A new chapter is unfolding on Marbella’s eastern coastline with the announcement of Higueron’s agreement for a Waldorf Astoria Hilton in the hills of east Marbella. Set to redefine hospitality and lifestyle in the region, the Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort will anchor a wave of high-end branded hotels planned in the area, raising East Marbella’s property profile, increasing residential appeal, and strengthening long-term investment value.
Hilton’s five-star Waldorf Astoria branded resort is officially confirmed to replace the historic Marbella Golf Country Club in the hills above Los Monteros. Set to open in 2029 with a €220 million investment, this landmark development brings one of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands to Spain for the first time, marking a transformative moment for East Marbella’s evolution as a luxury destination.
In a wave of recent announcements signalling the strength and future of Marbella luxury property market, the aquisition of the Marbella Golf Country Club in Altos de Los Monteros of Marbella East signals another important flagship move by one of the world’s most renowened hotel brands.
On 5 November 2025, Hilton CEO Christopher J. Nassetta and Higuerón Developments, announced that CEO Javier Rodríguez signed an agreement in New York to transform the historic golf club into Waldorf Astoria Marbella, bringing Hilton’s flagship luxury brand to Spain for the first time.
The official announcement followed on 15 December 2025, with a presentation held at the iconic Peacock Alley in New York’s original Waldorf Astoria hotel on 12 December. Marbella Mayor Ángeles Muñoz attended alongside Hilton’s Vice President of Luxury for EMEA, Dan Wakeling, underscoring the international significance of the project.
With a total investment of €220 million, the development will span one million square metres. The resort, to be known as Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort under the Waldorf Astoria brand, establishes one of the most influential alliances in the Costa del Sol’s luxury hospitality and real estate sector.
This move establishes one of the most influential alliances in the Costa del Sol’s luxury resort and real estate sector. The creation of the Waldorf Astoria Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort marks a defining moment not only for Marbella as a whole, but specifically for East Marbella life and property, which is rapidly emerging as another epicentre of high-end Mediterranean luxury living.
The redevelopment incorporates a vision combining exclusive accommodation with wellness and sport under the umbrella of a globally recognised hotel brand, following a pattern established by Design Hills Marbella by Dolce and Gabbana and other branded residential properties in Marbella and Benahavís.
Waldorf Astoria Marbella will offer 120 guest rooms and suites, as well as 120 branded residences designed to balance residential comfort with the brand’s signature service. A unique design will be created by three Pritzker Prize-winning architects, who are currently working on the resort’s conceptual design competition. The hotel plans to offer world-class hospitality and wellness facilities, high-end fine-dining, sport and lifestyle offering and the signature level of ultra-luxury service associated with the Waldorf Astoria brand.
Key resort features are planned to include:
By blending Hilton’s flagship high-end brand with Higuerón’s three decades of expertise in contemporary resort developments, the project aims to set a new benchmark for Mediterranean hospitality and firmly position East Marbella on the global luxury stage.
Positioned in the hills above Los Monteros, overlooking the same coastline where various other luxury developments are planned, the project presents a geographic clustering of globally recognised hotel brands that is highly significant from a tourism, hospitality and luxury real estate perspective.
Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and inaugurated in 1994, more than a decade after conception by Robert Naify in the 1980s, Marbella Golf Country Club has long held iconic status on the Costa del Sol. Paying respect to the landscape, the Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort will represent a fusion of heritage, innovation, and vision for the future. Under the new vision, Robert Trent Jones Jr. will lead a complete redesign, prioritising:
The redevelopment of the iconic golf course is a cornerstone of the project’s strategic luxury positioning and branded development strategy, in combination with the Hilton-branded partnership.
The resort occupies a commanding position in the Altos de Monteros area, approximately five kilometres from Marbella town centre and 30 minutes from Málaga Airport. The elevated hillside setting offers panoramic views across the Mediterranean while remaining within easy reach of the coast.
East Marbella has always featured exceptional natural surroundings and established local amenities, offering spacious residential areas among pine forests, relaxed golf courses and some of the coast’s finest beaches. The arrival of the Waldorf Astoria marks a significant structural shift, bringing world-class amenities, elevated hospitality standards, and refined leisure experiences that accelerate the region’s evolution from a tranquil residential enclave into a fully established luxury destination.
