Inside the key world of luxurious hotels-within-hotels

Even in the event you’ve been to Las Vegas dozens of occasions, it’s possible you’ll not know there is a secret, ultraluxe resort hidden inside the MGM Grand.

Referred to as The Mansion at MGM Grand, this hotel-within-a-hotel consists of 29 “Mediterranean-themed residences starting from 2,400 sq. toes to 12,000 sq. toes” all inside “an enclave of privateness and pleasure the place the sensual riches of Tuscany attain their fullest expression,” in response to the web site.

Translation: There’s a bit of Tuscan village, completely for the wealthy and well-known, below a glass dome within the shadow of the well-known inexperienced resort on the Las Vegas Strip. And friends staying in that VIP village get unique perks reminiscent of non-public butlers, limousine transport, extremely custom-made non-public eating, an unique pool and extra.

Inquisitive about a keep? “Certified friends solely,” the web site warns. However what makes somebody certified?

A consultant for the resort remained tight-lipped about who qualifies, however a name to the reservations desk answered just a few questions.

You technically do not must be a excessive curler or a Grammy winner, as I assumed, to e-book a keep in one among these villas, however a reservation request must be accepted by administration, the telephone agent defined to me. That is as a result of these managers give precedence (and doubtless free stays) to the precise excessive rollers who’re droppings a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} within the on line casino.

However in the event you’re playing is extra modest, and even nonexistent, anybody who can afford the Mansion — I used to be quoted $6,000 to $7,500 an evening for a two-bedroom villa — can put in a request and, assuming they are not all blocked off by the upper powers, there is a honest likelihood the keep is yours.

One phrase of recommendation: Do not attempt to e-book a keep right here when there is a massive occasion on the books, like a combat on the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment.

Additionally, do not attempt to e-book greater than 90 days upfront, as these larger-than-life villas (together with the four-bedroom villa with an indoor pool) appear to be principally put aside in case a real VIP pops into city.

Whereas The Mansion at MGM Grand is definitely one of the crucial top-tier experiences in Sin Metropolis, it isn’t the one hotel-within-a-hotel on the town. The truth is, there are fairly just a few on the Strip.

And now the pattern of placing one other completely separate resort, hidden or not, inside one other resort is beginning to unfold exterior the confines of Las Vegas.

Resorts hiding in plain sight

In its most straightforward type, a hotel-within-a-hotel is strictly what it appears like: a separate resort tucked away inside an even bigger or better-known resort. In idea, there are not any set guidelines and a hotel-within-a-hotel might be no matter a hotelier desires it to be, from a set of luxurious villas with a non-public reception space to a completely totally different model or chain in the identical constructing.

“A hotel-within-a-hotel is a extra elevated expertise providing elite interiors, designated check-in areas, unique providers, devoted workers and upgraded facilities which can be fully totally different from the host resort,” Benjamin Kott, vp of resort operations at Aria and Vdara in Las Vegas, instructed TPG. Kott added that MGM has motels like this in its portfolio, together with NoMad at Park MGM and Delano at Mandalay Bay.

The NoMad Las Vegas within the Park MGM is a superb instance of a widely known model establishing store inside a bigger host resort. The Sydell Group, the power behind manufacturers like Line and Freehand, initially created the much-loved NoMad New York, which closed in 2021. Taking part in off the success of that resort, Sydell Group, which owns Park MGM, introduced a style of New York to the Strip within the type of a hotel-within-a-hotel, the NoMad Las Vegas, which has its personal porte cochere, or non-public entrance.

However that is not the one one. The 4 Seasons Lodge Las Vegas is tucked away within the Mandalay Bay complicated and the Nobu Lodge Las Vegas, the very first within the Nobu resort empire that is sweeping the globe, is present in Caesars Palace.

Whereas every of those motels is totally different in what it provides, one of many massive perks is that friends within the extra unique (usually dearer) motels can nonetheless use the facilities of what Kott referred to as the “host” resort. On the 4 Seasons in Las Vegas, for instance, friends can swim within the non-public 4 Seasons pool or make the most of Mandalay Bay’s huge pool complicated and its real-sand seaside.

However there’s one other sort of hotel-within-a-hotel — one which’s created by and inside the host resort to supply an elevated, luxurious expertise for somebody searching for one thing past only a place to sleep at night time.

