Rendering of W Las Vegas. (Image: Courtesy of MGM Resorts)

The W Hotel brand is returning to Las Vegas later this year. W Las Vegas is replacing the Delano hotel brand at Mandalay Bay later this year.

This change for the MGM Resorts casino resort doesn’t come out of nowhere. During an earnings call earlier this year, MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the Marriott partnership was “exceeding expectations.”

W Hotels is a Marriott brand. This change is an extension of the long-term agreement between MGM Resorts and the international hotel operator that was announced last year.

Third Time’s a Charm for ‘The Hotel’

W Las Vegas will soon be the closest hotel to Allegiant Stadium. The proximity to Las Vegas Raiders games and big concerts should be a big part of marketing for the property.

This will be the third brand name for this Mandalay Bay hotel tower, which is near the sportsbook, theater that is home to Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil, and Mandalay Place.

The Hotel opened in 2003 as an all-suite luxury tower at Mandalay Bay. In 2012, MGM Resorts struck a deal with Morgans Hotel Group to rebrand The Hotel as Delano Las Vegas.

A couple of weeks ago, MGM Resorts announced Della’s Kitchen at Delano was closing. The company didn’t share details on a replacement. Now we have an idea why there was no further information.

In addition to replacing Della’s Kitchen, there are a few possible changes to the property.

The hotel tower is home to one other full-service restaurant, Rivea, which includes Skyfall Lounge. The latter offers a beautiful view (above) of Las Vegas from the 64th floor. W Las Vegas should be able to easily swap brands Franklin Lounge and the 3940 Coffee Shop.

MGM Resorts says the company will announce additional plans for the property in the future.

New Life for W Las Vegas

This rebrand is a rebirth of sorts for the popular hotel brand. In 2016, SLS Las Vegas rebranded one of its hotel towers as W Las Vegas. That iteration of W Las Vegas only lasted for a couple of years as SLS was sold and rebranded back to its original name - Sahara Las Vegas.

The W Hotel brand almost came to Las Vegas in the early 2000s. There were plans for a W condo-hotel complex next to Planet Hollywood. The project would have had 500 hotel rooms that could have been sold as condos.

Unfortunately, this version of W Hotels in Las Vegas never got off the ground.

Look for a Luxurious Upgrade

The Hotel/Delano was opened as a luxury hotel in the Mandalay Bay complex. The rooms haven’t been upgraded in quite some time and the shine has lost a little luster. Due to the lack of upgrades, Delano has become one of the best secret values in Las Vegas. Prices for rooms in the all-suite hotel can be less than $100 on weekdays.

The sub-$100 rooms aren't available often. Suite prices can reach $500 per night on weekends or when there’s a game or concert at Allegiant Stadium. The mid-week $100 price point for a Vegas Strip suite is a great deal that might not be around much longer. 

According to Travel & Leisure, the future W Las Vegas is due for an upgrade next year, something we could hear more about when MGM Resorts reports earnings later this month. W Hotels is a luxury brand and the upgrades should bring the property up to modern standards. 

Steve Zanella, President of MGM Resorts Operations, said W Las Vegas “will allow our guests to access a new luxury lifestyle experience.”

In the announcement of this rebrand, Leeny Oberg, Marriott International's Chief Financial Officer, made sure to say that W Hotels is “a luxury brand rooted in bold design and nightlife.”

Don’t be surprised to see higher room rates when W Las Vegas joins other Vegas hotels — Aria (and Vdara), Bellagio, and Cosmopolitan, to name a few — as part of the MGM Collection With Marriott Bonvoy.