Mandarin Group chief executive Edouard Ettedgui calls Marbella "one of the Mediterranean's foremost leisure destinations," a notion shared by the project's chief developer, Habib Bou-Habib, chairman of Las Colinas de Marbella SA. "For many decades, the area has been a magnet for sophisticated travelers, and the extraordinary facilities that this development will offer will appeal to those in search of tranquility, serenity and luxury," says Bou-Habib.

The 153-room hotel is to be situated next to a protected environmental area that affords natural views of the Mediterranean and the Rock of Gibraltar. The resort is a short drive to historic Marbella, and also will give visitors proximity to such famous Spanish communities as Seville, Granada and Ronda. The development will feature 15 villas and 40 upscale apartments to be branded and managed as the Residences at Mandarin Oriental.

Besides spacious rooms that will have a minimum footprint of 600 sf, the hotel will have seven restaurants and bars, a library, poolside grill and grand ballrooms providing high-end function space. There will also be an expansive spa encompassing 28,000 sf and 11 private treatment rooms. The interior of the hotel is a creation of LTW Design Works, while the US-based Rockwell Group is designing the residential components. Renowned Spanish architect Gabriel Allende is responsible for the overall project design.