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Luxor
Fourteen years ago, the legendary Bill Bennett and Circus Circus built the Luxor as their higher end, yet still family-friendly property. "The pyramid structure remains the most unique, iconic building on the Strip, but the inside never lived up to the promise of the exterior," says current Luxor president Felix Rappaport. So when MGM Mirage took over the property in 2005, the hotel company decided it was time for a makeover with a slew of high-end venues with designs from A-List designers.
New additions include Aurora, an inviting 157-seat lobby lounge that brings the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, to life with a dynamic landscape designed by Japanese design firm Superpotato; center bar Liquidity, where Superpotato here plays with the idea of water draping three separate lounge areas in water features; and Kerry Simon's newest restaurant, CatHouse, designed by local firm Cagley & Tenner to be a modern interpretation of a 19th century French bordello, with low-light chandeliers, tufted fabric walls, and an ultra lounge done predominantly in red with elevated platforms that feature sexy performers modeling CatHouse's own line of lingerie.
MGM also brought in Pure Management to open a trio of spaces: the famed LA hotspot LAX Nightclub (left), ultra-exclusive nightspot Noir Bar, and 10,000-square-foot restaurant Company American Bistro. Housed in the RA nightclub's former space, West Hollywood-based designer Thomas Schoos created an edgy, almost goth-inspired design for LAX. "It’s a sexy, vivacious, curvy nightclub," Schoos says, who also designed the adjacent casino floor bar and lounge Flight. "There are warm brown, beige, and bronze tones, wrought iron railings, crystal chandeliers, and catwalks." Meanwhile, New York City-based AvroKO created "a high-end mountain sportsman's modern retreat" for Company (lower right), with a stone entry ramp flanked by aspen trees and giant candles; a wall of stone and reclaimed skis that stands in front of slick steel paneling in the dining room; and a "fireside" lounge with black leather seating and fur pillows and ottomans. 
Still to come: Schoos' water themed redesign of the casino floor as well as existing Luxor Steakhouse—deep chocolate brown hues, rich dark leather, and animal prints will give the old steakhouse a new safari vibe. And last but not least, all guestrooms will get a facelift in 2009.
Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino
After 13 years of planning, development, and anticipation, Las Vegas Sands' Venetian-Palazzo saga has finally culminated into the world's largest hotel and casino. What's more? The new 50-story, 3,000-suite Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino (left) recently achieved Silver LEED status for its green initiatives during construction and operation, making it the largest green building in the world.
The impressive new build was conceptualized and designed by Dallas-based Wilson Associates and HKS, to conjure the charm of neo-classical architecture, with monumental bronze-case columns, double-story fountains and waterfalls, imported marble, and polished embossed plaster wall finishes. In the lobby, an 81-foot glass dome sets the stage for wow factor, while the gaming floor features a dramatic barrel vaulted, backlit glass trellis extending approximately 170 feet across the casino. Suites range in size from 655 to 735 square feet and fuse classical design themes with contemporary elements, such as backlit marble top sideboards, contemporary lighting, and state-of-the-art technology. Sands also brought in the best of the best when it came to dining, entertainment, and retail, from CUT by Wolfgang Puck (designed by ABA Avery Brooks & Associates) and Stephen Hanson's Dos Caminos (by the Rockwell Group) to Barneys New York (by John-Paul Philippe and Jeffrey Hutchison & Associates) and Jay Z's 40/40 Club (by New York City designer Martin Vahtra). Next up: a SushiSamba, and a new restaurant-lounge from the owners of TAO with a design by award-winning firm AvroKO.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
With its recent purchase of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Morgans Hotel Group (MHG) is making a few changes—and expansions. The hotel group brought in Klai Juba Architects and Zeff Design to create approximately 950 new guestrooms, including an all-suite 15-story tower with roughly 60,000 square feet of meeting and convention space and 35,000 square feet of casino space. At the same time, the hotel's famous pool is getting a facelift, a bigger and better Joint live entertainment venue is underway, a few new restaurant and bars (including the already opened Ago restaurant and the soon-to-open nightspot Wasted Space from action sports superstar Carey Hart with a tattoo-influenced design from Zeff), 30,000 square feet of retail space, and spa and health club are being added. And everything that is old is new again—all existing suites and common areas will also be renovated. When all said and done, the Hard Rock will have roughly 1,500 rooms. All of this in just two years: renovations of the existing building started last year and are nearing completion, while the expansion is set to unveil in mid-2009. "The expansion project will increase the size and scale of the Hard Rock and take the property to a new level of sophistication," says Ed Scheetz, President and CEO of MHG.
