PHOENIX HOTEL BUSINESS. has learned that Marriott International is working on a luxury development in Laguna Beach, CA with The Athens Group.
The property is a “274-room oceanfront, unflagged, ultra-luxury property,” according to Jeffrey Mongan, senior vp, The Athens Group, which is also the developer of the newly opened Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay in Half Moon Bay, CA, and of the under-construction Ritz-Carlton Bachelor s Gulch, in Vail, CO.
“The goal to is create a property positioned above the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Nigel and the St. Regis [Monarch Beach],” said Mongan.
Asked whether the “unbranded” property could possibly be branded as a Bulgari resort (a brand recently launched by Marriott and Italian luxury goods producer Bulgari), Mongan said no, since “this project is too far down the road in design to be a Bulgari.” (5/14/01) Ruthanne Terrero