Marriott’s growing partnership with MGM Resorts means one lifestyle hotel brand hits the jackpot while another is leaving Las Vegas.
Marriott and MGM Resorts officially debuted the W Hotels brand on the Mandalay Bay campus Wednesday on the Las Vegas Strip. The W Las Vegas occupies the 1,117-suite tower previously occupied by Accor’s Delano brand. The Delano-to-W conversion is a loss for Accor’s Ennismore lifestyle hotel collective, which includes the Delano brand.
Rates at the new W Las Vegas start as low as $149 — or 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points — per night this winter.
“W Las Vegas represents an exciting new chapter for MGM Resorts and for our guests seeking a new, sophisticated all-suite luxury experience on The Strip,” Travis Lunn, president and chief operating officer of Mandalay Bay and Luxor, said in a prepared statement. “W Hotels is a brand that is celebrated globally for their unique style and exceptional service, and we can’t wait to see the hotel come to life over the next couple of years, through its distinct personality, dynamic programming and elevated service culture.”
The move comes a little more than a year after Marriott and MGM Resorts announced their strategic partnership that officially took effect earlier this year. As of Dec. 18, Marriott Bonvoy members can earn and redeem points at W Las Vegas, which is part of the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy.
“We’re thrilled to continue working with MGM to bring W Las Vegas to the legendary Las Vegas Strip,” Leeny Oberg, Marriott International’s chief financial officer and executive vice president of development, said in a prepared statement earlier this year. “This agreement is a pivotal moment in our collaboration, which continues to expand hospitality and entertainment offerings for guests. As a luxury brand rooted in bold design and nightlife, W Hotels is well-positioned to elevate experiences for travelers in this destination.”
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“Our relationship with Marriott has far exceeded our expectations, demonstrating the power of its brand portfolio and the strength of their distribution channels,” Steve Zanella, president of MGM Resorts operations, added in a prepared statement when the W Las Vegas plans were first announced. “W Las Vegas, the latest hotel to come to life as part of our collaboration, will allow our guests to access a new luxury lifestyle experience recognized worldwide for its distinct personality, dynamic programming and elevated service culture.”
The addition of W Las Vegas means the MGM Resorts-Marriott partnership will have 12 locations on the Las Vegas Strip. This includes Bellagio, a Luxury Collection Resort & Casino, Las Vegas; Aria Resort & Casino; and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. (The latter two are part of the Autograph Collection.) Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is part of the MGM Collection alongside other properties like Luxor Hotel & Casino and MGM Grand Hotel & Casino.
The Delano-to-W conversion appears to largely be limited to signage, and the overall design aesthetic is likely to feel similar to the Delano for now; however, “additional enhancements” are planned and will be made public “at a later date,” per the company announcement. W Las Vegas isn’t the only conversion at MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas. NoMad Las Vegas within the Park MGM campus is also expected to change its branding, since NoMad is now a Hilton-affiliated brand.
The W Las Vegas conversion is also a temporary setback for Accor and Ennismore with Delano in its home country. Delano, which started as a cooler-than-cool hotel concept on Miami’s South Beach, will no longer have a U.S. home. It will only be in Paris — at Maison Delano Paris, one of TPG’s best hotels of 2023 — and Dubai for the time being. But a revival of the brand’s original Miami location is expected to open next year.
In the meantime, Marriott Bonvoy members have another way to earn and use points in Sin City. It will continue to cement Marriott’s status as the hotel loyalty program leader in the U.S. gaming capital, thanks to its MGM Resorts partnership.
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