Reno
- In the first quarter of 2013, the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino (800.501.2561; www.grandsierraresort.com) will finish a $25 million renovation of its 1,865 guest rooms and suites. Public areas are also receiving a facelift that will give the hallways, lobby, casino floor, convention center, sports book, health club, spa and Charlie Palmer Lounge a lighter look and feel. The Grand Sierra’s new Mexican restaurant, Cantina, will feature a selection of 115 tequilas, while its new ultra lounge and bar will be called WET.
- The Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel reopened as the CommRow (775.398.5400; www.commrow.com), a primarily eating, drinking and entertainment complex, with 300 to 350 guest rooms scheduled to open for business in the second quarter of 2013. In addition to the Lucky Lounge, Martini Bar and V15 lounges, Orale tequileria and three restaurants, CommRow features the world’s tallest outdoor climbing wall at 164 feet, plus a 7,000-square-foot indoor bouldering park. Other facilities include a 700-person live-music venue and a more intimate cabaret.
- In June 2011, the 214-room boutique Siena Hotel Spa Casino (877.743.6233; www.sienareno.com) reopened after successfully emerging from bankruptcy. The riverside property offers five restaurants, 11,000 square feet of meeting space and a luxury spa offering massages, facials, body wraps and sauna retreats.
Tahoe
- In June 2012, the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino (775.832.1234; www.hyatt.com) in Incline Village wrapped up thorough renovations of its 422 guest rooms, converting them to a cozier, lodge-type feel and introducing the Grand Bed and iHome stereos with iPod docking stations. The property also renovated some of its public areas.