The impact is magnified by other high-end developments progressing nearby, including the Four Seasons Marbella resort on the border of central Marbella and the east, a beachfront hotel in Las Dunas Elviria, and the recent transformation of La Cabane into a five-star Dolce & Gabbana beach club experience.
Together, these projects create a powerful concentration of world-renowned luxury hospitality and branded resort developments along the Marbella East coastline, and add to the range of modern five-star beach club experiences throughout Marbella area.
The Waldorf Astoria is part of a broader wave of luxury hospitality investment transforming East Marbella. Our analysis of East Marbella’s luxury hotel boom explores what this means for property values, buyer profiles, and the investment outlook for the area.
Together, they create a powerful concentration of world-renowned luxury hospitality and branded resort developments along the Marbella East coastline, complemented by the branded residential projects throughout Marbella Golden Mile to their west, combining to contribute to the wealth of high-end amenities that give Marbella it’s name.
As we’ve observed across comparable global markets, the arrival of multiple high-profile brands and luxury new developments around Marbella increases demand for surrounding areas, strengthening buyer confidence and elevating luxury property price ceilings. The result is likely to be a strong market uplift in the surrounding East Marbella neighbourhoods, including Los Monteros, Costabella, Elviria, and Hacienda Las Chapas, as well as the La Mairena and Cabopino/Artola area: positioned to benefit from improved amenities and increased international recognition as the new wave of branded hotels and resorts comes online.
The partnership between Higuerón Developments and Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria brand introduces a flagship resort that will bring increased tourism, attract new international investors, and boost residential demand across the region. Together with other major coastal projects, the development drives a structural revaluation of East Marbella, establishing the region as a rising first-class destination for the next decade.
As Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta stated, this signing represents another important step in expanding Hilton’s luxury portfolio globally, which now includes more than 550 trading hotels worldwide. For East Marbella, it confirms the area’s arrival on the global luxury map alongside destinations served by properties from the legendary Waldorf Astoria New York to Waldorf Astoria Osaka.
For buyers and investors looking ahead, East Marbella stands out as one of Marbella’s most compelling emerging luxury markets, and the time to act is now. Take advantage of this unique opportunity, contact MPDunne property experts today for a confidential consultation and tailored investment strategies to help you secure your place in this booming market before prices rise further.
MPDunne. Originally published November 2025, updated February 2026.
The Waldorf Astoria Marbella is a luxury hotel and golf development replacing the historic Marbella Golf Country Club. With a €220 million investment, it brings Hilton’s flagship Waldorf Astoria brand to Spain for the first time, combining world-class hospitality with a redesigned championship golf course and branded residences.
The resort is scheduled to open in 2029, according to Hilton’s official announcement in December 2025.
The resort is located in the Altos de Monteros area of East Marbella, approximately five kilometres from Marbella town centre and 30 minutes from Málaga Airport, with panoramic views across the Mediterranean coastline.
The resort will offer 120 guest rooms and suites, as well as 120 branded residences managed by Waldorf Astoria, combining hotel luxury with residential comfort.
Robert Trent Jones Jr is leading the complete redesign of the course his father, Robert Trent Jones Sr, originally created. The redesign prioritises sustainability, modern playability, and enhanced championship credentials.
Three Pritzker Prize-winning architects are competing in a conceptual design competition for the resort, reinforcing its iconic architectural ambitions.
The resort will feature a 750 m² spa with four treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, Peacock Alley (Waldorf Astoria’s signature lobby bar), a signature restaurant, pool bar and grill, fitness centre, Personal Concierge service, and meeting spaces.
No. The Waldorf Astoria is part of a cluster of major luxury hotel projects in East Marbella, alongside the Four Seasons Río Real development and a beachfront resort planned in Las Dunas, Elviria.
Melinda Rendina Content Writer & Marketing Creator
Melinda is an experienced writer specialising in real estate, urban planning, lifestyle, architecture and design. A seasoned Marbella resident, she holds an Undergraduate Degree in Social Science with Honours in Politics, and a Masters degree in Urban Planning.
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