The iconic MGM Grand Las Vegas has started a $300 million refurbishment, including some 4,000 rooms in its main hotel tower.
The Las Vegas Strip casino resort’s owner, MGM Resorts International, announced the renovation this week. Company President Bill Hornbuckle had previously teased the project in a late 2024 investor call.
Work has already begun on the rooms, with the first upgraded suites set to be ready for booking as soon as March. Guest disruption should be minimal during ongoing work, the company said.
The project will add 111 new suites to the second Studio Tower through a mixture of repurposed smaller rooms and backroom spaces.
The new accommodations were somewhat verbosely described by MGM Resorts in its press release. In plain terms, the operator promised new showers and bathrooms for every suite, new artworks and mirrors with illumination, and new furnishings throughout.
The refurbishment is also adding half-a-dozen new dining venues and attractions in 2025 to the MGM Grand, which the operator previewed in the press release.
“MGM Grand has long been recognized as the center of entertainment and excitement in Las Vegas, and these newly remodeled rooms, coupled with new attractions on the horizon, demonstrate our commitment to evolving the guest experience for both leisure and business travelers,” said a statement from MGM Grand President Mike Neubecker.
“These new rooms are a significant milestone in the property’s evolution, as MGM Grand positions itself for the exciting developments set for the south end of The Strip.”
The MGM Grand
MGM is the largest U.S. casino operator, and Las Vegas has been booming in the last few years. Now that revenue growth seems to be slowing a little, the operator is reinvesting in its flagship Las Vegas Strip property.
MGM Grand is the largest hotel by size in the world, although not by the number of rooms (that title goes to First World Hotel in Malaysia). The mega casino resort opened in 1993, costing around $1 billion to build. That’s around $2.1 billion today, adjusted for inflation.
The brightly lit green exterior and the giant (bronze) statue of the MGM golden lion on Las Vegas Boulevard have since made it an iconic fixture of the Las Vegas Strip.
MGM Resorts operates, maintains, and upgrades the property. But the land underneath it is owned by VICI Properties, the Real Estate Investment Trust spin-off of rival Las Vegas operator Caesars Entertainment. MGM pays VICI rent each month under a triple net lease.
The Upgrades
In total, 4,331 rooms and suites at the MGM Grand will be getting a refurbishment under the new project. King and Queen rooms in the main tower will be getting a makeover, as will 700 existing and 111 new suites.
San Francisco-based global architecture firm Gensler handled the design phase of the project. Influences include a number of styles, ranging from clean modern design, vintage Las Vegas, and apparently, throwbacks to the ’70s disco era.
“The main tower remodel draws inspiration from the glamor of the disco era, seamlessly combined with modern elements to create an atmosphere that is both playful and elegant,” the statement said.
“Bold artwork and dynamic patterns will take guests on a journey through time, celebrating the resort’s rich history and legacy of excitement and entertainment, while embracing its forward-looking vision.”
As well as the room upgrades, MGM also announced two new venues set for a 2025 debut at the MGM Grand.
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David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
