St. Regis Estates Debuts At Pelican Hill Resort 2027

Published on Dec 5, 2025, 7:30 am CST

7 min read

Key points

St Regis launches St Regis Estates for heritage rich, leisure led estates, debuting in 2027 at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast, California
The Pelican Hill property will undergo a multi year renovation of bungalows, villas, golf courses, pools, spa, and social spaces before reopening as a St Regis Estate
Guests can expect estate style stays with St Regis butler service, Astor inspired rituals, and a residential, long stay focus rooted in the Newport Coast landscape and golf resort setting
Marriott Bonvoy redemptions are expected but award pricing for St Regis Estates Pelican Hill has not been confirmed, so points travelers should watch for updates
Access remains straightforward via John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Long Beach Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport, with typical Southern California driving times to Newport Coast

Impact

Where Impacts Are Most Likely: Expect occasional noise, amenity closures, or rerouted footpaths at Pelican Hill while renovation projects progress toward the 2027 debut
Best Times To Travel: For a seamless St Regis Estates experience, plan stays from late 2027 onward once the full rebrand, new dining, and refreshed golf facilities are in place
Onward Travel And Changes: Build extra time into drives between Los Angeles or San Diego airports and Newport Coast, and confirm parking, transfers, and tee times in advance during the transition period
What Travelers Should Do Now: Monitor Pelican Hill and Marriott announcements for construction timelines, opening offers, and Bonvoy redemption details before locking in high value trips

St Regis Estates Pelican Hill is coming into focus as Marriott introduces a new ultra luxury estate tier and confirms a 2027 debut for The Resort at Pelican Hill on the Newport Coast in Southern California. The 500 plus acre resort above Newport Beach will become the first St Regis Estate, shifting from an independent icon into a flagship for heritage rich, slow paced estate living aimed at leisure travelers and loyalty members. For travelers, the news means a multi year renovation window to navigate, then a new top tier option on the Orange County coast once the Estate reopens.

In practical terms, this announcement creates a new layer in Marriott's luxury portfolio and turns an already well known golf and spa resort into a test case for how St Regis interprets estate style stays in the United States.

Background, From Independent Resort To First Estate

Opened in 2008 above the Pacific, The Resort at Pelican Hill has long marketed itself as a stand alone luxury property, with Italian inspired architecture, large bungalows and villas, an iconic Coliseum Pool, and two Tom Fazio designed golf courses with ocean views. Until now it has operated without a major brand flag, although Marriott quietly took on management earlier in 2025, setting the stage for the St Regis transition.

The new Estates expression is not an entirely new hotel brand so much as a designation for legacy rich estates with expansive grounds, strong architectural character, and a sense of provenance tied to families or long term stewards. Marriott pitches St Regis Estates as a way to translate the Astor family's historic country retreats into a modern format for guests who want more privacy, more land, and a longer, more residential rhythm to their stays.

How St Regis Estates Works

Marriott's luxury group describes St Regis Estates as a new ultra luxury expression dedicated to heritage rich, emotionally significant properties with extraordinary grounds and character, layered on top of the existing St Regis hotel footprint. Estates are meant to sit on large, cinematic sites, from coastal cliffs to vineyards, and to offer curated experiences that are rooted in the land, local culture, and the property's own story rather than in generic spectacle.

Within that framework, Pelican Hill becomes the first proof point. Marriott's Estates overview highlights that this inaugural estate, perched on about 504 acres above Newport Beach, is intended as a sanctuary of seclusion and a retreat for families and friends, with the usual St Regis Butler Service overlaid on top of golf, spa, and residential style lodging. The focus is explicitly on long, leisurely stays, with estate only rituals and programming rather than quick two night city breaks.

What Changes At Pelican Hill Before 2027

To qualify as a St Regis Estate, Pelican Hill is scheduled for what Marriott calls a comprehensive transformation that will run into 2027. The resort's bungalows and villas will be fully reimagined with new interiors, while the 36 holes of Tom Fazio designed golf will see upgrades that align with the estate positioning. Public spaces are also in line for a refresh, including a new chef led culinary program, a signature bar and lobby, and an updated Coliseum Pool, which has long been one of the visual anchors of the property.

