LAS VEGAS
The Flamingo Las Vegas celebrated the completion of a $6.8 million refurbishment of its meeting space on Monday, July 31, with an aptly colored pink ribbon cutting ceremony.
Taking their scissors to the ribbon for the ceremonial affair were John Schreiber, senior director of business sales, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA); Eileen Moore, regional president for The Cromwell Hotel Las Vegas, The LINQ Hotel & Casino and Flamingo Las Vega—all Caesars Entertainment properties; and Michael Hartman, executive director of catering, conventions and events for the Flamingo.
“We turned 70 this past year and we were so excited to spend this 70th anniversary returning and refurbishing the legendary and iconic Flamingo to its status,” Moore told the press in attendance. “The rest of the Las Vegas strip was built around us and we really pay tribute to our rich heritage.”
Schreiber offered a brief synopsis of the Flamingo’s illustrious past.
“At the cost of nearly $6 million, and billed as the world’s most luxurious hotel, people thought Bugsy Siegel was crazy for building his property nearly seven miles from downtown Las Vegas in 1946,” he said. “Siegel named his resort after his girlfriend Virginia Hill who loved to gamble here in the U.S. and in Mexico. Dealers in Mexico began calling her the flamingo because she had red hair and long legs.”
Moore then stepped in with additional commentary.
“It’s interesting that John pointed out the original Flamingo spent $6 million since we just spent $6.8 million on this refurbishment and that’s really just the first step in kicking off an additional $90 million in hotel refurbishments,” he said. “Our plan is to return [The Flamingo] to its legendary and iconic status.”
The property offers approximately 73,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 22,000-square-foot ballroom now furnished with LED technology. During a press tour of the new meeting area, Hartman said the space was stripped down to the studs as the Flamingo replaced the walls, carpeting and lighting.
The new pink patterned carpet is an ode to the Flamingo’s history.
As Moore noted, Caesars Entertainment will also be launching a $90 million complete renovation of the Flamingo’s 1,270 guest rooms. The press was given a preview of a prototype room with a pink theme.
The renovation will begin in late August 2017, with completion slated for April 2018. Floors will reopen as the new rooms come online, with the first set of room completions expected by November.
The Flamingo is also home to a 15-acre pool and wildlife habitat that includes actual flamingos.
“In recent times our destination has made great strides in identifying the meetings industry as a tremendous growth opportunity,” Schreiber said during the ribbon cutting event. “Caesars Entertainment has been a crucial partner in making a significant investment in the meetings and convention segments with expansions at many of its properties and the redesign of its meeting space here at the Flamingo.
"The LVCVA is also committed to the convention visitor, recently getting final approval for a $1.4 billion expansion and renovation project of the Las Vegas convention center," he continued.
“We look forward to working together at this time of growth.”
Schreiber noted that Las Vegas completed another record-breaking year in terms of visitors, after welcoming 42.9 million visitors in 2016 of which an all-time high of 6.3 million were business travelers.
