Rather than make predictions, it’s best to “show rather than tell”
Gil Dezer, President of Dezer Development, and his father, Michael Dezer, have reshaped the real estate landscape with their visionary approach. For over 50 years, their company has acquired strategic holdings in New York, Florida, and Las Vegas, including an impressive 27 acres of beachfront property in Florida.
Through groundbreaking partnerships with iconic brands like Porsche, Armani, and Bentley, they have created architectural masterpieces that redefine luxury living.
From the revolutionary Porsche Design Tower Miami to the forthcoming Bent-ley Residences, each project is a testament to Gil Dezer’s unwavering pursuit of perfection and his ability to seamlessly merge the realms of automotive and residential excellence.
Gil Dezer embodies the qualities of a successful entrepreneur, with his unwavering integrity, quick decision-making, and ability to embrace change. With an eye on the future, Dezer Development continues to push boundaries and shape the real estate industry.
Their commitment to technology integration and innovative features ensures that each project remains at the forefront of modern living. Stay tuned as Gil Dezer and his team continue to evolve, bringing forth new innovative projects that will shape the future of real estate beyond 2030.
Check out more interviews with entrepreneurs here.
Dezer Development is a leading design and development firm founded by creative and innovative real estate visionary, Michael Dezer, back in 1970. Over the years, Michael Dezer began collaborating closely with his son and current President of Dezer Development, Gil Dezer.
Together, the pair have steadily expanded and grown the company to encompass some of the most unique and strategic holdings in New York, Florida, and Las Vegas since the firm’s inception 51 years ago. In 1985, the Dezers tactically began to acquire oceanfront hotel properties in South Florida.
Today, with just over 27 oceanfront acres, Dezer Development has arguably one of the largest holdings of beachfront property owned and developable in the state of Florida.
Most of these properties are earmarked for redevelopment as mid-and high-rise luxury condominiums, condo-hotels, resorts, and rental communities. Dezer Development has been instrumental in restructuring the face and value of the South Florida real estate industry.
Through the introduction of unique partnerships with marquee lifestyle brands and several highly successful developments, the renowned and unstoppable father-and-son team is credited as major players in the rebirth of Sunny Isles Beach.
In 2011, Dezer Development announced a master licensing agreement with Germany-based Porsche Design Group to expand the iconic brand’s reach into the residential real estate market and unveil The Porsche Design Tower Miami (2017).
The 60-story ultra-luxury tower located on Sunny Isles Beach, marked Porsche’s first residential real estate project and the introduction of the revolutionary automobile elevator lift system – the Dezervator.
Following the unveiling of The Porsche Design Tower Miami, Dezer Development entered into another exclusive partnership with The Related Group and Armani/ Casa Interior Design Studio to launch the world-renowned fashion and furnishings designer, Giorgio Armani’s, first residential tower in the U.S.:Residences by Armani/Casa (2019).
Designed by globally acclaimed Argentine-born architect, César Pelli, the 56-story oceanfront tower features 308 luxurious residences and incomparable amenities spanning two floors, all exquisitely designed by Armani/ Casa with rich textiles and custom furnishings.
Dezer Development then expanded into Miami’s booming Arts & Design District through another joint venture with The Related Group to launch Hyde Midtown Suites and Residences.
Designed by Arquitectonica with interiors by award-winning designer, David Rockwell, the 31-story tower includes 60 hotel rooms along with 410 residential condominiums, and an array of one-of-a-kind, contemporary lifestyle offerings. In 2021, Dezer announced plans for Bentley Residences – the world’s first Bentley Motors-branded luxury tower in Sunny Isles Beach.
Bentley Residences marks the world’s first Bentley Motors co-branded luxury residential property encompassing a one-of a kind collection of 216 exquisitely finished residential units, each embracing an exquisite balance of indoor/outdoor living Located on a private beachfront enclave.
Every unit will encompass an individual balcony swimming pool, unobstructed seascapes, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows seamlessly implemented throughout the entire building.
The Bentley design team is collaborating with Dezer Development on the interior and exterior architecture of the building, translating.
Bentley’s impeccable design to the residential experience. Built with luxury car owners in mind, each residence will include an in-unit multi-car garage and the patented Dezervator multi-car elevator lift, alongside luxe amenities and world-class services. Prices start at $5.5M. Bentley Residences Miami, is set to debut in Sunny Isles Beach in 2026.
www.BentleyResidencesMiami.com| Dezer Development has a long history of strong and successful partnerships and has several other current projects underway. Most notably and recently, Dezer Development proudly announced a partnership with Bentley Motors to construct and unveil the world’s very first Bentley-branded luxury residential property, Bentley Residences, set to debut in 2026.
Additionally, Dezer Development is currently preparing the redevelopment of the Intracoastal Mall into a monumental mixed-use project and the development of an intracoastal-to-ocean property in Hillsboro Beach–among others.
Generating an unprecedented response from a broad range of local, national, and international buyers, the groundbreaking development firm has successfully sold over 2,700 units and generated over $3.6 billion in sales. In addition to their Miami properties, the Dezers have significant holdings in New York, where the company was first founded.
The first developer to identify Chelsea as an up-and-coming district in New York City, Dezer Development played an instrumental role in transforming the failing fur and manufacturing district into a hub of fashion, creative resources, multinational company headquarters, and desirable loft-style living spaces by converting factory buildings into luxury office cooperatives.
