset that traditional hospitality companies have,” he added.
Nick Bollettieri
Tennis Coach to the Stars
Nick Bollettieri says of Michael Ryan, “Mike Ryan and I met at the 2002 U.S. Open tennis tournament. It did not take long to see that he was a family man and a motivated businessman who has a deep passion for the game of tennis. I customized the tennis program for Mike at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Resort.
While I have only worked with Mike on The Ritz-Carlton project – an enormous project to conceptualize and develop – he is obviously very open to new ideas and is committed to developing a tennis program that will be the best of the best.
Mike is obviously a visionary with high expectations of others and of himself. He is fearless when it comes to making his dreams a reality, a characteristic that I have found to be an enormous asset in my field. Mike comes across as a man who is very sure of himself, and this is the strength he has when first meeting people.
I don’t know how others in business might perceive him and frankly, I don’t care. He comes across to me as a real person and that is why I agreed to be part of the group in Grand Cayman.”
Anthony Travers, OBE
Chairman, Cayman Islands Stock Exchange
Speaking of Michael Ryan, whom he has known since Ryan moved to the Cayman Islands in 1997, Anthony Travers said, “When we see the huge infrastructure development of tourist destinations like Dubai, and the strides made by close competitors such as the Turks & Caicos Islands and Cuba, it seems clear that without capital commitment of The Ritz-Carlton and the perseverance of Mike Ryan, the long term tourist sector in the Cayman Islands would soon be uncompetitive.
It does require a great deal of vision, entrepreneurial skill, and business acumen to undertake a project of this quality,” Travers said, referring to The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Resort. “There are certainly stylistic arguments for and against the project but the fact of the matter is that those who criticize Mike are looking increasingly out of touch. What is clear is that notwithstanding the storm, The Ritz-Carlton represents a new standard of excellence in the hotel and condominium industry in the Caribbean.”
Travers added: “A good deal of the criticism has verged on the unfair. The question of whether the Cayman Islands has a tourism industry and the type and development that should be permitted under it is very much a policy matter for the Cayman Islands government. Having set those policies, we should be grateful for those who are prepared to invest the capital and make the commitment to raise the standard.”
Sheryl Crow
Grammy Award-Winning Singer/Songwriter
Ms. Crow performed at the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman in January 2006, and remarked “It’s so beautiful, hardly anything needs to be done. Walking into this setting feels like, it feels like a celebration.”
Forbes Morton
Managing Director, Wealth Management - Bank of America Corporation
Forbes Morton has over twenty years of experience in financial services and has spent the last 20+ years with Bank of America. His previous positions include Head of Planning and Development in the Wholesale Bank, Business Manager for the Strategy Group, and Business Executive for Wealth and Investment Technology.
Mr. Morton has known Michael Ryan for 40 years. “We’ve known each other since grade school. We played on many sports teams together, went to university together, and have been climbing partners. Our families get together two or three times a year,” he said.
As a businessman, Ryan, according to Morton, is “entrepreneurial, decisive. He rises to the challenge and has very strong leadership skills. Mike is profit-driven while at the same time delivering a quality product, creating a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.”
As someone to do business with, Ryan is “bright, unconventional, quick-witted, humorous and loyal. In short, multi-dimensional. His greatest strengths are being strong-willed, focused, empathetic, and driven to succeed,” according to Morton
Jean Cohen
Former Vice President & General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman
Jean Cohen says about Michael Ryan, “I find him to be a visionary, a really big thinker. He understands the big picture very quickly. He’s a passionate leader; he has an extraordinary work ethic, doing whatever has to be done to drive his project forward. He is straightforward, businesslike, tenacious and energetic. No obstacle is too big for him. He’s just unflappable.”
As an example of his character, Cohen cited Ryan’s response to Hurricane Ivan that devastated the Cayman Islands in 2004. Cohen was off-island when the storm hit and was desperate to care for her staff. “We had to evacuate our people. I called Michael to see if he could do anything. ‘I’ve just arranged for a 737 to take them out,’ he said. Those were my people he was talking about. These were not Michael’s people; they reported to me. He somehow commandeered buses to get them to the airport tarmac. He went into the departure area and told all those waiting that he had 10 empty seats and asked if anyone wanted to leave. He told them that women and children should go first. They (her staff and the residents he helped) would do anything for him now.”
“During difficult times you tend to see someone’s character. He has very strong moral fiber,” Cohen added. He also turned the hurricane into an opportunity to improve the resort project, she said. “After the hurricane, he maintained a positive attitude and his optimism. He didn’t waver for a second. His approach was ‘It’s not every day you get an opportunity to rethink the project.’ He has positive drive around the clock.”
Cohen observed that Ryan’s determination to make The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Resort the best possible resort led him to take every step necessary, including many that were not required.
“After more than 30 years in business, I can pretty much pick and choose my projects and the people I want to work with. It was truly a pleasure to be on this project and to be affiliated with Michael Ryan.”
Thomas Evans
Founder, EastWest Financial Services
Tom Evans has known Michael Ryan since 1993. “He engaged my firm, EastWest Financial Services Ltd., as the investment banker to arrange long-term project financing for a Sonesta Hotel he was building on his large mixed-use property on the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica. We have had a very strong business association ever since. EastWest was also engaged as the investment banker for The Ritz-Carton, Grand Cayman project.”
“Mike has real vision as a developer and, I believe, is on the cutting edge of where his type of product is headed. He is constantly fine-tuning the real estate product he offers his client and customer,” Evans added.
Describing Ryan’s strengths as “very strong marketing and sales skills, vision, drive, and perseverance through all types of business adversity,” Evans said, “I believe a lot of off-shore developers and hotel industry types admire and respect Mike for the risks he’s taken. In many ways he is a pioneer in his business product, the branded serviced hotel-condo product, which now has been enthusiastically adopted and widely imitated throughout North America.”