DETROIT—Taking in the view of the city's skyline from a 15th floor Presidential Suite in her new MotorCity Casino Hotel, Marian Ilitch said it represents a vision fulfilled.
The 400-room, 17-story tower is part of her gambling hall's ongoing $300 million expansion project. Designed to inspire thoughts of Detroit's automotive culture, she also wanted Midwest hospitality to play as much of a role.
"I wanted to have a hotel that was a signature, that stood out in the city against our backdrop," Ilitch said. "I wanted a hotel that was classy and luxurious, but very, very comfortable and not intimidating."
And she said the new luxury hotel will do just that when it opens to the public on Wednesday. Ilitch plans to check-in the first guests, and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and others are expected for the opening.
The 2,500-square-foot suite is the hotel's top of the line. Costing about $5,500 a night, it features high ceilings and expansive windows, a large room for entertaining, personal workout space and even a television hidden in the glass of a bathroom mirror, so guests can catch the news and wash up at the same time.
"You look at this view, this site. It's just beyond my expectations," Ilitch said.
MotorCity, MGM Grand Detroit Casino and Greektown Casino are spending more than $1.5 billion on expansions. They opened temporary facilities in 1999 and 2000, and MGM Grand opened its $800 million permanent complex in October. Greektown's permanent complex is expected to open next year.
MGM Grand's is billed as the first Las Vegas-style resort built in a major metropolitan area and includes an 18-story hotel. Greektown is spending $475 million on an expansion that includes a 20-story hotel. In all, the city will have about 1,200 more hotel rooms when Greektown's hotel opens.
Even MotorCity's smallest accommodations, costing about $300 a night and called Deluxe Rooms, echo Ilitch's vision. They're packed with amenities, including telephones that guests can use throughout the casino complex and TVs that multitask as thermostats, room service order takers and flight status checkers.
"We think it makes for a great weekend getaway," said Gregg Solomon, chief executive of Detroit Entertainment LLC, the entity that owns the casino.
Ilitch, the wife of Detroit Red Wings and Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, bought out her partners and became sole owner of MotorCity Casino in 2005. It's one of the nation's largest independently owned casino enterprises.
The casino had pushed back a Nov. 1 opening of the hotel because of delays in delivering furnishings and fixtures. Parts of the building still are under construction, and Solomon says Wednesday marks a "soft opening."
The interior of the hotel is designed to complement the "future retro" design of MotorCity's new casino space, which opened earlier this year. It includes a soaring lobby ensconced in marble and light maple wood that curves like the body of a car.
"You see all the elements of what you see in automobile architecture and design," said Randy Villareal, vice president of hotel operations.
In addition to 300-thread-count imported linens on its beds, the hotel boasts a pillow library that allows guests to choose from more than 15 types of pillows of varying size, firmness and fill.
The casino's premier restaurant, Iridescence, soon will move to the hotel's top floor, offering views of the Detroit skyline through 30- to 40-foot glass walls. MotorCity also is adding a lounge, a premium spa, conference and banquet space, a theater, new retail and dining and more parking.