Plans also call for a Roman style colonnade to anchor the spa, the debut of a Bella Vista Pool Caffè and Social Club, and an elevated Villa Clubhouse that tilts the resort more clearly toward extended stays and multi generational trips. As part of the St Regis overlay, guests will see the brand's signature butler service, Afternoon Tea, and sabrage rituals, all interpreted through a coastal California lens. A reimagined bar, inspired by the King Cole Bar in New York, will feature a commissioned mural tied specifically to the Pelican Hill setting.

Access And Estate Practicalities

From a logistics standpoint, Pelican Hill remains relatively easy to reach compared with many remote estate properties. The resort sits just south of Newport Beach, about 15 minutes from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, roughly 30 minutes from Long Beach Airport, and about 45 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport in normal traffic. For most international travelers, that translates into flying into LAX or a domestic connection into SNA, then a straightforward freeway and toll road drive to Newport Coast.

The estate layout, spread over hundreds of acres of coastal hills, means that internal movement will still rely on a mix of walking, golf carts, and resort shuttles rather than vertical elevator stacks. Travelers who prioritize easy mobility, especially those with limited walking tolerance, will want to pay close attention to room and villa locations once St Regis publishes updated maps and category descriptions.

Implications For Marriott Bonvoy Members

For loyalty travelers, the key unknown is how St Regis Estates will be priced within Marriott Bonvoy once reservations open. Early coverage notes that Marriott intends The Resort at Pelican Hill, a St Regis Estate, to be bookable with points, but has not yet released award charts or typical nightly ranges for this new tier. Given the estate focus, coastal Orange County location, and existing cash rates, it is reasonable to expect Pelican Hill to sit near the top of the portfolio in points cost once categories or dynamic bands are set. That makes it a property to track for aspirational redemptions rather than routine business travel.

Until Marriott publishes specifics, the best move for points users is to follow official announcements and independent reporting, then compare cash rates and points pricing when award nights go live. For Southern California based members, there is also a realistic play in using Pelican Hill as a drive to redemption for long weekends rather than burning points on short, interruption prone stays elsewhere.

Planning Around The Transition

Today, Pelican Hill remains open to guests while planning work for the St Regis Estates conversion continues, and Marriott's public messaging emphasizes a thoughtful, rather than rushed, transformation. That said, large scale renovations at resort properties almost always bring periods of noise, partial amenity closures, and shifting restaurant or spa availability, even when operators try to phase work carefully.

If you are considering a stay in 2026 or early 2027, it is worth asking direct questions before booking. Ask the resort which parts of the property will be under active construction during your dates, whether the Coliseum Pool, spa, or one of the golf courses might be closed or reduced, and how they are handling noise management in villa and bungalow areas closest to work zones. Flexible or refundable rates, along with robust travel insurance on nonrefundable flights, offer more room to adjust if renovation timelines change.

For travelers who want the full St Regis Estates Pelican Hill experience with minimal compromise, the safer strategy is to wait until after the official 2027 unveiling, once new dining, the bar, and upgraded recreation are fully in place and early reviews clarify any lingering teething issues.

Who The New Estate Will Suit

Once the transition is complete, St Regis Estates Pelican Hill will be squarely aimed at leisure travelers who care more about space, privacy, and ritual than about being in a dense urban core. Multi generational families can use the villas and refreshed clubhouse for week long stays that mix pool days, golf, spa time, and day trips along the Orange County coast.

Golfers gain a reworked setting for Fazio's two courses, now wrapped in St Regis service expectations. Couples and small groups get a base for exploring Crystal Cove State Park, Fashion Island, and coastal dining without giving up estate level quiet back at the resort. For international visitors, the estate is likely to sit alongside places like Beverly Hills and coastal San Diego on high end Southern California itineraries, but with a slower cadence and more residential feel than city center hotels.