Another global hotel group is to invest in the Costa del Sol

Hilton Worldwide’s flagship brand Conrad Hotels and Resorts has announced plans to open Conrad Costa del Sol in Casares, with a wholesale transformation of the former Hotel Doña Julia and total investement of more than €70 million.

Developer, Markway Inversiones, a Spain-based company of Hong Kong-headquartered Platinum Estates Group purchased a 40,000 sq m plot of land between Marbella and Sotogrande in 2019.

With the former Hotel Doña Julia site being abandoned, the group aims to transform the resort to the exacting standards of the Conrad brand, and have brought in local project management experts EdP onboard to carry out the architectural and engineering design, with Jose Garcia serving as project manager and Benjamín Gallardo as the leading architect. Garcia has stated that he will adapt the architectural style in a relevant way to Hilton’s requirements.

The new hptel will comprise of182 spacious contemporary guestrooms, including 12 luxury suites. Furthermore 41 serviced apartments and eight villas are planned for the site, with the aim of attracting new guest categories such as digital nomads.

The hotel will be divided into a main building and the luxurious common areas and hospitality areas, which will include three restaurants, one of which will be high-end; two bars; a gym; a large spa with indoor pool; multiple outdoor pools and underground parking for 120 vehicles. The eight villas will surround a central pool.


The property was first estimated to complete in early 2022, then that shifted to 2023, but now the current timetable has the hotel opening in Q3 2025. Construction work finally began in May of this year and is due to last 20 months.