Dive Brief:
- Marriott International has opened its 9,000th property, the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Longboat Key, Florida, according to a company announcement.
- The beachfront St. Regis hotel features 168 guest rooms, 26 of which are suites. The 18-acre hotel also includes 69 private branded residences, all of which sold in under a year, Marriott said.
- The hotel is the largest development to be built on Longboat Key, an island off the coast of Sarasota, Florida, in 50 years, according to Marriott. The landmark opening is part of Marriott’s push to expand in both the growing luxury hotel and branded residences sectors.
Dive Insight:
Orlando-based Unicorp National Developments developed St. Regis Longboat Key, which was designed by global firm SB Architects, Miami’s Hirsch Bedner Associates and New York-based interiors studio Dutch East Design.
Marriott previously shared with Hotel Dive that the property features a private beach and plans to host a “wildlife experience” with resident Galapagos tortoises in the hotel’s own saltwater lagoon. The property also includes a St. Regis Spa, an upscale steak and seafood restaurant and a family-friendly winding waterway, in addition to several pools and cabanas.
In a public post on LinkedIn, Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano said the property “underscores Marriott’s global leadership in luxury, which includes our portfolio of seven brands, branded residential properties, and superyachts.” Marriott’s luxury portfolio now boasts 522 hotels globally, with a pipeline of 233 signed projects, according to the company.
St. Regis Longboat Key is also part of Marriott’s push to prioritize branded residences growth. Last month, the company launched an owner benefits program including preferred hotel room rates and the opportunity to earn exclusive experiences.
Marriott currently has 139 open branded residential properties, and a pipeline of 122 more, worldwide.
CBRE has predicted that hospitality companies will increasingly look to branded residences as a way to capture more customers and build brand loyalty.
