Nick Pérez serves as the President of Condominium Development for the Related Group, one of the country’s leading real estate firms. Under his leadership, the company's condominium division has flourished, managing a portfolio valued at over $15 billion and delivering iconic projects that redefine luxury living. From overseeing high-profile developments like the St. Regis Residences and Baccarat Residences in Miami to spearheading Related's innovative approach to branded condominiums, Pérez has played a pivotal role in shaping skylines across South Florida.
His forward-thinking leadership extends beyond real estate development. With a career that began in New York City, where he worked on transformative projects such as 261 Hudson and 15 Hudson Yards, Pérez has brought his expertise to Miami’s competitive market. In addition to his work in branded residences, Pérez has also championed Related’s philanthropic and sustainability initiatives, including partnerships with the Aspen Institute and numerous charitable foundations.
In this interview, Pérez discusses how Related continues to innovate in the ever-evolving landscape of branded condominiums, sharing insights on the industry’s challenges and the exciting future of luxury living.
What’s the best way to describe your approach to real estate development?
My approach to development reflects the legacy my father and the Related team have built over the past 45 years: Create spaces that improve lives and propel communities forward. This focus on building better cities sets us apart and is something we continue to hone and refine with each of our projects—be it an affordable housing property or a multi-million-dollar condo.
While we’re proud to have delivered more than 120,000 residences to date, our focus is always on what lies ahead. No matter the project, price point, or location, our team is looking for ways to push boundaries and do our jobs better. Staying connected to what our residents want and need is a critical piece of our approach.
Our work in the branded residences segment is a great example of this. We pioneered the category more than a decade ago with projects like SLS Brickell and Armani Casa. Now, as brand loyalty and curated service become even more important, we’re elevating the sector even further with developments like the St. Regis Resort and Residences, Bahia Mar. This is a transformative project that spans over 40 acres, featuring everything from ultra-luxury condominiums and a St. Regis hotel to waterfront dining, public parks, and a marina with slips for megayachts. We’re proud to have distilled the essence of this timeless brand and translated it into something unique to the Fort Lauderdale community.
For us, it’s about continuously innovating while staying true to the lifestyle and experience our buyers expect.
What project of yours best illustrates that approach?
Our Viceroy Residences, Brickell project is another strong example.
This property got its start when we noticed a growing demand for smaller, more accessibly priced condominium homes in the Brickell area. With so many ultra-luxury products coming online, some of the younger transplants from the Northeast as well as international buyers looking for second residences were left without much choice. With this in mind, we partnered with the celebrated Viceroy hospitality flag to launch the brand’s first-ever condominium.
The project offers the hospitality-focused experience that made Viceroy a favorite among in-the-know travelers and comes complete with curated amenities, world-class design, and an unmatched location.
What projects are you most drawn to?
For me, it’s all about finding opportunities where we can deliver that iconic blend of leisure, comfort, and tropical warmth. Because of this, I’m always drawn to trophy waterfront parcels—those rare gems that define the South Florida lifestyle. While I’m always looking for opportunities in established markets like Miami and Fort Lauderdale, I’m also excited about emerging areas like Hillsboro Beach and Pompano Beach. In such a competitive market, having a premier site is key—it not only attracts buyers but also builds confidence with our financial partners. Take our St. Regis project in Brickell, for example. It’s on an exceptional waterfront parcel in a quieter, historic part of the financial district—offering privacy while still being close to the city’s world-famous shopping, dining, and nightlife. The location was a game-changer. We hit 60% presales even before breaking ground, which gave our lender the confidence to move forward with a $527 million loan—one of the largest in Miami’s history. That’s the kind of impact the right site can make.
What was your most rewarding collaboration?
It’s hard to choose just one collaboration, especially when I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the world’s most renowned hospitality groups in recent years. Whether it is Marriott, Hilton, Rosewood, or Viceroy, each of these partnerships brings something special to the table.
With Marriott, for example, their diverse range of brands has allowed us to create tailored experiences across different demographics. From St. Regis properties in Miami and Fort Lauderdale to Ritz-Carlton projects in West Palm Beach and Tampa and the new flagship W Hotels property in Pompano Beach, we’ve been able to deliver unique, brand-specific experiences.
Our collaboration with Hilton has also been incredibly fulfilling. Last year, we announced we’d be developing the first-ever residential-only Waldorf Astoria Residences, which is now underway in Pompano Beach. It’s a real privilege to work with such a revered brand, especially when it comes to a format that’s still somewhat new to them. It’s a milestone for both of us.
Rosewood was a perfect partner for Hillsboro Beach, with its curated approach to luxury. For a boutique project like this one—just 60 homes on an exceptional waterfront site—their focus on personalized service and rooted-in-place experiences was exactly what we wanted to deliver.
What ties all these partnerships together is a shared vision: Today’s buyers aren’t just looking for luxury housing; they’re looking for five-star service and hospitality in the comfort of their own homes. Bringing this concept of hospitality-centered branded residences to Miami and beyond has been one of the most rewarding parts of what we do at Related Group. It’s an exciting time to see how these collaborations redefine luxury living.
What is the greatest challenge facing architects and real estate developers today?
While South Florida’s market has been inundated by the strong demand for new luxury condos, this influx of buyers from the West Coast, New York, Latin America, and Europe creates an environment where developers and architects both have to balance the rising costs of construction with the growing competition to deliver top-notch amenities, design, and lifestyle. Buyers have plenty of options, so it’s all about meeting them where they’re at—if you don’t, they’ll move on. As waterfront land becomes scarcer, developers are branching out into overlooked areas like Hollywood and Pompano Beach. Each new market has its own challenges, and adapting is key. Plus, with land often being tight or limited by zoning, it’s really about getting creative and maximizing the potential of the land you have available to you.
What would you have been if not a real estate developer?
If I weren’t a real estate developer, I’d probably want to be a tennis player. I grew up playing and loved the competitive nature—it kept me sharp and hungry. Tennis taught me discipline and how to handle pressure, which has helped in my career. I still play whenever I can; it’s a great way to clear my head and stay on my toes.
Pérez will be honored as the "Developer of the Year" at Zonda's Elevate conference to be held at the Fontainebleau in Miami, December 9-11, 2024. Click here for more information about Elevate.