“Because the leisure capital of the world, Las Vegas sees a wide range of guests from everywhere in the globe who journey to the town with particular tastes and pursuits,” mentioned Kott. “We’re seeing now, greater than ever, that our friends need an elevated keep and experiences that showcase extra customer support and facilities and hotels-within-hotels supply all that and extra.”

At his resort, Aria, there are literally two hotel-within-a-hotel experiences: Aria Sky Suites and Sky Villas, each of which simply went via head-to-toe remodels. At Sky Suites, there are 400 suites with one to a number of bedrooms that may be booked straight on-line by anybody prepared to shell out upward of $1,100 per night time.

The Sky Villas are akin to The Mansion at MGM Grand, requiring administration approval to launch one of many resort’s top-tier rooms that may in any other case be given to a excessive curler. Calling to see what sort of worth we could be taking a look at for one of many Sky Villas, a telephone consultant mentioned he not too long ago noticed managers approve a three-bedroom suite for $20,000 an evening and smaller rooms (they begin at 2,000 sq. toes, so not that small) for between $10,000 and $12,000 an evening.

However hey, that is the worth of exclusivity.

“Aria Sky Suites and Sky Villas at Aria are undoubtedly separate experiences from Aria itself in that they each supply complimentary luxurious transportation to and from the airport,” Kott defined. “In addition they have their very own separate entrance and designated check-in space, a separate pool space and a 24-hour concierge that provides Sky Suites and Sky Villa friends easy entry to among the metropolis’s greatest choices.”

And in the event you’re curious if these hotels-within-hotels are competing in opposition to their host motels, the reply is an easy no, in response to Kott. “It’s a distinct type of clientele so it doesn’t compete.”

Past Las Vegas

Although Las Vegas could maintain the crown for many hotel-within-a-hotel experiences, it isn’t the one place you will discover the idea.

One place to search for it’s Miami, the place there are a selection of properties providing a secret (or not-so-secret) resort inside one other.

On the storied Eden Roc Miami Seaside, which opened in 1955 to the sounds of a dwell Harry Belafonte efficiency, would-be friends can e-book a keep at Nobu Lodge Miami Seaside, which has a pool for friends 21 and older and a non-public seaside space.

Marriott received in on the motion by opening The Lodge Beaux Arts, a part of the Autograph Assortment, on the highest flooring of the JW Marriott Marquis Miami. There, friends won’t have the identical unique perks as in Vegas, however friends can have a extra boutique keep within the room whereas having fun with shared facilities between the 2 just like the Enliven Spa, a Nineteenth-floor pool, digital bowling and even basketball courts.

Up in Palm Seaside, Florida, friends can at all times count on an opulent keep at The Breakers, a palatial oceanfront property that dates again to the late 1800s. However for a way more unique keep, verify into The Flagler Membership, a boutique-like resort on the highest flooring of the resort that comes with Telsa chauffeur service, a non-public lounge and rooftop terrace, a devoted group to assist with any wants and extra — all for about $1,000 extra per night time than an ordinary Breakers room.

On the opposite facet of the nation, in California, San Diego’s Lodge del Coronado simply unveiled a completely new hotel-within-a-hotel expertise, alongside its different resort choices, billed as “neighborhoods.” The most recent resort, The Shore Home, contains 75 one-, two- and three-bedroom residential-style lodging proper off the seaside of the Pacific Ocean.

Although the resort itself is a sprawling complicated with lodging sorts for each sort of traveler, The Shore Home is an elevated, luxurious expertise that feels extra like a trip rental with a devoted resort entrance, a zero-edge oceanfront pool with non-public cabanas, a poolside bar and entry to the resort’s different facilities, plus a VIP concierge unique to Shore Home friends. Charges at The Shore Home begin at $1,299 an evening.

Backside line

Resorts-within-hotels aren’t a brand new idea, however it’s additionally a rising pattern I hope we see extra of sooner or later, particularly at massive resorts such as you’ll discover in Las Vegas and different in style trip locations.

Whereas club-level rooms at loads of motels do supply particular perks like a lounge and a cheerful hour, having a completely totally different hotel-within-a-hotel creates a really distinct expertise that may completely elevate a visit (and its price ticket).

So, the following time you are searching for a spot to remain, remember to do some digging. Who is aware of, there may simply be a secret resort — or Tuscan village — hiding within the shadows.