What began with this journey for me to spotlight Las Vegas’ newest 2014 accommodations, activities and adventures hit a jackpot in my understanding just what makes this very savvy desert town tick. Las Vegas has completely mastered the art of self-renewal and re-invention. As a result, the Las Vegas Strip of 2014 is a showcase of elevated luxury and excitement. For travel agents, this destination is a winner.
So I headed to visit the new hotel ‘kids on the block’ – The Cromwell, The SLS Las Vegas and The Delano Las Vegas – and found each offers a unique definition of Las Vegas luxury that is more wildly sexy, outrageously chic and elegantly upscale than anything ever established here. Rest assured these hotel newbies from the North Strip onward are sworn to keeping the town’s hush-hush promise, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”… only their discretion now comes in much more plush surroundings.
Let me define my terms:
– ‘The New Kids’: are the hotel super-children of these hospitality dynasties: The Cromwell, is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment; The SLS Las Vegas, is owned by the privately-held sbe/ Stockbridge under CEO and Chairman Sam Nazarian and The Delano Las Vegas, is a partnership between MGM Resorts International and Morgans Hotel Group.
– ‘The Block’ : refers to the four miles along South Las Vegas Boulevard where an impressive collection of casinos and resort properties comprise what is called the Las Vegas ‘Strip.’ 2013 Gaming revenues were US $6.5 B, per the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s Research Division.
– ‘North Strip’: is the first mile of South Las Vegas Boulevard. Here the remodeled and rebranded SLS Las Vegas resides on the spot of the iconic Sahara Hotel.
– ‘Las Vegas’: is a Spanish term that implies fertile green valleys, hence its translation as ‘the meadows.’ Very fertile land and abundant aquifers provided water and shelter right here in the northeastern Mojave Desert – formerly that green meadow so ripe for Las Vegas’ blossoming. That green still blossoms, albeit now counted within that aforementioned US $6.5B.
– ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’: … Enough said.
ACCOMMODATIONS
THE CROMWELL
The Cromwell is Las Vegas’ first, stand-alone luxury boutique hotel with 188 Parisian-themed rooms and suites. Situated on the bustling corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road, The Cromwell is the $185 M renovation of the former Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon.
Check-in at The Cromwell is discrete in its smartly appointed, quiet space. Were this not the Front Desk/ Reception Area, it would be an intimate library given its vintage and leather-bound book stacks. The Cromwell has tastefully positioned its cocktail lounge – Bound by Salvatore – adjacent, so that the same discretion continues with only the faintest of Vegas’ ubiquitous casino ‘cha-chings’ piercing the air. Here the unique libations of ‘mixologist’ Salvatore Calabrese reign, amid the warm gold and dark tones of Bound’s intimate bar design.
Room décor is sexy/whimsy with a soupçon – just a touch – of French flair. Most noticeably, philosophical French quotes and their English translations are woven into the carpet design and continue as bathroom tiles. I think they are provided to keep in perspective the wink/wink of ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.’ For me, The Cromwell’s stand-alone vanity with showgirl lighting wins my ‘Pièce de Résistance Award’.
Opened on May 21, 2014, The Cromwell was chosen by Emmy-award winning celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis as the site for her first-ever restaurant, Giada. When asked “Why Las Vegas?” Giada replied, “I live in LA. I am an entertainer, I come from the TV world, and I am also a chef. It is a great place to bring my Italian heritage and my food into one space.”
It is a bright and beautiful space that surrounds her beautiful Italian food. And Giada foresaw the potential of busting through the hotel’s former parking lot walls and creating the light-filled space whose windows now frame the ever-dancing Bellagio Fountains across the street. It is another gift she provides to those who experience her culinary brilliance. And to stay equally brilliant, order her signature lemon ricotta dessert cookies. As for staying slim, one need look upward and see the etched ceiling fixtures where Giada responds to many questions, primarily, how she remains slim. She advises, “Eat a little of everything, but not a lot of anything.”
Head 11 stories atop The Cromwell to Drai’s, the eponymous Beach Club, Night Club and After-Hours Club of nightlife impresario Victor Drai, distinguished as The Strip’s only rooftop pool and deck. Ten 35-foot natural palm trees line the deck’s perimeter. The experience is an oasis of calm by day, or a rockin’ rooftop retreat by night.
THE SLS LAS VEGAS
The SLS Las Vegas opened its resort and casino doors on August 23, 2014, and offers 1600 guest rooms and suites within three distinct towers. Situated where the iconic Sahara Hotel resided on the Strip’s north side, SLS properties committed $415 M in remodeling, infrastructure and construction costs that back their goal to bring their service, luxury and style – the SLS of the name – to the Las Vegas upper-end resorts and casinos.
