Luxury at St. Regis doesn’t just mean champagne flutes and marble lobbies — sometimes it’s a guilty pleasure waiting in your room.
That point was made as clear as Riedel crystal during a recent weekender at The St. Regis Kanai in Mexico’s Yucatán. Thanks to a pre‑stay survey that asked for favorite indulgences, the ocean‑view unit was furnished with a box of Cap’n Crunch and bottle of milk. Even sweeter than the cereal was the note they’d taken of a preference for the classic flavor. “Any allergies?” Yes — Crunch Berries.
On another trip, at The St. Regis Longboat Key on Florida’s Gulf Coast, a casual mention of Dodgers fandom prompted a surprise room delivery of sweets crowned with a cookie bearing the team’s logo, perfectly timed before the guest settled in to watch a big playoff game on TV.
Gestures like these, equal parts playful and precise, reveal a brand intent on transforming passing remarks into unforgettable moments. But personalization is only one side of the St. Regis (st-regis.marriott.com) identity; ritual is the other. From private surprises to public ceremony, the brand elevates everyday occasions into spectacle, making a St. Regis presence a rare privilege that elevates any region.
Southern California is about to join that select circle with its first St. Regis opening in just over a year.
When the Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast completes its self-described “renaissance” to a St. Regis, it will stand alongside the brand’s five‑star San Francisco property as one of only two in the Golden State. Beyond a new name, The Resort at Pelican Hill, a St. Regis Estate (more on the “Estate” part later), places Orange County within a lineage of luxury defined by ritual, service and global recognition.
Since opening in 2008, Pelican Hill has stood as a five‑star hillside retreat, a Tuscan‑inspired village of villas, bungalows and ocean‑view fairways. That legacy remains intact with the rebrand. What changes is the layering of St. Regis’ signature luxuries: personal butler service, curated experiences, and the rituals that define the brand — from afternoon tea to nightly champagne sabering.
The rebranding places Pelican Hill within a renowned worldwide portfolio of nearly 60 properties, each tony address defined by its own sense of place and a shared commitment to ceremony.
Let’s see how that identity comes to life across resorts near and far — a preview of the signature indulgences Orange County can expect when its own St. Regis opens in January 2027.
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort
The brand’s first resort on Florida’s Gulf Coast opened in August 2024. Spread across 18 acres of beachfront, the property blends contemporary design with the relaxed rhythm of Sarasota’s barrier island. All 168 rooms and 98 condos feature private terraces angled toward the coastline.
Speaking of water, the standout feature is the 500,000-gallon Under the Sea Lagoon stocked with nearly 50 species of tropical fish and rays. The 45‑minute experiences (from $149) let guests of all ages and abilities get up‑close with marine life.
Freshwater pools include a family‑friendly lazy river and an adults‑only pool with hot tub and waterfall. Turning to other forms of R&R and recreation, the spa, fitness center and salon are world-class, as one should expect, and the list of daily activities is extensive. Don’t miss the meet-and-greet with the resident tortoises.
Dining spans CW Prime (steakhouse), Riva (Italian), Oshen (Nikkei fusion), and Aura (poolside) — all fantastic. For the resort’s signature bloody mary — a tradition every St. Regis embraces — the coastal‑inspired lobby bar makes a tasty Barrier Mary, its briny edge drawn from clam juice folded into the classic tomato base. Afternoon tea on weekends maintain a brand ritual inspired by Caroline Astor, the grande dame of New York society, whose legendary salons in the late 19th century set the tone for refined gatherings.
All three traditions unfold around the lobby’s renowned bar, a vexing venue crafted by 10 Design and anchored by a sculptural latticed circus cage. The centerpiece nods to Sarasota’s big top legacy, born when Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus moved its winter headquarters there in 1927.
Room rates at the Longboat Key resort start just north of $800 in the off‑season (May through September, including fees and taxes) and climb past $1,000 in peak months. Need a three‑bedroom? The Presidential Suite — a 3,341‑square‑foot palace with a 1,000‑square‑foot terrace overlooking the Gulf — fetches $15,000 per night.
The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya
If walking through a mangrove to reach a private cabana is on your bucket list, meet one of St. Regis’ most design‑driven properties. Rising from a 620‑acre reserve along Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, the resort’s circular architecture takes its cue from the Pleiades constellation. Elevated pathways link the structures, giving the impression they hover above the canopy while safeguarding the ecosystem below.
Between Cancún and Playa del Carmen, the setting emphasizes seclusion and immersion in nature. Guests move from boardwalks to pools and terraces with uninterrupted Caribbean views, while interiors blend contemporary geometry with Mayan references. The design positions Kanai as both futuristic and rooted in place, a rare balance in Riviera Maya’s crowded luxury market.
