In the previous articles I mentioned that one of my favorite interiors was that of the Eltham Place in South London – a 1930’s set of interiors carefully preserved first by the Army (the good old British Army Education Corps had the use of it from the 1939 war until the latter years of the 20th Century) and then by English Heritage. I must have a design sensibility that responds to the era, and the interiors at THEhotel struck the same chord with me. Based in Gold, black, white and buff the stylistic link with the 1930’s Art Deco was clear, an era that also produced one of my favorite pieces of architecture, the Chrysler Building in New York.

The ppowerful architectural framework for the interiors has been used creatively in making strong structural statements by the interiors team from Dougal Design Associates in Pasadena, who won awards for their previous design work on Caesars’ Palace and Forum, also for MGM. With a simple but powerful color palette and striking black banded light columns a strong theatrical interior is created. THEhotel is a stand-alone structure, serviced by its own entrance, lobby, lounges, cafe, gym and spa, yet still offers easy access to all the offerings of the Mandalay Bay. Visitors arrive via a dedicated valet service located in a covered garage, through a beautifully proportioned and imposing lobby with rich finishes in a restrained palette of black, brown and cream.

One of the management issues which have been solved in Las Vegas is how to check in the numbers of guests when your hotel may have 3,000, 5,000 or 7,000 bedrooms. The reception desk at THEhotel with just nine check-in station is described then as ‘intimate’. It is certainly striking with its large mural, and is approached, in the time honored fashion, through a parade of the other offerings of this hotel called, of course. THEbar, THEcafé, THEshop (sometimes this kind of branding grates on THEnerves!) The THEHotel spa is, ironically called the Bathhouse (no THE in the title) and was an award winner when opened (see Spa Design: BATHHOUSE Spa wins award). Unfortunately on my first visit I only had my little pocket camera, and by the time I had enjoyed Ducasse food and wine I couldn’t get any decent photographs. A few days later I decided to take a walk from the Wynn to the Mandalay for another look.