The long-planned transformation of Mandalay Bay’s THEhotel into the Delano is finally underway. We’re on location and got to take a sneak peek at some of the renovated floors and rooms.
The hotel is remaining open while the renovation is underway, so each floor is being updated one level at a time. (To minimize the intrusion to guests, the floors directly above and below the construction are also closed off.) The footprint of each room is largely unchanged, we hear, and much of the renovation is cosmetic.
RELATED: Reservations Open At Reinvented Vegas Delano Hotel
THEHotel has traditionally maintained a darker atmosphere, with wood-grained walls and earth tones for accents. The windows have a special coating to block out the brightest light, leaving the rooms fairly moody (but decidedly soothing after a long day).
 |
| Like this. Nice and peaceful. But dark. |
The Delano will take that atmosphere 180 degrees. Hallways are kept fairly dark (with cool desert-themed art on the walls) so that guests experience a significant contrast when they walk into their rooms.
 |
| Still pretty dark. |
And the first thing they’ll see is white. White walls. White furniture. White curtains.
 |
| The chairs are still black, though, as is the TV. Gotta have some contrast. |
In the bedrooms, white bedspreads. White armoires. White benches.
 |
| The bench under the TV is great for pulling on shoes. |
It makes a huge difference. Everything is brighter--at times, almost overwhelmingly so.
The bathrooms are still on the darker side (one does not want blinding light when relaxing in a deep soaking tub), but the mirrors are backlit to maximize the adjustable lighting.
 |
The Delano is set to have its soft opening over Labor Day weekend, and will have its grand opening two weeks later. During those two weeks, the name on the side of the hotel will change from THEhotel to Delano.