Jilted MAFS groom Dion Giannarelli’s bold new move
A former Married At First Sight star who failed to find love on the show has a spring in his step after revealing this big news.
A former Married At First Sight star who failed to find love on the hit show has now landed himself a prime deal on the Gold Coast.
Dion Giannarelli, alongside fellow developer Ross Pelligra, revealed plans to build on the $480m Mariners Cove redevelopment site on the Gold Coast had been approved.
Hotelier Marriott International previously struck a deal to open the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel in 2026, and now the Giannarelli Group will move forward with the project alongside Pelligra Group.
The redevelopment of the The Spit site aims to highlight tourism and shopping in the area.
The new Ritz-Carlton is set to include 150 water-facing guest suites alongside a 512sq m ballroom and rooftop pool.
Mr Giannarelli said guests could expect a luxury experience during their stay at the Ritz-Carlton Gold Coast.
“We have some amazing amenities such as a 40m rooftop swimming pool, which will receive the most amazing western sunsets the Gold Coast has to offer,” he said.
“We also have a 1200m² world class wellness centre and gymnasium and a playful but sophisticated lobby bar which will be the place to hang out and have a drink on the Gold Coast.”
“Guests will be able to experience some of Australia’s best culinary experiences which we are in talks with some of the best restaurateurs in the country for our food and beverage precinct. “We also have an over the water beach club for those amazing Sunday sessions facing our world class superyacht marina which can berth yachts up to 75m in length,” Mr Giannarelli said.
The high-class hotel will have quite the price tag, asking $500-600 per night, but the two developers don’t believe the cost of living crisis will affect their ability to cover the development costs.
“We don’t believe that from all the analytical market research we have done,” Mr Pelligra said.
“We are delivering what the Gold Coast City Council expects under The Spit master plan. We are revitalising The Spit and this redevelopment will enhance the local area significantly for not only tourism but for the local community as well,” he said.
“We are targeting both Australian and international clients and believe we will be very successful in securing both because the product will sell its self.
“It’s the old saying, build and they will come.”
Mr Giannarelli, who split from cheating bride Carolina Santos in MAFS season 9, said he didn’t feel pressure from fans now that he had a significant following from the show.
“I don’t feel pressured, as you have to remember I was a developer prior to MAFS and this is what I live and breathe daily,” he said.
“I think the product will speak for itself and we will deliver a world class asset to the Gold Coast.
“Both the Pelligra Group and Giannarelli Group are very confident in this, plus Ross Pelligra is very used to being in the public eye as a developer and we pride ourselves on showing the community and stakeholders that we achieve good community outcomes and jobs for local communities out of the projects we deliver,” Mr Giannarelli said.
On Wednesday, the MAFS star took to his Instagram to share the good news with his 100,000+ followers, saying both the Pelligra and Giannarelli groups were honoured to bring the establishment to the Gold Coast.