Montage Resort Plans $400 Million Utah Expansion

Montage Hotels and Resorts, the famous Laguna Beach-based luxury resort town, is investing some $400 million in a new resort atop the scenic Wasatch Mountain in Deer Valley, Utah, set to open in December.

Montage Deer Valley will be the company's first development outside California and its third overall, after Montage Beverly Hills was launched in 2008. It will cover more than 1 million square feet and include over 170 ski lodges, as well as over 80 private homes. Planned features include a WiFi-enabled spa complex spanning 35,000 square feet and a Children’s Club.

Company CEO Alan Fuerstman said the project not only meant growth for the resort chain, but also more job opportunities and promotions for its current Laguna Beach staff.

Fuerstman describes their vision of the project as a step above "ultra luxury," a term he has used for the upscale residences he has been building for the past eight years. One of his earliest projects, a 2,800-square foot residential home, recently went for $6.5 million.

The Utah project will be designed after luxury mountain lodges from the 1900s, back when high-end spas and restaurants were part of many national parks. It would, however, have a more casual feel than most of hotels from the era, with over 50 activity areas for billiards, bowling, darts, and fly fishing.

The reason for the flurry of activity is to keep visitors coming even in slower months, when it's not warm enough for sunbathing and there's not enough snow for winter sports. At Montage Laguna, Fuerstman says, activity slows down as the summer heat fades.

Fuerstman says Montage is able to make big investments despite the recession because the luxury sector remains strong. He calls it a "proven market" and says it is still growing, as both Montage hotels posted strong overall growth rates of 17% over the past year.

 

Earlier in Laguna Beach Real Estate News:
Charge Your Electric Car in Laguna Beach
More Luxury Homes Hit Laguna Beach Real Estate Market
Oldest House In Laguna Beach To Be Rehabbed