Today, their New York portfolio is the largest of its kind in the Chelsea and Flatiron neighborhoods, with holdings that include 20 commercial buildings and encompassing more than 1.3 million square feet of loft office space.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET FEATURED?
All interviews are 100% FREE OF CHARGE
Table of Contents
View this post on Instagram
About Bentley Motors
Bentley Motors is the most sought after luxury car brand in the world. The company’s headquarters in Crewe is home to all of its operations including design, R&D, engineering and production of the company’s three model lines, Bentayga, Continental and Flying Spur.
The combination of fine craftsmanship, using skills that have been handed down through generations, alongside engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology is unique to UK luxury car brands such as Bentley. It is also an example of high-value British manufacturing at its best. Bentley employs around 4,000 people at Crewe.
How is your relationship with Michael Dezer in business?
Gil Dezer: My father is my mentor and ultimate inspiration. He didn’t hand me the business, but he gave me an opportunity to learn it and evolve the company.
For this, I’m grateful. He’s supportive of all my endeavors and continues to hear new strategy ideas, but he’s passed the baton today and I give him all the credit in the world for showing me today’s business world.
What similarities and differences do you have?
Gil Dezer: We are very similar in our style of integrity and passion for perfection. Since we have several decades between us, obviously, my sense of technology and today’s trends are completely different.
However, what we both stand for and our styles of making things happen are very much the same. Obviously, we are cut from the same cloth.
With your involvement as President of Dezer Development, the company has grown to encompass unique and strategic holdings in New York, Florida, and Las Vegas over the past 45 years. What strategies did you use and what were the goals?
Gil Dezer: Having the ability to see the future of a strong market or a sound project isn’t something you can explain — as it comes down to experience and intuition. Our goals were to create value of our projects for buyers, so overtime, not only does our brand grow but our buyers continue to seek interest in our new residential projects.You have many achievements and awards in your career.
Gil Dezer: Dozens of awards including three consecutive years in the Builders Association of South Florida.What are your characteristics as a businessman? And what characteristics should every entrepreneur have and why?
Gil Dezer: I am a person of my word and tell it like it is. Nothing is guarded but I’m transparently honest.
If you’re an entrepreneur you need to have the ability to make quick decisions as timing is everything. Also, standing by those decisions and taking ownership of them.
The Dezer Development has real estate projects with Porsche, Armani, and Bentley. How did you get the idea of teaming up with big car companies to build buildings?
Gil Dezer: Over the years, many brands would come to us with an interest in brand partnerships, and when we started to engage — it just continued to a point where the buyers were eager to continue purchasing at several of our projects.
With our patented “Dezervator,” technology, the elevator lift transporting your car into each condo, and automotive brands were a natural brand collaboration.
Do you have another project of this type under development? Do you intend to extend them beyond Miami?
Gil Dezer: At this time, we’re exploring a variety of opportunities. Those will be released in 2023.
Before launching a new venture or making an acquisition, what factors do you analyze?
Gil Dezer: Not only do we do our due diligence at Dezer Development, but we have other groups involved in testing and exploring anticipated future market conditions.
How to identify good opportunities in Real Estate?
Gil Dezer: Opportunities need to check all the important boxes, but much of it is timing and our key projections of the future.
Technology has “brought everything closer”, making it somewhat easier for people to be mobile
Gil Dezer: We’ve already demonstrated technology with the “Dezervator” which provides a unique aspect of never having to make contact with your neighbors or valet parking unless you choose to do so.
Sometimes we want to come-and-go as we please and this patented technology has become a favorite by so many of our residents.
Overall we have always been big on smart-home technology and features such as the kitchen features which hides appliances and cooktops which can be transformed into aesthetic entertainment spaces. This starts with the top-of-the-line kitchen Gaggenau appliances.
What is your vision for the future of real estate?
Gil Dezer: Rather than make predictions, it’s best to “show rather than tell.”
What are the expectations with the evolution of technology, 5g, the arrival of the metaverse, and the new opportunities that are opening up?
Gil Dezer: Our technology is ever-changing today. We are always looking for the next item to include in making our homeowners’ experience less cluttered, more secure and provides easier functions. We are already one
step ahead as the future unfolds; this will certainly continue
What has been the greatest challenge the company has faced in more than 45 years of existence? What are the next steps for Dezer Development?
Gil Dezer: The greatest challenge within the company is not keeping up with the demand for our products. This means we’re already planning through 2030 and have our eyes on additional new innovative projects
Any advice for those who want to become entrepreneurs?
Gil Dezer: My best advice is to keep evolving. Be careful what you ask for, as you just might get it. That’s what makes an entrepreneur.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Gil Dezer for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Gil Dezer or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
Read Special Edition Articles
- 10 Traits of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs
- Unlocking the Secrets of Smart Goal Setting Leads to Success
- Maximizing the Power of Networking: The Key to Growing Your Business
- Conquering the Top 5 Most Common Challenges Faced by Entrepreneurs
- Discovering the 3 Essential Steps to Building a Strong, Effective Team as a Startup Founder
- The 7 Key Roles of Market Research in Startup Success
- 5 Ways to Unleash the Benefits of Mentorship for Entrepreneurs
- Mastering Financial Management: The Key to Success for Small Business Owners
- The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Job Markets
- Resilience and Persistence: The Two Essential Ingredients for a Successful Business
