[+] Gurner Adds Luxury Hotel’s Debut to Coast Masterplan

Gurner is planning to bring Marriott International uber-luxury St. Regis hotel brand to the Gold Coast in an Australian first. The deal between Gurner and Marriott International took just 27 days to agree upon after an exhaustive expression of interest campaign that vetted some of the world’s most well-known and upscale hotel brands. The 185-key hotel will form part of Gurner’s approved $1.7-billion La Pelago at Budds Beach being delivered in partnership with investment house Wingate. The Warren and Mahoney-designed development will feature four towers up to 57 storeys in a $1.25-billion joint-venture with investment house Wingate. The La Pelago development will also feature 889 apartments, a 2000sq m wellness club, and 5500sq m of restaurants, retail and conferencing amenity on the 112 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise site. Gurner chief executive Tim Gurner said the St. Regis New York had been his favourite hotel since he and wife Aimee stayed there on their first holiday together, returning nearly every year. “Le Pelago deserved a 5-star brand that would transform the Gold Coast,” Gurner said. “For me it was only ever St. Regis. “La Pelago is something that will never be re-created again in Australia and St. Regis has always been my favourite hotel brand, so I just had to have them to complete the circle of ultra-luxury at the project.” ▲ Hotel accommodation will go up to level 43 of the Aquia tower and above will be 100 Crystal Club residences. Image: Tim Gurner and Richard Crawford St. Regis is Marriott International’s leading luxury hotel brand with more than 56 hotels and resorts around the world, making it one of the most exclusive hotel offerings for guests. The first St. Regis opened in New York in 1904. To heighten its Gold Coast offering, all guest rooms and hotel amenities, including the bar and restaurant, will sit well above the development’s three other towers—the main hotel lobby will be on level 42. Guests will enter the hotel via the porte cochère and into the hotel’s signature spaces—which include a speciality restaurant, sky bar, pool bar, lounge and signature St. Regis Bar. Marriott International vice president of hotel development Richard Crawford said the hotel tower would be 50 per cent taller than any other surrounding tower, providing unobstructed views. “The St. Regis’ name promises a vanguard spirit steeped in history and tradition, and is synonymous with global luxury,” Crawford said. “We look forward to bringing to life an iteration of the brand that is modern, aspirational, and befits the lifestyle and energy of the Gold Coast.” ▲ The St. Regis Gold Coast Resort expects to mark the fourth Marriott International property on the Gold Coast when it opens. Image: Warren and Mahoney Building the project is Icon Construction, which has taken on a contract estimated at $350 million. The first building is to be completed in just over three years. The hotel will be completed in 2027. La Pelago is part of Gurner’s rapidly expanding $10-billion portfolio and pipeline consisting of 10,000 homes. A $1.2-billion build-to-rent fund was set up last year with listed real estate investment house Qualitas. The high-end developer now has active and future projects across Melbourne , wider Victoria , Sydney , Gold Coast , Adelaide , Brisbane , Perth and Port Douglas . Last month, Gurner announced a high-profile local senior team and a new office in Brisbane, building on the developer’s Melbourne head office and recently announced Sydney expansion. Gurner appointed Rob Cooke as chief delivery officer and Jaime Cali as its Queensland project director. His new Queensland team will also oversee another project about 15km south of Budds Beach. That project, in partnership with investment house MaxCap, will comprise a 22-storey apartment tower with 80 residences at 1929 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads. Back in Gurner’s home city of Melbourne, the developer recently signaled plans for a similarly scaled $1.7-billion project at 208-226 Harbour Esplanade in Docklands. That project, still in its early stages, will feature 1200 apartments and a 200-room hotel across six towers. In a similar vein to La Pelago, below the towers at ground level will be a retail and commercial precinct, a wellness, recovery and performance centre and a large public area. You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. Click here to learn more.

[+] Gurner Adds Luxury Hotel’s Debut to Coast Masterplan

Get the full story.

Early Plays Pay Off in Sydney’s Eastern Reform Shake-Up

Comiskey Warns Time’s Almost Up to Beat Games Construction Crunch

Why Latent Defects Insurance is Moving from Niche to Mainstream

Fun Under Management: The Rise of Destination Office Christmas Parties

Willow Secures Rare Toorak Consolidation After Three-Year Pursuit

A fireside chat with Troy Daffy | Managing Director, Silverstone Developments

Brisbane Long Lunch | Panel discussion with Rob Comiskey, Frank Licastro, Steve Laffey & Alexandra Stuart-Robertson

Sydney Long Lunch | Panel discussion with Jamie Durie, Jennifer Macquarie & Michael Romano

The AI-Driven Developer

Graya Plots Three-Storey Bump for Hamilton Scheme

Port Kembla Rezoning Clears Way for 200ha Business Park

RBA Reveals $400m Second Stage of Sydney Asbestos Fix

First Look: WA’s First Vertical Primary School Revealed

2026 Developer Outlook Lunch | Melbourne

2026 Developer Outlook Lunch | Brisbane

2026 Developer Outlook Lunch | Sydney