Las Vegas
- MGM Resorts International is collaborating on another full-blown overhaul of one part of the Las Vegas Strip, creating a development surrounding the world-class 20,000-seat arena under construction in partnership with AEG. The front facades of the New York-New York and Monte Carlo properties will be transformed into an outdoor plaza experience, segueing into a park with outdoor dining pavilions, all of which will lead to the new arena. New anchor tenants will include Hershey’s Chocolate World, Sambalatte and Double Barrel, a casual roadhouse restaurant and bar concept.
- Robert DeNiro and Chef Nobu Matsuhisa rebranded the Caesars Centurion Tower as the luxury Nobu Hotel Caesar’s Palace, which opened earlier this year. Named by CNN as the hottest hotel of 2013, the Nobu features exclusive Filo Doro linens with down duvets and pillows, 55-inch, high-definition TVs, Natura Bisse designer toiletries and in-room Nobu Spa treatments.
- This month, the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas will open the Chelsea, a 3,000-seat theater. The grand opening performance on Dec. 29 will be a concert by Bruno Mars. The 40,000-square-foot, two-level venue promises an urbane and eclectic array of ideas for groups.
- In a rebrand of THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, the Delano Las Vegas is slated to open in fall 2014 with 36 meeting spaces featuring more than 21,000 square feet of flexible space. Additional components will include 1,100 guest rooms and suites, a spa, gym facilities, Mix restaurant, and high-energy nightlife and daytime options.
- The Downtown Grand Hotel Las Vegas opened in October on the site of the former Lady Luck. The property features 650 completely remodeled guest rooms, restaurants, bars and a third-floor rooftop space with a capacity for 1,500 people.
- The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino now offers a zipline that connects the two towers of the property. From the rooftop patio on the 50th floor of the Masquerade Tower, guests can take a one-minute ride to the Ipanema Tower at speeds of 33 miles per hour, 500 feet above ground, with a complete 360-degree panoramic view of the Las Vegas Strip. Once across, riders are then pulled in reverse, going backward to the Masquerade Tower. Tickets start at $25.
- The High Roller, billed as the world’s largest Ferris wheel at 550 feet tall, is set to open in a few months as part of The LINQ, a new urban development from Caesars Entertainment. The open-air retail, dining and entertainment district will feature more than 300,000 square feet of leasable space between the Quad and Flamingo casinos. The High Roller itself will surpass equivalent wheels in London, Singapore and China to become the world’s largest. Each of the 28 glass-enclosed cabins, accommodating up to 40 people, will be available for group rentals. The complete ride, one full revolution of the wheel, will take 30 minutes.
Laughlin
- The Laughlin Events Center is expected to open in February. Located west of the Laughlin Outlet Mall, it will accommodate up to 21,000 people and offer state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, high-quality seating and VIP skyboxes. In addition to hosting concerts, rodeos, sporting events and festivals, owner and operator Marmell Gaming has entered into a partnership with Laughlin Tourism to host future citywide events in the arena.
- Golden Nugget Laughlin recently unveiled the Gold Rush Villa, set on the banks of the Colorado River with a private gated entrance. Amenities include high-definition TVs, an iPad-controlled, state-of-the-art stereo system, an outdoor patio area with a gas fire pit, laundry facilities, a private spa and a garage.
Reno
- The Grand Sierra Resort and Casino completed several components of a renovation last year, with more overhauls that continued into 2013. The 25,000-square-foot WET Ultralounge opened earlier this year, becoming one of Reno’s hot new nightspots. Upcoming renovations will include a new front entrance with a huge digital panoramic LCD wall showcasing local landscapes of the Reno-Tahoe area, a new hotel check-in, an exclusive VIP lounge for Legend and Elite GSRewards members, and new action cooking stations at Elements Buffet.
- Atlantis Casino Resort recently completed a $100 million expansion and implemented an extensive new food waste management program. The property offers more than 50,000 square feet of meeting space.