Gianfranco Macri announces US$ 42.5 million sports project in Uruguay

Argentine businessman Gianfranco Macri, along with partners Pablo Rubio and Mariano de Llano, has announced a US$ 42.5 million investment in a major sports and wellness project in Uruguay. Operating through the company Manantiales Golf SAD, the initiative aims to transform the Manantiales-José Ignacio corridor into a regional hub for sports, tourism, and health.

The project includes the construction of a 27-hole golf course spanning nearly 100 hectares and a 3,000-square-meter ‘sport & wellness center’. The center will feature a gym, heated pool, spa, coworking spaces, and courts for tennis, padel, and football. Of the total investment, US$ 30.3 million is allocated to the golf course and clubhouse, while US$ 12.2 million is designated for the wellness center.

Developers presented the plan to Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi and Maldonado Intendant Miguel Abella. Construction is expected to begin this year with a three-year execution timeline. The project seeks to reduce tourism seasonality in the Maldonado region, with estimates suggesting it could generate approximately US$ 1.5 million in annual additional tourist spending in local hospitality and commerce.