The SLS Las Vegas is the third in a roster of domestic hotels that include The SLS Beverly Hills (Los Angeles) and The SLS South Beach (Miami), but the first in the group with a casino. Founder, Chairman and CEO Sam Nazarian states the properties are “carefully curated guest experiences.” He continues, “It feels good to be back in the former Sahara space, and we look forward to creating new, legendary memories as SLS Las Vegas.”
The 1600 guest rooms range from luxurious 325 sq. ft. rooms to opulent 3,300 sq. ft. penthouse suites within the three distinct towers: Story Tower, with its industrial loft design feel; World Tower, with sophisticated and playfully elegant rooms; and Lux Tower, with its plush French Boudoir styling. They reflect renowned French designer Philippe Starke’s ‘function-meets-pleasure’ aesthetic. His whimsical imprint is on every element of this vibrant new property. The playful monkey images appear in the Monkey Bar where simians in suits adorn the walls, as they do throughout the hotel in random settings.
José Andrés, the James Beard award-winning SLS Hotels’ Culinary Director, has established Bazaar Meat – a restaurant that is an ode to all kinds of meat from all kinds of animals, and Ku Noodle, while Katsuya Restaurant rules for Japanese cuisine and dynamite aesthetics. From Los Angeles to a new home in Las Vegas, The Griddle Café serves breakfast all day every day with enormous and delicious portions. Cleo serves contemporary Mediterranean cuisine; The Perq is open for grab and go coffees and snacks, and The SLS Buffet is a culinary treasure. GQ magazine named the Umami Burger its “Burger of the Year,” which is available at Umami Burger, Beer Garden & Sports Book on the main floor. At night, the Sayers Club showcases live performances. Foxtail is the hotel’s edgy and sophisticated nightclub. Life, situated in the former Sahara Theater, is a multi-level venue for premier and rising DJs. Its 20,000 sq. ft. space morphs into many theatrical formats. The property also hosts Los Angeles’ Fred Segal retail boutiques.
THE DELANO
In a gaming-driven town like Las Vegas, quite a statement is set when The Delano Las Vegas opened without a casino on September 2. Its core belief in the way-cool elegance and quiet sophistication it delivers as the new kid on the block is substantial enough. As such, the hotel casts its new Las Vegas footprint. Of course, guests’ gaming desires are attended to as they are directed to the adjacent Mandalay Bay’s casino, which also forms part of The Delano’s property. The Delano Las Vegas is a $200M makeover of the former Barbary Coast Hotel.
The Delano Las Vegas offers its non-smoking, all-suite hotel of 1100 guest suites, while it adds a touch of the iconic South Beach style to the Strip. Yet this is a hotel that embraces the surrounding desert landscape and integrates it exquisitely: I walked through its striking wood-slatted gate, stepped through the massive, cleaved boulder entry (a gift from the nearby Mojave Desert that features the sandstone striations found therein), and in the lobby I headed along a desert-toned carpeted runway. At the opposite end, a suspended sculpture comprised of staggered native rocks hides the Reception Area, a Delano touch where this necessary process is made unobtrusive. The Delano Las Vegas gets it.
Della’s Kitchen, the ‘historic farmhouse meets urban kitchen’ restaurant, resides on the Lobby Level. Here, farm-to-fork specialties are on offer and the experience for me was pure nostalgia given the varied menu that was served with attention and abundance. A visit to the eclectic lounge Franklin’s, where shimmering ceiling lights reminiscent of evening sky fireflies enhance its handcrafted cocktails, further embeds a sense of comfort and home. This is the Delano magic – a sense of place within quiet luxury. Not to omit that Celebrity-Chef Alain Ducasse’s first-ever, U.S. Rivea Restaurant will open this winter. His others reside in London and St. Tropez. French and Italian Riviera flavorings will be forthcoming, all served with a glorious 64th floor view.
The Delano offers one of the highest standard guest room square footages at 725 sq. ft., with all-whites and neutral décor. Each room is equipped with a spacious spa-style bath. Seductive South Beach underwater photography adorns the walls while the Delano’s white window shears open to reveal floor-to-ceiling windows that offer stunning Las Vegas views.
ACTIVITIES
THE LINQ and THE HIGH ROLLER
Urban renewal is an integral part of Las Vegas’ re-invention, and is no more clearly represented than through the trendy pedestrian walkway across Las Vegas Blvd. called The Linq, Caesar’s Entertainment developed The Linq at a cost of $550 M, to feature open-air retailing and al fresco dining. It is akin to New Orleans’ Fulton Street, Manhattan’s Meatpacking District and Miami’s South Beach.
Yet Las Vegas assuredly trumps these other cities as The Linq is anchored by the world’s tallest observation wheel, The High Roller. This true showpiece is a statement across the Las Vegas skyline as it soars gently to 550 ft. The High Roller is comprised of 28 Italian, hand-crafted, spherical glass cabins for 40 passengers each. One ride is one complete rotation and takes half an hour. It moves one foot per second for passenger loading. As such, The High Roller itself never stops. And the views never cease to amaze with the desert sun or moon highlighting this town’s activities.
