St Regis signs up for maiden Australian venue
One of the world’s most exclusive hotels, St Regis – responsible for creating the Bloody Mary – has pre-committed to Gurner and Wingate’s La Pelago project, in Surfers Paradise.
The 185-key guesthouse, with a 42nd level foyer, will form part of a 68 storey mixed use tower also with apartments.
Three more buildings between 28 and 34 floors are permitted as part of the $1.7 billion project, earmarked for a 1.15 hectare site at 108 Ferny Avenue, bound by Norfolk, Oak and Pine, and the Gold Coast Highway.
Established by John Astor in New York in 1904, St Regis is nowadays owned by Marriott, with 56 venues in 19 countries.
In 2018, the marque pre-committed to its maiden Australian venue on part of the ex-Melbourne Convention Centre – a development site owned at the time by China Century Group and Exhibition & Travel Group.
That plan was scuppered when the parcel sold on Christmas eve the year later to Mirvac for offices and a Build to Rent asset.
The Gold Coast commitment comes five months since Lendlease and Mitsubishi pre-committed Waldorf Astoria to its maiden Australian inn, part of the $3b One Circular Quay project, in Sydney.
In August, we reported, billionaire miner Andrew Forrest was in negotiations to buy it, for c$570m.
St Regis Gold Coast Resort
With four towers containing 950 dwellings and c7000 sqm of retail space, La Pelago is set to open in 2025.
The hotel – to be known as the St Regis Gold Coast Resort, and also with a bar and restaurant – will form part of the first building.
Wingate obtained control of the site when developer Ralan collapsed in 2019; at the time, the land was earmarked for a two tower complex, Sapphire.
“The St Regis Gold Coast Resort is a major coup for the top end of the Gold Coast tourism market, which is now booming again after the lockdowns of 2020-2021,” Gurner managing director, Tim Gurner, said.
“The St Regis brand has defined luxury hotels since the opening of the very first St Regis…and has since selected partners who can bring to life the rich tradition and heritage legacy of the brand,” he added.
It took 27 days for the pair to agree a lease (story continues below).
“Guests can look forward to entering via the porte cochere and experiencing the hotel’s signature spaces, which includes a specialty restaurant, world class sky bar, pool bar, luxurious lounge as well as the signature St Regis Bar,” according to the executive.
The hotel will also contain functions spaces.
“This signing for the St Regis brand in Australia is momentous for Marriott International, and a wonderful advancement for the Gold Coast,” Marriott vice president, Hotel Development, Richard Crawford, said.
“The St Regis hotel brand redefined luxury when it first opened its doors in New York over 100 years ago and as such we are incredibly selective when choosing the right locations and developments to launch new St Regis hotel sites, that are befitting of the strict requirements and expectations of the brand,” he added.
Crystal Club apartments
About 100 apartments will be developed over the hotel, the developers said.
To be known as the Crystal Club, the units will be accessed from private elevators.
Residents will have full use of St Regis’ amenity.
“The Crystal Club will be the next evolution of what we created at Saint Moritz and then taken to another level again with more amenity that just adds a whole new level of glamour and sophistication,” Mr Gurner said.
The wider La Pelago project will also include wellness facilities, a business centre and ballroom.
“We are delighted to see the continued momentum at La Pelago with this latest announcement,” Wingate managing director, Mark Harrison, said.
“Wingate sees the introduction of the St. Regis brand to the project as a significant investment of iconic luxury in the Gold Coast market,” he added.
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