Key International

What Key International does

Key International is a privately held, family-owned real estate investment and development firm founded in 1970 by Jose Ardid and headquartered at 848 Brickell Avenue in Miami, Florida. The firm operates across four asset classes — luxury residential condominiums, hospitality, multifamily rental, and commercial office/retail — with a portfolio spanning the southeastern United States, Spain, and Portugal, encompassing more than 10 million square feet of development, over 3,000 residential units, and 3,000+ hotel keys. Revenue is generated through a mix of one-time real estate development and condominium sales (executed via its in-house Key International Sales Division, which has completed over $4 billion in real estate transactions) and recurring streams from hotel operations ($2B+ AUM under Diego Ardid's hospitality leadership), multifamily rental income (e.g., 675 apartments at Parks at Delray, 415 apartments at Amara Bay), and commercial leasing at properties such as 848 Brickell Avenue and Highland Park Center.

The firm pursues a partnership-heavy capital strategy, co-developing flagship projects with Wexford Real Estate Investors, Related Companies, 13th Floor Investments, CDS International Holdings, Sterling Bay, and branded-residence partners including Nobu Hospitality, Mr. C, Six Senses, Marriott, and Hilton. Active 2023-2025 activity includes the 415-unit Amara Bay Residences & Marina in St. Petersburg (with a $121 million ABANCA USA construction loan in October 2025), the 74-story 619 Brickell Nobu-branded condominium tower in Miami, the Mr. C Residences Boca Raton, and the El 53 De Velazquez ultra-luxury residences in Madrid. Go-to-market is sales-led, with the in-house condominium sales force (led by CEO Liliana Paez) complemented by international broker networks for HNW buyers and direct distribution through major hospitality brand reservation systems.

Second-generation co-Presidents Inigo Ardid and Diego Ardid lead the firm alongside a senior team with prior experience at Blackstone, Azora, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Lake Flato, Deloitte, and major hotel operators. The firm emphasizes long-term ownership, first-to-market positioning in emerging submarkets, and disciplined investing; it has no disclosed AI/ML technology stack, no public revenue, no parent company, and no outside institutional investment.

Name

Key International

Legal name

Key International, Inc.

Website

https://keyint.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Key International is a family-owned Miami-based real estate investment and development firm that builds luxury condominiums, hotels, multifamily, and commercial properties across the southeastern US, Spain, and Portugal, with over $4 billion in cumulative transactions and a $2 billion-plus hotel portfolio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development & Investment

NAICS

Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Investment Advisory (Acquisitions/Dispositions, Capital Allocation) (BPAJANAA)

Keywords

• Luxury real estate development
• Commercial property investment
• Hospitality asset management
• Multifamily residential development
• Mixed-use property development

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Development & Sales: Key International develops and sells luxury condominiums and residential properties, generating revenue through unit sales. Their Sales Division has completed over $4 billion in real estate deals. Revenue is generated through one-time sales transactions rather than recurring revenue.
2. Hotel & Hospitality Operations: The company operates hotels and resorts throughout the southeastern US and Europe, generating recurring revenue from room rentals, food & beverage, and related hospitality services. Their hotel portfolio has grown to over $2 billion in AUM with more than 3,000 hotel rooms.
3. Multifamily Rental Income: The company develops and holds multifamily rental properties such as the Parks at Delray (675 apartments), generating recurring rental income.
4. Commercial Office & Retail Leasing: Key International owns and operates commercial office buildings and retail properties, generating rental income from tenants. Properties include 848 Brickell Avenue, Sunset Station Plaza, Highland Park Center, and retail plazas.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Key International is a full-service real estate investment and development firm that develops, owns, and operates luxury residential condominiums, multifamily rental communities, branded hotels and resorts, and commercial office/retail properties across the southeastern United States, Spain, and Portugal. The company pursues projects through joint ventures with institutional investors and equity partners, and operates a dedicated in-house condominium sales division that has closed over $4 billion in real estate transactions.