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Two renowned restaurants—Strip House and KOI—have opened in the new Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, a Starwood Hotel (formerly the Aladdin Resort & Casino). Designed by David Rockwell, the 10,000-square-foot, 250-seat restaurant redefines the traditional steakhouse with a sexy mix of rosy lighting and wallcoverings with black-and-white photographs of scantily dressed women from the original 1900s Studio Manasse collection; alongside, 12 differently sized "living burlesque photos," which are actually LCD screens in elaborate wood frames, display different brief movements of the women in the photographs. And faithful to the restaurant's signature burlesque theme, a room off the main dining room features a table that rotates around a brass stripper-like pole that extends to the ceiling.
Meanwhile, the decor for KOI (right) "features a seductive harmony of Asian design elements, combining an exotic Eastern aura with a genuine sense of Hollywood energy and style," explains KOI co-owner Nick Haque of his fourth installment. Massive handcarved Indonesian doors flanked by massive copper temple bells lead into a massive space filled with gilded Buddhas straight from Thailand, double-stacked columns of spinning handcarved Tibetan "prayer wheels," an elliptical bar clad in narrow tiles of Indonesian onyx and marble, banquettes carved into a large stone sculpture, and large crystalline blocks of Moroccan selenite filled with candles. And drawing inspiration not only from the restaurant's original home (the restaurant was first launched in Los Angeles) but also its new glitzy Strip location, the in-house designers of the KOI Group added quite a few glamorous touches—velvet curtains, gold pebble-like wallpaper, a sleek sushi bar done in walnut inlaid with onyx, gold leather banquettes, and mirror-topped oval tables—throughout the space's lounge and multiple dining areas that overlook the casino floor.
Also new—besides the $250 million renovation of the lobby, casino floor, spa, and 2,600 movie-themed rooms—are nightclub Prive and intimate lounge Living Room, from the Opium Group, one of Miami's hottest nightlife operators (this is their debut venues in Vegas).
Diablo’s Cantina and the Bank
The Light Group (Light, Jet, Fix, and Stack) is expanding its empire. Last fall, the nightlife company opened Diablo's Cantina in the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino. (It marks the beginning of the Monte Carlo transformation.) True to the Light Group's style, the 10,000-square-foot restaurant will have a lively, inviting atmosphere thanks to its cantina-inspired decor. Designed by Craig Hardman and Klai Juba Architects, the space mixes Old World touches with modern technology. Vibrant colors, handpainted murals, and rustic tile and furniture mingle with 10 large plasma screens throughout the two-level space. The first floor features the main dining room and massive wood bar, while upstairs, live music and DJs perform in the open-air center bar area and stage.
And on New Year's Eve, the Light Group raised the bar once again, unveiling the redesign (and new name) of its namesake nightclub, Light in the Bellagio. Now dubbed the Bank (left), the 8,000-square-foot multi-tiered space dons a detailed, black and gold, glamorous decor by New York City-based ICRAVE. Highlights include an entrance foyer adorned with bottles of Cristal stacked floor-to-ceiling on each wall; reflective etched-glass railing surrounding the dance floor, located at the lowest level of the club; crystal beaded swing-like chandeliers; black banquettes and stools, lined with gold piping; a gold link design that covers the club's series of gold railing staircases, seating and DJ areas, and the back of both bars; and the floral print design that is etched into the mezzanine’s glass railing and lit by LEDs.
The Light Group isn't stopping there. Opening this month is Brand Steakhouse in the Monte Carlo with a rich design by Los Angeles based-Graft. The space is decked out with a palette of earthy colors, luxe materials, low-level walls, glass sliders, bronze mesh curtains, low-level couch seating, a dramatically lit ceiling canopy made of numerous panels wrapped in cowhide, and five elevated plasma TV platforms. And in June, Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar will debut in the Bellagio with an intimate, stone and wood decor from New York City-based Rockwell Group. And both Brand and Yellowtail will be eco-friendly, part of the Light Group's dedication to sustainable practices.
Palms Place
In February, the Maloof brothers expanded their Las Vegas empire with the 47-story Palms Place Hotel Condo Spa. Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, the resort comes complete with two-story Drift Spa with Sin City's first-ever hammam, 50,000 square-foot pool and spa enclave (decked out with lavish cabanas and outdoor fireplace), Rojo Lounge, and a soon-to-open Kerry Simon restaurant called Simon at Palms Place where retractable glass walls will provide stunning views of the pool. Throughout, Yabu Pushelberg played on themes of classic modernism and modern Vegas, creating a sexy environment that appealed to the younger clientele. For instance, Rojo features walls of red-colored mirrors and raised platforms at each end with low lounge seating, while upstairs, studio and one-bedroom suites (above right) are decked out in ebony wood walls, stone-covered bathrooms, a sunset-inspired color palette, and private balconies overlooking the Las Vegas Strip and impressive Spring Mountains. And to give guests the full Palms experience, the SkyTube(SM), an elevated, enclosed moving walkway, joins Palms Place with the original Palms locations.
