Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Unveils The New MGM Tower And Vista Suites

New Vista Suite Living Room at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa's MGM Tower

"These rooms are really nice."

While this comment—which came from my travel companion, who happens to be a consultant for hospitality brands—wouldn't be seen as out of the ordinary at a top tier hotel, design isn't something you typically sing the praises of in Atlantic City.

That's only because you haven't had the pleasure of visiting Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa recently. To commemorate a landmark 20th anniversary this year, the property that helped usher in a new type of luxury and hospitality to Atlantic City two decades ago recently invested $55 million to refresh and rebrand The Water Club as MGM Tower.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa's MGM Tower

You’ll now be welcomed with a completely new aesthetic, thanks to the joint efforts of MGM Resorts International Design Group and acclaimed interior design firm RVD Associates, who’ve also worked on the iconic Breakers Hotel and Tucson's wellness retreat Canyon Ranch. Taking cues from the property's natural surroundings, all of MGM Tower's accommodations now sport a bright and crisp look with a decidedly coastal feel.

While breathtaking views of nature are still the focalpoint—west-facing rooms overlook grassy salt marshes, a critical habitat for local wildlife, while east-facing rooms offer soul-soothing sunsets of the Atlantic Ocean—all the design elements speak to MGM Tower's unique setting. You’ll experience this even before you unlock your door, as the hallways on each floor are carpeted with an abstract print reminiscent of rippling, deep ocean water. Once inside your room, you’ll find a calming palette of blue and white, contemporary low-slung furnishings for ease and comfort, another abstract print carpet—this one mirrors a shifting ocean tide—and punchy, colorful resin art.

MGM tower's crown jewels, however, are the sparkling Vista Suites. There's only 40 of them, and they’re situated in the corners of each floor for maximum peace and privacy. While they share the same vibe as the guestooms, there's more of everything else. You’ll enjoy even more expansive and open views. There's a separate living room with a connecting half bath, lounging area with a television, and versatile table that can be used for meals and work. (The outlets are smartly and discreetly positioned on the floor.)

Vista Suite Bedroom at MGM Tower

The bedrooms are simply appointed with everything you need for a proper night's rest—a must in a city where socializing takes top billing—while the spa-like bathrooms are spacious with gleaming marble finishes and more resin art. An especially thoughtful touch is the addition of Room Valet visual-alert panels, to make accommodations safer for guests with hearing disabilities.

Aside from the MGM tower, the Borgata experience, including world-class gaming, dining, and wellness, has thankfully remained unchanged. I discovered this during a 50-minute massage at Spa Toccare. It was so deeply therapeutic I was convinced that my therapist Megan had accidentally gone over our scheduled time. (She hadn't.) When I asked if her if she was new to Borgata, she politely laughed and said she’d been there for seven years—proving the best hotels know when it's time to update certain things, while keeping what longtime guests have always loved.