by Thora Qaddumi Houston Business Journal

In 1977, a job assignment sent Englishman Shaun Wymes to Houston.

"My plan was to stay two years and save enough money to go back and buy a house," he says.

In 1982, another young Brit, Michael Manners, was sent by his company on what was initially a three-month assignment in Houston.

"I had it in the back of my mind that I might stay," he says, "and my boss asked me immediately if I would consider it."

Both of the newcomers ended up settling in Houston and building wildly successful careers here.

"I became 'Texanized' pretty quickly," Wymes says.

Among other wide-ranging business activities, he founded a company that developed into Atlantic Communications LLC, which publishes oil and gas journals, and International Exhibitions Inc., which puts on conferences and large exhibitions, including the Texas Home and Garden Show. Another of his companies, British Investments Inc., oversees a portfolio of commercial, retail and residential properties, and a subsidiary launched over a dozen restaurants, including one of the first microbreweries in Texas.

Meanwhile, Manners founded Royce Homes and built it into one of the largest home builders in the country, which sold its 20,000th home last year. Although he still holds the title of chairman of Royce, he retired as president in 1998, following partial sale of the company, and sold the second half of the Royce group of companies in 2006.

He continues to head Elan Development Co., a residential and commercial land development company he founded in 1997 which has developed some 40 projects including the 1,450-acre Legends Ranch community. And he spends about a third of his time as an owner/driver in National Hot Rod Association and International Hot Rod Association drag racing events in the Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and Super Comp classes and was the NHRA Top Sportsman Champion - Houston 2006.

Now Wymes, 56, and Manners, 52, are turning their sights south of the border. Through a partnership called Britanic Ventures, they are developing Cosmo, an eight-acre European-style luxury residential community in Oaxaca in the town of Huatulco, on the Pacific. The 69 homes are priced at $600,000 to $1 million.

"It's the biggest project in my life -- $75 million; no banks," Wymes says.

Wymes and Manners are "50/50" partners. Wymes is serving as operating partner. Manners, who was strictly a "social friend" until he visited Wymes in Huatulco and caught his vision for Cosmo, is "lending his support and experience."

"Shaun had already done a tremendous amount of work and research," Manners says.

Wymes says he searched the world "for somewhere that is unspoiled but has an infrastructure."

"I looked in South Africa, Thailand, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, all over Mexico and beyond," he says, "but I never found anywhere that suited me and wasn't over-commercialized."

Seven years ago, he discovered Huatulco and built a vacation home there. Now Mexico is giving full support to the development of Huatulco as a tourist designation through Fonatur, the agency responsible for development of Cancun, Cabo San Lucas and Ixtapa.

Continental Airlines Inc. has established a direct flight from Houston. And the two Brits who found success in Houston say they expect Manners' home-building experience and Wymes' meticulous attention to detail and love for the area will make a powerful combination in the little-known town of Huatulco.

by Thora Qaddumi Houston Business Journal

In 1977, a job assignment sent Englishman Shaun Wymes to Houston.

"My plan was to stay two years and save enough money to go back and buy a house," he says.

In 1982, another young Brit, Michael Manners, was sent by his company on what was initially a three-month assignment in Houston.

"I had it in the back of my mind that I might stay," he says, "and my boss asked me immediately if I would consider it."

Both of the newcomers ended up settling in Houston and building wildly successful careers here.

"I became 'Texanized' pretty quickly," Wymes says.

Among other wide-ranging business activities, he founded a company that developed into Atlantic Communications LLC, which publishes oil and gas journals, and International Exhibitions Inc., which puts on conferences and large exhibitions, including the Texas Home and Garden Show. Another of his companies, British Investments Inc., oversees a portfolio of commercial, retail and residential properties, and a subsidiary launched over a dozen restaurants, including one of the first microbreweries in Texas.

Meanwhile, Manners founded Royce Homes and built it into one of the largest home builders in the country, which sold its 20,000th home last year. Although he still holds the title of chairman of Royce, he retired as president in 1998, following partial sale of the company, and sold the second half of the Royce group of companies in 2006.

He continues to head Elan Development Co., a residential and commercial land development company he founded in 1997 which has developed some 40 projects including the 1,450-acre Legends Ranch community. And he spends about a third of his time as an owner/driver in National Hot Rod Association and International Hot Rod Association drag racing events in the Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and Super Comp classes and was the NHRA Top Sportsman Champion - Houston 2006.

Now Wymes, 56, and Manners, 52, are turning their sights south of the border. Through a partnership called Britanic Ventures, they are developing Cosmo, an eight-acre European-style luxury residential community in Oaxaca in the town of Huatulco, on the Pacific. The 69 homes are priced at $600,000 to $1 million.

"It's the biggest project in my life -- $75 million; no banks," Wymes says.

Wymes and Manners are "50/50" partners. Wymes is serving as operating partner. Manners, who was strictly a "social friend" until he visited Wymes in Huatulco and caught his vision for Cosmo, is "lending his support and experience."

"Shaun had already done a tremendous amount of work and research," Manners says.

Wymes says he searched the world "for somewhere that is unspoiled but has an infrastructure."

"I looked in South Africa, Thailand, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, all over Mexico and beyond," he says, "but I never found anywhere that suited me and wasn't over-commercialized."

Seven years ago, he discovered Huatulco and built a vacation home there. Now Mexico is giving full support to the development of Huatulco as a tourist designation through Fonatur, the agency responsible for development of Cancun, Cabo San Lucas and Ixtapa.

Continental Airlines Inc. has established a direct flight from Houston. And the two Brits who found success in Houston say they expect Manners' home-building experience and Wymes' meticulous attention to detail and love for the area will make a powerful combination in the little-known town of Huatulco.