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What's New in Vegas
May 15, 2008Luxor
Fourteen years ago, the legendary Bill Bennett and Circus Circus built the Luxor as their higher end, yet still family-friendly property. "The pyramid structure remains the most unique, iconic building on the Strip, but the inside never lived up to the promise of the exterior," says current Luxor president Felix Rappaport. So when MGM Mirage took over the property in 2005, the hotel company decided it was time for a makeover with a slew of high-end venues with designs from A-List designers.
New additions include Aurora, an inviting 157-seat lobby lounge that brings the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, to life with a dynamic landscape designed by Japanese design firm Superpotato; center bar Liquidity, where Superpotato here plays with the idea of water draping three separate lounge areas in water features; and Kerry Simon's newest restaurant, CatHouse, designed by local firm Cagley & Tenner to be a modern interpretation of a 19th century French bordello, with low-light chandeliers, tufted fabric walls, and an ultra lounge done predominantly in red with elevated platforms that feature sexy performers modeling CatHouse's own line of lingerie.
MGM also brought in Pure Management to open a trio of spaces: the famed LA hotspot LAX Nightclub (left), ultra-exclusive nightspot Noir Bar, and 10,000-square-foot restaurant Company American Bistro. Housed in the RA nightclub's former space, West Hollywood-based designer Thomas Schoos created an edgy, almost goth-inspired design for LAX. "It’s a sexy, vivacious, curvy nightclub," Schoos says, who also designed the adjacent casino floor bar and lounge Flight. "There are warm brown, beige, and bronze tones, wrought iron railings, crystal chandeliers, and catwalks." Meanwhile, New York City-based AvroKO created "a high-end mountain sportsman's modern retreat" for Company (lower right), with a stone entry ramp flanked by aspen trees and giant candles; a wall of stone and reclaimed skis that stands in front of slick steel paneling in the dining room; and a "fireside" lounge with black leather seating and fur pillows and ottomans. Still to come: Schoos' water themed redesign of the casino floor as well as existing Luxor Steakhouse—deep chocolate brown hues, rich dark leather, and animal prints will give the old steakhouse a new safari vibe. And last but not least, all guestrooms will get a facelift in 2009.
Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino
After 13 years of planning, development, and anticipation, Las Vegas Sands' Venetian-Palazzo saga has finally culminated into the world's largest hotel and casino. What's more? The new 50-story, 3,000-suite Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino (left) recently achieved Silver LEED status for its green initiatives during construction and operation, making it the largest green building in the world.
The impressive new build was conceptualized and designed by Dallas-based Wilson Associates and HKS, to conjure the charm of neo-classical architecture, with monumental bronze-case columns, double-story fountains and waterfalls, imported marble, and polished embossed plaster wall finishes. In the lobby, an 81-foot glass dome sets the stage for wow factor, while the gaming floor features a dramatic barrel vaulted, backlit glass trellis extending approximately 170 feet across the casino. Suites range in size from 655 to 735 square feet and fuse classical design themes with contemporary elements, such as backlit marble top sideboards, contemporary lighting, and state-of-the-art technology. Sands also brought in the best of the best when it came to dining, entertainment, and retail, from CUT by Wolfgang Puck (designed by ABA Avery Brooks & Associates) and Stephen Hanson's Dos Caminos (by the Rockwell Group) to Barneys New York (by John-Paul Philippe and Jeffrey Hutchison & Associates) and Jay Z's 40/40 Club (by New York City designer Martin Vahtra). Next up: a SushiSamba, and a new restaurant-lounge from the owners of TAO with a design by award-winning firm AvroKO.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
With its recent purchase of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Morgans Hotel Group (MHG) is making a few changes—and expansions. The hotel group brought in Klai Juba Architects and Zeff Design to create approximately 950 new guestrooms, including an all-suite 15-story tower with roughly 60,000 square feet of meeting and convention space and 35,000 square feet of casino space. At the same time, the hotel's famous pool is getting a facelift, a bigger and better Joint live entertainment venue is underway, a few new restaurant and bars (including the already opened Ago restaurant and the soon-to-open nightspot Wasted Space from action sports superstar Carey Hart with a tattoo-influenced design from Zeff), 30,000 square feet of retail space, and spa and health club are being added. And everything that is old is new again—all existing suites and common areas will also be renovated. When all said and done, the Hard Rock will have roughly 1,500 rooms. All of this in just two years: renovations of the existing building started last year and are nearing completion, while the expansion is set to unveil in mid-2009. "The expansion project will increase the size and scale of the Hard Rock and take the property to a new level of sophistication," says Ed Scheetz, President and CEO of MHG.
