The MGM Grand hotel-casino is undergoing a $300 million renovation of rooms and suites in the resort’s main tower, with the first batch of rooms opening this weekend.
The Las Vegas Strip hotel is upgrading more than 4,200 rooms and suites, according to the property’s operator, MGM Resorts International. The redevelopment will result in the creation of more than 110 new suites, with approximately 350 standard-sized rooms on the top three floors being converted and combined into larger spaces.
Construction began last month and is expected to be completed in December.
Mike Neubecker, president and chief operating officer of MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, said the new rooms are the result of customer feedback and a change in visitor preferences. The new accommodations are designed to feel more residential and less like a traditional hotel room, he said, and represent a “significant milestone” in the iconic property’s evolution.
“I think it transforms the MGM Grand,” Neubecker told the Review-Journal during an exclusive first look at the hotel room renovations. “We’re going to have a room product that we can be proud of, and I think it puts us on par with almost any property up and down the Strip from that standpoint. So that’s exciting.”
The current version of the MGM Grand opened in 1993 as the largest hotel in the world. Since then, it has undergone several renovations and updates, including the completion of room renovations in the resort’s Studio Tower (formerly known as the West Wing) in 2022. The most recent major renovations to the main tower—which cost nearly $160 million—were completed in 2012.
Neubecker said the average visitor profile in Las Vegas has changed significantly since that time, and the current room renovations reflect that.
“We have a lot of travelers who come to Las Vegas who are high-spending, non-gamers. They come here for experiences, or they’re a foodie, or they’re (here for) entertainment or sports,” he said. “They’re don’t be afraid to spend for good experiences and at the end of the day this new room product will be able to deliver that.”
The MGM Grand’s new rooms were designed by Gensler, a San Francisco-based firm that has worked on other Las Vegas casino projects, including the Sahara (when it was the SLS Las Vegas) and the downtown Golden Gate.
According to MGM, the new rooms take inspiration from the “vibrant” disco era and combine with “modern elements” to “create an atmosphere that is both playful and elegant.” The corridors and rooms are adorned with dynamic artwork, which Neubecker said offers “hints of glamor and history.”
The bathrooms now have shower cubicles with glass enclosures. The bathtub in the rooms has been completely removed. All room wardrobes have a full-length mirror and illuminated interior.
Each room will also have a mini-fridge in addition to a well-stocked minibar.
“The MGM Grand has long been recognized as the center of entertainment and excitement in Las Vegas and these newly renovated rooms, along with new attractions on the horizon, demonstrate our commitment to evolving the guest experience for both leisure and business travelers,” said Neubecker.
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