The Love Story Behind Marbella Club Hotel’s 70th Anniversary
The Marbella Club Hotel, a symbol of luxury and exclusivity, began its 70th-anniversary celebrations on Friday, 26th April. The hotel’s origin traces back to a love affair in 1946 when Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe fell for Finca Margarita during a trip to southern Spain. The prince’s passion for the place led him to purchase the rural enclave, transforming it into a Mediterranean retreat for his family and later into the Marbella Club Hotel.
From Family Retreat to Luxury Hotel
Prince Alfonso converted the family retreat into the Marbella Club Hotel in 1954, expanding the original 20 rooms to accommodate his famous friends. Drawing from his agricultural engineering studies in the United States, he added a tropical garden and small accommodations, which became the foundation for today’s villas. The Marbella Club Hotel was officially inaugurated in the spring of 1954 with a grand party.
Management and Promotion of the Marbella Club Hotel
Prince Alfonso entrusted the hotel’s management to his cousin, Count Rudolf von Shönburg, also known as Rudi. Rudi became the driving force behind the hotel and a significant figure in Malaga’s tourism sector. Meanwhile, Prince Alfonso traveled across Europe to promote his hotel, attracting thousands of families, celebrities, artists, and musicians from around the world.
Marbella Club Hotel: A Favorite Among Celebrities and Royalty
Over the past 70 years, the Marbella Club Hotel has been a preferred destination for European aristocracy and Hollywood stars, who favored Spain’s Costa del Sol over the French Côte d’Azur. The hotel has hosted celebrities like Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Sean Connery, among others. Even musical artists and athletes such as Lady Gaga, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lenny Kravitz have visited the hotel.
Expansion Plans for the Marbella Club Hotel
The Marbella Club Hotel is preparing for a new expansion, which will double its current 50 hectares of gardens with the Ana María estate. The expansion plans, set to be finalized soon, will mark a significant milestone for the hotel as it celebrates its 70th anniversary. The project, expected to last five years, aims to preserve the original gardens and create a new natural ecosystem.
Unveiling of the Finca Ana María
The Finca Ana María, the former home of the von Bismarck family, will be officially unveiled in mid-May. The estate will serve as a place to enjoy wellness in various formats, featuring an orchard with over 100 varieties of ancestral tomatoes, a natural acacia labyrinth, an astronomical observatory, and birdwatching center.
70th Anniversary Celebrations
The 70th-anniversary celebrations began last weekend with a grand party at the clubhouse, featuring live entertainment, guest DJs, flamenco tablao, and gastronomic experiences. The hotel will also showcase Malaga’s long history of innovation and creativity in the art scene with personalized experiences for guests, including special visits to the Picasso Museum, the city’s Contemporary Art Centre, the Thyssen Museum, and Antonio Banderas’ Soho theatre.