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Two renowned restaurants—Strip House and KOI—have opened in the new Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, a Starwood Hotel (formerly the Aladdin Resort & Casino). Designed by David Rockwell, the 10,000-square-foot, 250-seat restaurant redefines the traditional steakhouse with a sexy mix of rosy lighting and wallcoverings with black-and-white photographs of scantily dressed women from the original 1900s Studio Manasse collection; alongside, 12 differently sized "living burlesque photos," which are actually LCD screens in elaborate wood frames, display different brief movements of the women in the photographs. And faithful to the restaurant's signature burlesque theme, a room off the main dining room features a table that rotates around a brass stripper-like pole that extends to the ceiling.
Meanwhile, the decor for KOI (right) "features a seductive harmony of Asian design elements, combining an exotic Eastern aura with a genuine sense of Hollywood energy and style," explains KOI co-owner Nick Haque of his fourth installment. Massive handcarved Indonesian doors flanked by massive copper temple bells lead into a massive space filled with gilded Buddhas straight from Thailand, double-stacked columns of spinning handcarved Tibetan "prayer wheels," an elliptical bar clad in narrow tiles of Indonesian onyx and marble, banquettes carved into a large stone sculpture, and large crystalline blocks of Moroccan selenite filled with candles. And drawing inspiration not only from the restaurant's original home (the restaurant was first launched in Los Angeles) but also its new glitzy Strip location, the in-house designers of the KOI Group added quite a few glamorous touches—velvet curtains, gold pebble-like wallpaper, a sleek sushi bar done in walnut inlaid with onyx, gold leather banquettes, and mirror-topped oval tables—throughout the space's lounge and multiple dining areas that overlook the casino floor. Also new—besides the $250 million renovation of the lobby, casino floor, spa, and 2,600 movie-themed rooms—are nightclub Prive and intimate lounge Living Room, from the Opium Group, one of Miami's hottest nightlife operators (this is their debut venues in Vegas).
Diablo’s Cantina and the Bank
The Light Group (Light, Jet, Fix, and Stack) is expanding its empire. Last fall, the nightlife company opened Diablo's Cantina in the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino. (It marks the beginning of the Monte Carlo transformation.) True to the Light Group's style, the 10,000-square-foot restaurant will have a lively, inviting atmosphere thanks to its cantina-inspired decor. Designed by Craig Hardman and Klai Juba Architects, the space mixes Old World touches with modern technology. Vibrant colors, handpainted murals, and rustic tile and furniture mingle with 10 large plasma screens throughout the two-level space. The first floor features the main dining room and massive wood bar, while upstairs, live music and DJs perform in the open-air center bar area and stage.
And on New Year's Eve, the Light Group raised the bar once again, unveiling the redesign (and new name) of its namesake nightclub, Light in the Bellagio. Now dubbed the Bank (left), the 8,000-square-foot multi-tiered space dons a detailed, black and gold, glamorous decor by New York City-based ICRAVE. Highlights include an entrance foyer adorned with bottles of Cristal stacked floor-to-ceiling on each wall; reflective etched-glass railing surrounding the dance floor, located at the lowest level of the club; crystal beaded swing-like chandeliers; black banquettes and stools, lined with gold piping; a gold link design that covers the club's series of gold railing staircases, seating and DJ areas, and the back of both bars; and the floral print design that is etched into the mezzanine’s glass railing and lit by LEDs. The Light Group isn't stopping there. Opening this month is Brand Steakhouse in the Monte Carlo with a rich design by Los Angeles based-Graft. The space is decked out with a palette of earthy colors, luxe materials, low-level walls, glass sliders, bronze mesh curtains, low-level couch seating, a dramatically lit ceiling canopy made of numerous panels wrapped in cowhide, and five elevated plasma TV platforms. And in June, Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar will debut in the Bellagio with an intimate, stone and wood decor from New York City-based Rockwell Group. And both Brand and Yellowtail will be eco-friendly, part of the Light Group's dedication to sustainable practices.
Palms Place
In February, the Maloof brothers expanded their Las Vegas empire with the 47-story Palms Place Hotel Condo Spa. Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, the resort comes complete with two-story Drift Spa with Sin City's first-ever hammam, 50,000 square-foot pool and spa enclave (decked out with lavish cabanas and outdoor fireplace), Rojo Lounge, and a soon-to-open Kerry Simon restaurant called Simon at Palms Place where retractable glass walls will provide stunning views of the pool. Throughout, Yabu Pushelberg played on themes of classic modernism and modern Vegas, creating a sexy environment that appealed to the younger clientele. For instance, Rojo features walls of red-colored mirrors and raised platforms at each end with low lounge seating, while upstairs, studio and one-bedroom suites (above right) are decked out in ebony wood walls, stone-covered bathrooms, a sunset-inspired color palette, and private balconies overlooking the Las Vegas Strip and impressive Spring Mountains. And to give guests the full Palms experience, the SkyTube(SM), an elevated, enclosed moving walkway, joins Palms Place with the original Palms locations.Save | Email | Print | Most Popular | Reprints |
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