Accommodations include 124 rooms and suites, each with private terraces or plunge pools. Low‑season rates (September through mid‑November) start around $750, including fees and taxes, and rise past $1,000 in peak months. Butler service comes standard, as with all St. Regis properties, while interiors showcase bespoke furniture and handcrafted details that nod to regional artistry. Dining spans Toro by Richard Sandoval, Middle Eastern flavors and international menus, while the spa offers celestial‑inspired treatments echoing the resort’s architectural theme.
St. Regis traditions are honored seaside. Kanai’s sabering is a sunset spectacle, staged in the lobby or against the fiery terrace glow — a ceremony tying brand heritage to celestial design. Its signature Kanai Mary incorporates regional flavors to distinguish it from the classic cocktail. Afternoon tea, inspired by Dame Astor’s legacy, gains a Riviera Maya twist when paired with a Kanai Mary chaser.
Other St. Regis resorts
Globetrotting to other St. Regis properties, we find each layering its own local character onto the portfolio’s timeless traditions.
The St. Regis Cairo stands out in the portfolio as a 36‑story tower on the Nile Corniche, the broad waterfront boulevard that runs along the eastern bank. With 362 rooms and suites plus serviced apartments, it’s one of the brand’s largest properties. Interiors nod to Egyptian artisanship and hand‑carved details, and seven distinct restaurants and bars contribute to the city’s culinary scene. Choices range from bold Italian flavors and prime cuts to refined Asian plates. At the heart of it all, The St. Regis Bar & Water Garden honors the brand’s legacy, a gathering place where daily rituals unfold against a backdrop of Cairo’s modern skyline.
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort claims the island’s most coveted setting, where overwater villas stretch out across a lagoon with uninterrupted views of Mount Otemanu. These are considered the largest in French Polynesia and the South Pacific, beginning at 1,550 square feet, with glass panels in the floors that reveal the turquoise world below and private decks that drop straight into the water. For those seeking seclusion, beach villas tucked among palms offer a quieter escape among the 79 units, while the brand’s butler service ensures every request is met around the clock. Days here unfold on the water — sailing across azure channels, diving with reef sharks and rays, or swimming in the resort’s Lagoonarium – while evenings bring cocktails at the swim‑up bar or international and Polynesian flavors at four distinct restaurants.
Looking at the brand’s three resorts west of the Mississippi River, the 173‑unit St. Regis Deer Valley Resort in Park City, tucked into the Wasatch Mountains with ski‑in/ski‑out access, offers private valet and terraces overlooking winter runs or summer trails; The St. Regis Aspen Resort (179 rooms) at the foot of Aspen Mountain pairs world‑class slopes with historic town charm, and its Remède Spa and slope‑side pools frame the peaks year‑round; and The St. Regis San Francisco, rising beside the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in the SoMa neighborhood, anchors guests at the heart of the city’s art scene. In 2026, the 260-key property will complete the final stage of a multiphase refresh.
Pelican Hill feted as first ‘St. Regis Estate’
Circling back to The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast, when The Irvine Company tapped Marriott International to manage the property in July 2024, a St. Regis rebrand was already part of the plan. That transition will culminate in the resort’s debut as the inaugural St. Regis Estate, a distinction unveiled just weeks ago. Properties earn this brand extension for their “narrative power, architectural character and expansive cinematic setting, offering a more enchanted and deeply residential resort experience,” according to George Fleck, senior vice president and global brand leader for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts.
Set within Newport Coast, an exclusive master‑planned community in Newport Beach, Pelican Hill is defined by 332 bungalows and villas angled toward the Pacific, two Tom Fazio‑designed golf courses, a 23,000‑square‑foot spa soon to feature a Roman colonnade, and the Coliseum Pool — long regarded as one of the country’s most distinctive hotel pools and now undergoing renewal. As it transitions into the first St. Regis Estate, the property is adding the Bella Vista Pool Caffè and Social Club, an elevated Villa Clubhouse for longer stays, redesigned rooms and a chef‑led culinary program.
Rates when Pelican Hill becomes a St. Regis won’t be announced for several months, but during the transitional period a one-bedroom bungalow stars at around $1,000 a night. Villas that sleep up to six guests are going for around $3,400.
At those prices, staying at Pelican Hill before the rebrand is no small indulgence. These five‑star grounds have long set the standard, even without “St. Regis” splashed across 504 of the prettiest acres you’ll ever see. Rooms, dining, amenities, and service remain world‑class, with whims catered to around the clock.
The only thing guests won’t get — at least not yet — is a hint of the resort’s future signature bloody mary will be at the future The Resort at Pelican Hill, a St. Regis Estate. That recipe stays behind the bar until the grand reveal next winter.