MGM Grand Detroit Named 'Development of the Year 2007' by Americas Lodging Investment Summit
	MGM Grand Detroit is an $800-million destination from MGM MIRAGE and is the first and only downtown Detroit hotel, gaming and entertainment destination built from the ground up. It is also the first-ever Las Vegas-style destination to open in a major metropolitan center.
ALIS is the lodging industry's premier hospitality event and nominees are considered for the honor based on outstanding business performance in various industry sectors. Beginning with a pool of 30 prestigious luxury properties and narrowed down to a final three by the ALIS nomination committee, MGM Grand Detroit was voted "Development of the Year 2007" by a group of conference sponsors and presented with the award on January 29 by committee chair Pat Ford. Co-hosted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and the Burba Hotel Network (BHN), the two-and-a-half-day event featured an extensive array of seminars and panels hosted by leading experts and investors discussing important trends and identifying new opportunities in addition to honoring various lodging industry luminaries and the outstanding transactions of the year. "This distinguished award reflects the quality of service that we are striving to attain and maintain at MGM Grand Detroit. I give full credit to every one of our team members for delivering a level of luxury this city has never seen before in a property of this size," said John Hutar, vice president of hotel operations at MGM Grand Detroit. Story continues below ↓ Advertisement Delivering unrivaled rooms and suites, celebrity chef restaurants, the only resort-style spa in southeast Michigan and 30,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, MGM Grand Detroit is the premier hotel and entertainment destination in the Midwest. In addition to creating a new must-see destination, the MGM Grand Detroit is a boon to the local economy, providing approximately 3,000 jobs and making it one of the top employers in the area. Of the three original casino properties, MGM Grand Detroit is the only property to build an entirely new facility, marking a more than $1-billion investment from MGM MIRAGE in the redevelopment of downtown Detroit. "We appreciate the opportunity presented to us by the city of Detroit and in turn wanted to fulfill our promise of a brand new MGM Grand," said Ben Mammina, senior vice president of construction at MGM MIRAGE. "We went to great lengths to be good citizens with our design and create a venue that blends seamlessly with the surrounding architecture. We feel the new MGM Grand Detroit embodies the city's history as well as its future." Opened in October 2007, MGM Grand Detroit was named as one of the "Top 10 new U.S. hotels of 2007" by Gayot and mentioned as one of "53 places to visit in 2008" by The New York Times as part of the Detroit destination. The hotel at MGM Grand Detroit is a completely smoke-free environment that features 400 chic and stylish guest rooms, including nine rooftop VIP suites and 56 opulent corner suites delivering panoramic views of the Detroit skyline. Rooms feature contemporary interior design by acclaimed hospitality firms Laurence Lee Associates and SandDesign along with some of the most technologically advanced amenities in the country. All accommodations feature the latest in technology, including touch-screen telephones, plasma televisions and iPod docking. The property's culinary highlights include three signature restaurants by Chefs Wolfgang Puck and Michael Mina, of which Mina's SALTWATER restaurant was recently awarded "Restaurant of the Year" by the Detroit Free Press. Notably, the destination's 24-hour in-room dining is provided to all 400 guest rooms and suites by Wolfgang Puck Grille. At MGM Grand Detroit, guests can experience nightlife in five settings, including a relaxed piano-style bar, in addition to high-energy nightlife at V lounge, recently named to Nightclub & Bar magazine's list of Top 100 Nightclubs of 2008. MGM Grand Detroit also features IMMERSE Spa, the only resort-style spa in southeast Michigan which features 20,000 square feet of space designed in a modern-day urban loft setting. The lavish, two-level facility includes a full-service spa, six treatment bungalows, wet room with Vichy shower, first-class salon, state-of-the-art exercise facility, relaxation lounges, separate vanity areas for men and women featuring a whirlpool and steam room, and a spa boutique. For virtually effortless planning, MGM Grand Detroit offers a professional staff to assist meeting planners with all aspects of their catering needs. Comprised of a 14,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, three 1,600-square-foot meeting rooms, and two 710-square-foot executive boardrooms, the third floor of MGM Grand Detroit features 30,000 square feet of meeting and event space capable of hosting everything from large corporate events to intimate black-tie engagements.