The first Waldorf Astoria hotel to open in Spain is one step closer after clearing the first administrative hurdle in Marbella.
It comes after the local government board approved the project’s admission for formal processing on Tuesday and declared it to be of municipal interest.
The €175 million complex, promoted by Higueron Golf Resort, would be constructed around the historic Marbella Golf Country Club in Las Chapas.
Mayor Angeles Muñoz described the progress as ‘very good news for the city’, saying the investment supported Marbella’s strategy of attracting high-quality and ultra-luxury tourism.
The project must now undergo further technical assessments, public consultation and the remaining planning procedures before its developer can apply for a building licence.
Major complex
The centrepiece of the development would be a five-star grand-luxury Waldorf Astoria hotel containing 120 rooms and suites.
The wider complex would also include apartments with between one and four bedrooms, a country club, restaurants and commercial and sports facilities connected to Marbella Golf.
Despite the inclusion of apartments, the town hall said the development would not contain conventional residential use and would retain its tourism and sporting classification.
Previous announcements by Hilton and Higueron described the units as 120 ‘branded residences’ managed by Waldorf Astoria, providing private accommodation alongside hotel-style services.
The scheme presented to Marbella council covers land totalling approximately 687,000 square metres.
The specific area affected by the planning application amounts to around 8.9 hectares, with approximately 80,000 square metres of permitted construction.
Muñoz said the buildings would be kept low and spread at a reduced density to minimise their impact on the surrounding landscape.
‘We are talking about a fully integrated hotel, with very low heights and a very low density across the land,’ she said.
She added that the design was consistent with Marbella’s needs and the development model supported by the local authority.
First Waldorf Astoria in Spain
The project follows an agreement between Higueron Developments and Hilton to introduce its flagship Waldorf Astoria brand to Spain.
The partnership was announced in late 2025, when the development was initially presented as a €220 million resort scheduled to open in 2029.
The resort was previously given a target opening date of 2029, although that timetable will depend on the completion of the planning and construction process.
The declaration of municipal interest allows the administrative process to continue but does not guarantee that the project will be approved in its current form.
Mobility and landscape-impact reports must now be produced to examine how the development would affect its surroundings, local roads and infrastructure.
Once the necessary reports have been completed, the plans will be placed on public display, allowing formal representations and objections to be submitted.
The application will then continue through the remaining administrative stages before Higueron can seek the building licence required to start work.
Marbella council said its planning teams had been working with the developer since the project’s early stages to adapt the proposal to local planning rules.
