Fort Lauderdale has always been defined by water. From the winding canals that earned it the “Venice of America” nickname to the world’s largest in-water boat show that turns Bahia Mar into an international stage each fall, the city has saltwater in its veins. Now, with the arrival of The St. Regis Resort & Residences Bahia Mar, the city is poised to step onto the global stage in a new way.
The project, a $2 billion reimagining of Fort Lauderdale’s iconic Bahia Mar marina, is being led by Related Group, Tate Capital and Rok Acquisitions in partnership with Marriott International. When complete, it will be nothing short of transformative: twin 23-story St. Regis-branded residential towers, a 197-key flagship hotel, a private beach club, 88,000 square feet of waterfront dining and retail and slips designed to accommodate superyachts up to 350 feet. The scale alone is remarkable, but what sets it apart is how seamlessly it connects Fort Lauderdale’s yachting heritage with St. Regis’ brand of timeless luxury.
Nick Pérez, president of condominium development at Related Group, explains the vision with characteristic clarity. “Fort Lauderdale is one of the world’s top coastal destinations, yet it has never had a project that truly matched its stature,” he says. “As the Yachting Capital of the World, with unmatched access to both the Atlantic and the Intracoastal, the city was long overdue for a flagship development of this caliber. The St. Regis brand, with its impeccable service and attention to detail, proved the perfect partner to bring that vision to life.”
The residences are designed to be sanctuaries in the sky, offering expansive three- and four-bedroom layouts, a select number of penthouses and sweeping views of both the Atlantic and the Intracoastal. Interiors by London-based Tara Bernerd & Partners draw inspiration from the city’s maritime heritage, blending warm wood with sculptural metallic details and bespoke millwork that feels as refined as a superyacht interior. Think spa-inspired bathrooms, custom-milled cabinetry, private elevators and wraparound glass terraces large enough to host a dinner party with the ocean as your backdrop. Prices start at $3 million, but what you’re purchasing goes far beyond square footage.
This is where lifestyle truly comes into play. Residents will have access to 35,000 square feet of private amenities in each tower. Imagine mornings that begin with a butler-delivered coffee on your terrace, afternoons enjoying spa treatments and laps in the pool and evenings that shift effortlessly from cocktails at the lounge to a sunset yacht ride. From a private beach club and state-of-the-art fitness center to pickleball courts, multisport simulators and curated art collections, every detail reflects the St. Regis philosophy that luxury isn’t just about finishes—it’s about how a place makes you feel.
For Pérez, that emotional resonance was critical. “Luxury isn’t just finishes; it’s the entire lifestyle experience catered to every resident and guest,” he says. “Signature St. Regis touchpoints are integrated at every point in the day, from legendary butler service and morning tea in the Tea Room to your favorite cocktail memorized and offered to you from the moment you arrive. It’s unmistakably St. Regis, yet it feels rooted in this city and this extraordinary site.”
That rootedness makes Bahia Mar the ideal canvas. The site is home to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, an event that attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year and underscores the city’s role as a global yachting hub. The new Bahia Mar will not only continue to host that show but will also elevate it, offering a marina designed to handle some of the world’s largest vessels and a pedestrian promenade that invites both residents and the community to enjoy the waterfront.
The timing couldn’t be better. Fort Lauderdale is having a moment, fresh off the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup victory and Forbes’ recognition as Florida’s newest luxury and financial hotspot. The city’s identity is shifting, evolving from a beach town with a boating habit into a true international destination for the global elite. The St. Regis Bahia Mar doesn’t just ride that wave; it amplifies it.
Pérez sums it up best: “When residents enter their Bahia Mar homes, they should feel an immediate sense of calm and effortless luxury, with panoramic city, ocean and Intracoastal views, and the ease of having every aspect of their lifestyle seamlessly taken care of through St. Regis’ signature white-glove service. Beyond residences, every amenity—from dining and wellness to curated waterfront experiences—is just steps away, so residents truly never have to leave their own private, tropical sanctuary.”
For a city long defined by its waterways, The St. Regis Bahia Mar represents more than just a development. It’s a landmark in the making, a place that merges Fort Lauderdale’s maritime DNA with a brand synonymous with global sophistication. In other words, it’s not just transforming the skyline; it’s changing the story Fort Lauderdale tells the world.
