Fort Lauderdale’s Future Reimagined: Insights from Related Group’s Exclusive Market Panel
On Tuesday, June 10, Related Group hosted a timely panel discussion titled “State of the Fort Lauderdale Market” at the newly opened sales gallery for the St. Regis Resort & Residences, Bahia Mar, Fort Lauderdale. The event brought together Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Visit Lauderdale Executive Vice President Anthony Cordo, and RelatedISG Co-Founder and CEO Craig Studnicky, for a conversation on the city’s evolving luxury and waterfront real estate landscape.
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Historic Transformation Fueled by Investment
“Driven by new civic and commercial investments — like The St. Regis Resort & Residences, Bahia Mar, Fort Lauderdale and the new Broward County Convention Center — Fort Lauderdale is solidifying itself as a world-class destination for luxury living, travel, business and culture,” stated Mayor Dean Trantalis.
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He emphasized the importance of sustainable infrastructure in shaping the city’s future: “Hundreds of millions of dollars in improvements have been utilized in Fort Lauderdale to sustain development into the 21st century. We’ve invested close to $2 billion in infrastructure, which pales in comparison to other cities, but it underscores the importance of what we’re building here. My goal was to create our own brand – a place for everyone, that is distinct from other South Florida metros like Miami and West Palm Beach.”
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Private capital is playing a pivotal role in Fort Lauderdale’s evolution. As Mayor Trantalis noted, “Private investors are flocking to Fort Lauderdale, driven by a desire to be a part of the market’s evolution. In fact, over the past five years, almost a third of our growth has been from private investment — something that few cities have yet to see. These individuals see the value here economically. We have one of the largest pickleball centers in the country, an incredible iceplex and soccer, where legend Lionel Messi will be. With Bahia Mar, we’ll have a brand new 20-25 foot walkway for residents and visitors to experience. You have to be forward thinking, and that’s what we’re doing here in Fort Lauderdale.”
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A New Chapter in High-End Tourism
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Anthony Cordo highlighted the rising influence of Fort Lauderdale’s upgraded convention infrastructure: “With one of the largest waterfront ballrooms in the nation, unmatched attention to detail and unique guest experiences such as a water taxi and neighboring beachfront properties like St. Regis Bahia Mar, the BCCC is bringing in high spenders that want to stay at luxury resorts, which is unheard of in the convention world. We’re currently booking conferences into 2039, and have attracted companies across the board, from cellular service providers to tech companies, doctors and more.”
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He also emphasized the city’s distinctive cultural identity: “The city offers the best of ‘luxury mixed with real life,’ where residents and visitors can experience everything from first-generation mom and pop shops to world-renowned five-star hospitality brands like St. Regis. Fort Lauderdale is a great blend of a genuine place where you get to feel cultures in a safe environment.”
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An Iconic Development Leading the Way
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At the center of this evolution is the St. Regis Resort & Residences, Bahia Mar, a $2 billion project spanning 40 acres of land and water. Led by Related Group, Tate Capital, and Rok Acquisitions, the development is transforming Fort Lauderdale’s legendary megayacht marina — home to the world’s largest in-water boat show (FLIBS) — into a European-inspired destination featuring a flagship St. Regis hotel, branded residential towers, private beach club, signature dining, upscale retail, and a world-class marina with slips up to 350 feet.
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