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6 of the Largest Hotels in the World

By Bradley O'Neill
Read time: 5 minutes

The concept of providing lodging for travelers can be traced back to early civilizations including ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. While these early examples were often simple inns offering food and rest to merchants on trade routes, the hotel industry has come a long way since. Some properties around the globe now have guest capacities similar to the populations of villages and small towns. From the Las Vegas Strip to Macau and Mecca, these are six of the biggest hotels in the world today by number of guest rooms.

Wynn and Encore Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nevada

The Encore and Wynn hotel towers on the Las Vegas Strip
Credit: AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/ GC Images via Getty Images 

Number of rooms: 4,750

These two sister properties form one massive, upscale resort complex in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Wynn Las Vegas features 2,716 guest rooms and suites spread over a 45-floor tower, while Encore Las Vegas boasts 2,034 suites across its 48 floors, for a total of 4,750 rooms. Accommodations range from generously sized 640-square-foot standard rooms to a 5,829-square-foot duplex apartment with three bedrooms and separate billiard and exercise rooms. All rooms come with floor-to-ceiling windows affording epic views over Las Vegas.

The two resort towers are connected via a pedestrian esplanade, giving guests access to a plethora of amenities. There are more than 20 fine and casual dining establishments, eight bars and lounges, and entertainment options such as big-name headliners, stand-up comedy, and international DJs. The casino has 1,800 slot machines, while the shops include a roster of luxury accessory, clothing, and jewelry brands. 

The Londoner Macao – Macau

The Londoner hotel complex in Macau
Credit: Macau/ Alamy Stock Photo

Number of rooms: 6,000

Set on the neon-lit Cotai Strip, the Londoner Macao is a unique collection of five upscale hotel brands, all in one single location in this gambling mecca that goes by the nickname “the Las Vegas of Asia.” Together, these hotels have more than 6,000 rooms, all of which are designed to evoke the spirit of the Victorian era and reflect the renowned hospitality standards of London.

Notable accommodations include the 14 bespoke Suites by David Beckham at the Londoner Hotel, along with rooms inspired by London’s prestigious Mayfair district at the Londoner Grand. With 4,001 rooms, the Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel is the largest individual property of the resort’s five connected hotels.

The Londoner’s facade is modeled on the Palace of Westminster, while the gardens are inspired by the Kensington Palace royal residence. Every evening, the London Light and Sound Spectacular turns the outside of the building into a multimedia show accompanied by a British music soundtrack.

Abraj Al Bait – Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Aerial view of Abraj Al Bait and surrounding cityscape of Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Credit: hasan hatrash/ Alamy Stock Photo

Number of rooms: 6,000

Overlooking Islam’s holiest city, Abraj Al Bait (The Clock Towers) is a complex of towers that house a collection of seven hotels, with a combined total of more than 6,000 rooms. It’s part of the King Abdulaziz Endowment Project, a plan to modernize Mecca and provide accommodation for the millions of pilgrims who visit annually for Hajj and Umrah. The hotels blend luxurious contemporary designs with Islamic heritage and also feature shopping centers, restaurants, and prayer rooms. 

The most notable of the hotels is the Makkah Clock Tower Hotel. Part of the Fairmont brand, it features 1,650 rooms and suites spread throughout 76 floors of a colossal, 1,972-foot-tall tower designed in the art deco style. Many of the rooms have views over the Great Mosque and Kaaba. The hotel also boasts one of the world’s tallest observation decks and the largest clock faces. The viewing deck is accessible via the Clock Tower Museum, a four-floor museum with science and cosmology exhibits.

MGM Grand Resort – Las Vegas, Nevada

MGM Grand Resort on Las Vegas Boulevard
Credit: AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/ GC Images via Getty Images 

Number of rooms: 6,852

An icon of the Las Vegas Strip, the MGM Grand Resort boasts a staggering number of rooms that cater to all types of visitors. The Stay Well collection includes a range of one- and two-bedroom suites designed with relaxation and rejuvenation in mind, featuring state-of-the-art wellness technologies from Delos and Deepak Chopra. Meanwhile, the Skylofts are one-, two-, and three-bedroom lofts that feature incredible views, 24-hour butler service, and luxurious amenities such as Bvlgari bath items. 

Besides the luxurious rooms, the resort is renowned for its high-caliber entertainment. Cirque du Soleil and David Copperfield are resident performers, and the MGM Grand Garden Arena regularly hosts big-ticket music and sports events. The Grand Pool Complex covers 6.5 acres, made up of four pools, three whirlpools, waterfalls, and a lazy river. There are over 20 dining options ranging from buffets to celebrity chef restaurants. 

The Venetian Resort – Las Vegas, Nevada

Shops and replica Venice canal at the Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada
Credit: LPETTET/ iStock Unreleased via Getty Images 

Number of rooms: 7,117

Also located in Sin City, the Venetian Resort is not only the largest hotel in Las Vegas but also the biggest hotel complex in the United States. Each of the 7,117 elegant suites offers a private living area and an opulent Italian-marble bathroom. Even the smallest rooms (which measure from 650 to 720 square feet) are considerably larger than the average Las Vegas room. The accommodations are split between two opulent towers. The Venetian, inspired by an Italian piazza, features a spectacular colonnade and collection of frescoes and sculptures, while its connected sister property, the Palazzo, exudes effortless Italian grandeur.

At the Venetian, guests can take gondola rides that evoke life in Venice, see cutting-edge concerts at the Sphere, and experience a year-round winter wonderland at the minus5° Ice Experience. Wolfgang Puck and Tetsuya Wakuda are among the celebrity chefs who preside over the resort’s many restaurants. There are also two pools, each with cabanas and daybeds, and upscale boutiques at the Grand Canal Shoppes. 

First World Hotel – Genting Highlands, Malaysia

Pool area and colorful hotel towers at First World Hotel in Malaysia
Credit: Azad Azahar Adnan/ Moment Open via Getty Images 

Number of rooms: 7,351

Located high up in the Titiwangsa Mountains in central-western Malaysia, the First World Hotel is the world’s largest hotel by number of rooms. Its 7,351 guest rooms occupy three brightly colored towers, which are the dominant feature of the Las Vegas-style Resorts World Genting. Rooms at this hotel are designed to cater to all budgets and vary in size from 180 to 430 square feet. This is one of nine hotels within the resort, which have a combined total of more than 10,000 rooms and suites. 

Visitors are drawn to the resort for its access to a wealth of entertainment attractions. A cable car takes passengers up to a nearby mountain peak and the scenic Chin Swee Caves Temple. Guests can also take advantage of an 18-hole golf course, nature trails inside a tropical rainforest, three shopping malls, and five amusement centers. Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park features 20 family-friendly and thrill rides, while Ripley’s Adventureland has everything from a dinosaur research center to a zipline and go-karting. 

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