Product overview

Key International is a full-service real estate investment and development firm operating across the southeastern United States, Spain, and Portugal. The company's product portfolio is organized into four main categories: (1) Residential condominiums including 1010 Brickell, The Harbour, Boca Beach Residences, El 53 De Velazquez, and 619 Brickell; (2) Multifamily/apartment communities including Parks at Delray, Amara Bay Residences & Marina, and Coral Springs Mixed-Use Site; (3) Hospitality properties including Eden Roc Miami Beach, The Perry Hotel & Marina, multiple Marriott and Hilton branded hotels, Only You Malaga, and Six Senses Lisboa; and (4) Commercial properties including 848 Brickell Avenue, Highland Park Center, and various office/retail assets. The company also operates a dedicated Sales Division (Key International Sales) that handles condominium sales and marketing for its own projects and select third-party developments, having generated over $4 billion in real estate transactions. The portfolio spans luxury condominiums, branded hotel residences, mixed-use developments, RV resorts, and commercial office space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1010 Brickell 50-story luxury condominium tower in Miami's Brickell financial district featuring 387 residential units with indoor heated pool, rooftop pool, spa with Turkish steam bath, running track, and sports courts. Completed Q4 2017.
• The Harbour Two-tower 425-unit luxury waterfront condominium on a 5-acre property overlooking Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve. Features infinity-edge pool, Lush Spa, children's play zone, and sporting facilities. Delivered end of Q4 2018.
• Boca Beach Residences
• Parks at Delray
• Amara Bay Residences & Marina 39-acre multifamily development on Tampa Bay with 415 waterfront apartments, 52 luxury townhomes, 8,000 sq ft waterfront restaurant, dry stack marina, and wet slips. Features two resort-style pools, clubhouse, sports courts, and public boardwalk.
• Mr. C Residences Boca Raton 12-story luxury condominium with 133 two- and three-bedroom residences in Downtown Boca Raton, developed in partnership with Mr. C hospitality brand. Features rooftop infinity pool, spa with hammam, fitness center, Bellini Restaurant, and exclusive resident bar and lounge.
• Eden Roc Miami Beach Historic 631-guest room resort on Miami Beach's Millionaire's Row featuring Nobu Hotel & Restaurant, Spa at Eden Roc (22,000 sq ft with 18 treatment rooms), 46,000 sq ft indoor meeting space, and 25,000 sq ft outdoor space. Completed $250M expansion in 2008 and $50M renovation in 2017.
• Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort 217-suite oceanfront resort hotel with direct beach access, 535 feet of ocean frontage, 10,000 sq ft meeting space, oceanfront bar, large pool, and on-site restaurant. Located between St. Augustine Beach Pier and Anastasia State Park. Opened 2018.
• The Perry Hotel & Marina 100-room hotel on Stock Island with marina views, two outdoor pools, and two restaurants (Matt's Stock Island Kitchen & Bar and Salty Oyster Dockside Bar & Grill). Winner of Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Award 2021 and Tripadvisor Traveler's Choice Award 2021. Adjacent Perry Marina has 288 slips.
• 848 Brickell Avenue
• Highland Park Center Eleven-story Class A office tower with 44,740 rentable sq ft in Miami's Health District. Gold Level LEED building certification. Located near University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital campus and Miami-Dade Court House. Built in 2011.
• Key International Sales Division
• Sereno 38-unit waterfront residential building in Bay Harbour Islands with unobstructed bay views, spacious balconies, and private elevators. Key International Sales served as exclusive sales and marketing agent. Completed April 2017.
• 400 Sunny Isles Two 20-story towers with 230 units featuring ocean and intracoastal views, full-service marina with 125 boat slips, and approximately 11,100 sq ft ground floor retail. Completed in 2015.
• Six Senses Lisboa Historic District
• Only You Malaga
• El 53 De Velazquez 13 exclusive residences in Madrid's Salamanca neighborhood featuring modern design by Belen Domecq in a historic building with ornamental details and stained glass windows. Amenities include rooftop pool, state-of-the-art gym, and hammam.
• 619 Brickell (Nobu-branded Condominium) 74-story, 300-unit Nobu-branded condominium tower in Miami's Brickell area featuring a Nobu restaurant. Developed by 13th Floor and Key International following legal dispute over development site. Land sold by First Miami Presbyterian Church for approximately $240 million.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $4 billion in real estate transactions completed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• 13th Floor InvestmentscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Key International and 13th Floor Investments are joint development partners on multiple projects including Parks at Delray (a 43-acre mixed-use community in Delray Beach with 675 apartments and 54 townhomes) and the 619 Brickell Nobu-branded condominium tower project in Miami's Brickell area.