THE SMITH CENTER for the PERFORMING ARTS
No one can say Las Vegas has overlooked an artistic center for great headliner performances. Just head to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and be part of the ‘other’ Vegas where cultural offerings vie for gaming time – and culture wins. Opened in March, 2012, and set across five acres, The Smith Center’s design is reminiscent of the Hoover Dam whose construction paralleled the meteoric rise of Las Vegas itself. It is home to The Nevada Ballet Theatre and The Las Vegas Philharmonic, though I saw the national tour launch of the riotous Broadway show ‘Kinky Boots’. Seating and acoustics are superb.
WYNN LAS VEGAS’ SINATRA and LE REVE
Here is a great evening for your clients: Start with dinner at the Wynn Las Vegas’ elegant Sinatra Restaurant. It is, certo, of course all Italian, and exceeds the Sinatra family’s very high standards. Within a soft, sophisticated and glass-enclosed space, Sinatra’s excellent classics arrive from Executive Chef Theo Schoenegger’s kitchen. I particularly love Italian cuisine when the melodic phrasing of ‘Ole Blue Eyes himself croons in the background. E molto bello, questo!
Afterwards, I headed to the Wynn Las Vegas’ show Le Rêve, an aerial and underwater stunner of an acrobatic show that features compelling choreography and artistic athleticism. A one million gallon pool of water highlights the artistry of dance, storytelling, dramatic lighting and thrilling dives performed off a 60 ft. diving platform. With its 93 performers, impressive costuming and captivating feats of strength and agility, I was transported to a dream world of adventure and fantasy, hence the title. Le Rêve has been presented since 2005, though it is newly staged every six months. Prices range from $124 – $223, with VIP amenities available.
DOWNTOWN RENEWAL
Zappo’s former CEO and Las Vegas resident Tony Hsieh is the pivotal player behind the urban renewal that is the Downtown Project. Allocations of $350M are aiding this revitalization project that includes Fremont Street and environs. The area provides an experience of old Las Vegas from the 1950s and forward, and is a entertaining detour from the Strip’s activities.
The Downtown Container Park is an open-air shopping venue, built from 43 repurposed shipping containers. It is a conglomerate of fun stores with a twist towards the quirky side of Las Vegas.
ADVENTURES
RED ROCK CASINO, RESORT and SPA
To breath in the desert air and vistas away from the Vegas Strip, I headed to Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa, some ten miles from the neon lights, and surrounded by the Red Rock Mountains in the town of Summerlin. A grand feeling arrives when the sweeping contemporary design of this casino arises amid the majestic Red Rocks. The resort’s mid-century desert contemporary architecture and design reigns across 70 acres, while a pallet of desert colors define the interiors. The Red Rock features an elegant feel with natural stones simply everywhere: walls are embedded with miles of onyx and chandeliers feature over 3 million pieces of crystal.
True to Las Vegas’ spirit of reinvention, Red Rock is in the midst of a $35M upgrade to include a Restaurant Row with four new restaurants, internal resort upgrades for the seven penthouse-level suites, and new design for The Spa and Salon. This property is Station Casino’s the 16th within its collection of entertainment destinations. It was developed primarily for locals. The Red Rock Resort, however, hosts many conventions and private guests who seek the gorgeous landscape quiet in preference to Las Vegas’ on-going urban pulse. The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is available for downtime in Mother Nature.
RED ROCK ADVENTURE TOURS
And the Red Rock area is exactly where I was headed when I became ‘casino-d’ out. I engaged the off-road Jeep tour company Las Vegas Rock Crawlers, and headed to what they describe as “Jeep Tours That Rock Las Vegas.” I could choose among four awesome trails, and loaded into some pretty tall Jeeps outfitted with 35- and 37-inch tires. Cool? You bet.
This rock and desert experience is perfect for clients who are on the fence for adventure. It is a journey into the wilderness with very savvy drivers, and explores the path to discover what desert wildlife might manifest. To stop and assess the magnificence of this unique landscape, and to evaluate the necessary in a spot of silence is the gift my Rock Crawler guide bestowed. He also noted a lone hawk in the sky who circled in magnificent flight.
This is most definitely not an available sight in a casino, but just a handful of miles away in Red Rock, it defines the term so easily used these days: it was truly, ‘awesome.’
The Cromwell: www.thecromwell.com, 10% off best available rate.
The Delano Las Vegas: www. delanolasvegas.com; 10% off rack.
Red Rock Resort: www.redrock.sclv.com, 10% off rack rate.
The SLS Las Vegas: www.slshotels.com/lasvegas/, 30% off best available rate.