• CDS International HoldingsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026CDS International Holdings is a development partner with Key International and 13th Floor Investments on the Parks at Delray project in Delray Beach, Florida.
• Nobu HospitalitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Nobu Hospitality, founded by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Robert De Niro, partnered with 13th Floor and Key International on the 619 Brickell project - a 74-story, 300-unit Nobu-branded condominium tower in Miami's Brickell district, featuring a Nobu restaurant.
• Foster + PartnersmajorTechnology or Integration · 4 November 2025Foster + Partners designed the 619 Brickell development in Miami's Brickell district, collaborating with Sieger-Suarez Architects on the luxury condominium project.
• Sterling BaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2024Sterling Bay partnered with Key International on the 51-story Brickell office tower development at 848 Brickell Avenue. Sterling Bay brings Chicago development expertise to the Miami market.
• Wexford Real Estate InvestorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWexford Real Estate Investors is a long-standing strategic partner with Key International on multiple projects including the Mr. C Residences Boca Raton development, 400 & 450 Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach, and the Boca Raton site acquisition for multifamily development.
• Related RosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated Ross (Related Companies) partnered with Key International and Wexford to acquire 1100 Banyan Blvd in West Palm Beach and other properties. Related Ross is led by billionaire Stephen Ross.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Property Markets Group (PMG): New York and Miami-based luxury residential developer with significant South Florida condominium pipeline; comparable to Key International in luxury condo product and shared Florida exposure.
• The Related Group: Miami-based luxury residential developer with deep South Florida condominium pipeline; directly comparable to Key International in luxury condo product, Brickell and beachfront focus, and HNW buyer targeting.
• Swire Properties: Hong Kong-listed developer behind major Brickell luxury projects (e.g., Brickell CityCentre, Reach and Rise); directly comparable to Key International in Brickell luxury residential and mixed-use development.
• Fortune International Group: Miami-headquartered developer of luxury waterfront condominiums (e.g., Brickell, Sunny Isles); highly comparable to Key International in luxury Florida condo product, sales-led model, and HNW buyer focus.
• Two Roads Development: Miami-based luxury real estate developer with branded residential and mixed-use projects in South Florida; comparable to Key International in luxury condo focus, branded-residence strategy, and Florida geographic footprint.
• Sterling Bay: Chicago-based developer with growing Miami presence; JV partner with Key International on the 51-story 848 Brickell office tower. Comparable in mixed-use and office development strategy, with geographic overlap in Brickell.
• Wexford Real Estate Investors: Long-standing JV partner with Key International on Boca Raton and West Palm Beach projects (Mr. C Residences, 400/450 Australian Avenue); comparable in South Florida luxury residential and hospitality investment strategy.
• 13th Floor Investments: South Florida-based real estate developer and Key International's JV partner on Parks at Delray and 619 Brickell; directly comparable in luxury condo and mixed-use development product and geography.

Broad incumbents

• Related Companies: National luxury and mixed-use developer (Stephen Ross) with which Key International has partnered on West Palm Beach acquisitions (1100 Banyan); broader incumbent with comparable luxury residential and mixed-use capability, though much larger in scale.
• CIM Group: Real estate investment and development firm with diversified urban mixed-use and hospitality projects; comparable to Key International's investment-driven real estate strategy and asset-class diversification across residential, hospitality, and commercial.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/key-international-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/keyinternational__

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Key International