Well, Las Vegas is back. Not that it ever really went away, but with travel restrictions being eased in the US, Canada and globally, and with Covid being pushed further out of the picture, Las Vegas wants Canadians to know it’s wide open for business and entertainment.
Reinvestment and development
The city continues to thrive with more than US $15B in new investment expected over the next several years
• The $1.8B MSG Sphere is under construction behind Venetian / Palazzo, expected to debut in 2023. It will feature 17,500 seats, an exosphere with 580,000 square feet of programmable lighting, the largest and highest-resolution LED screen on Earth, advanced acoustics and an infrasound haptic system enabling guests to feel sound
• Atari Hotel – GSD Group has hired world-renowned architecture and design firm Gensler and unveiled their vision for the pop culture and video game-inspired Atari Hotels with one of the first two hotels to open in Las Vegas. No opening date has been announced
• The former Fontainebleau property – Tentatively expected to open in 2023 offers 3,700 rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space
• Various other renovations and reinvestments are underway including The Mirage rebrand to Hard Rock Hotel and Bally’s rebrand to Horseshoe
Resorts:
Resorts World Las Vegas, the first new resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip in more than a decade, opened in June.
• Resorts World’s offerings include Las Vegas Hilton, the resort’s full-service brand; Conrad Las Vegas, Hilton’s contemporary luxury brand; andCrockfords Las Vegas, by LXR, Hilton’s collection of bespoke, independent luxury properties
• The resort has launched a stellar lineup of residencies including Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Zedd and Tiësto
• There are more than 40 world-class food and beverage options including Famous Foods Street Eats, a food hall inspired by Singapore’s hawker street markets mixed with concepts by award-wining chefs from around the country.Signature restaurants include Genting Palace; FUHU Bar & Restaurant; Viva! By Ray Garcia; Wally’s Wine & Spirits; Brezza; and Carversteak
Among other offerings is a 5,000-capacity theatre, distinct nightlife venues and the first-ever store in a Las Vegas resort to use Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.
• Virgin Hotels Las Vegas opened at the former site of the Hard Rock Hotel in March. The culinary and beverage portfolio includes Todd English’s Olives, Kris Yenbamroong’s Night + Market, the legendary Nobu, Michael and David Morton’s One Steakhouse, Kassi Beach House from restauranteur Nick Mathers, Casa Calavera by global hospitality company Hakkasan Group, the sports entertainment, daylife and nightlife venue Money, Baby! from Clive Collective and more.
It also features 130,000 square feet of re-inspired indoor and outdoor meeting and convention spaces, 60,000 square foot Mohegan Sun Casino and multiple entertainment venues.
Circa Resort & Casino, the first ground-up casino resort on downtown’s Fremont Street Experience since 1980, opened in late 2020, featuring a two-story casino and the world’s largest sportsbook spread over three stories with a 78-megapixel screen.
Legacy Club, a rooftop bar and outdoor terrace located on level 60
Stadium Swim, a multi-level pool amphitheater that operates 365 days/year and features six pools and two swim-up bars and 143-foot high-definition screen
Selection of food and beverage including Barry’s Downtown Prime Steaks & Cocktails, Saginaw’s by Paul Saginaw, co-founder Zingerman’s Deli,Victory Burger, Pan-Asian cuisine at 8 East and more
• San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority to Assume Ownership of Palms Casino Resort plans to reopen next year in the spring.
• Bally’s Las Vegas Transformation to Historic Horseshoe will begin in the spring of 2022 and should be complete by the end of 2022
• Hard Rock International to acquire The Mirage and plans to build a guitar-shaped hotel on the Las Vegas Strip
Entertainment:
Several long-standing favorites have returned including:
• Spiegelworld’s ABSINTHE at Caesars Palace, Atomic Saloon Show at Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort and OPIUM at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas;
• Cirque du Soleil’s “O” at Bellagio; Mystère at Treasure Island; The Beatles LOVE at The Mirage, and Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and KÀ at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
• Magicians and illusionists including David Copperfield, Penn and Teller, Mat Franco, Shin Lim, Criss Angel and more
• Academy of Country Music Awards will be hosted at Allegiant Stadium, March 7
• The 2022 GRAMMYs Awards show will be hosted at MGM Grand Garden Arena, April 3
New Residencies (debut in 2021 or later):
• The Colosseum at Caesars Palace:
Usher began his new residency on July 16
Sting opened Oct. 29
• Harrah’s Showroom at Harrah’s Las Vegas
Donny Osmond began his new residency on Aug. 31
• The STRAT Theater at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod
Sammy Hagar and Friends opened Oct. 30
• The Theatre at Resorts World:
Carrie Underwood opened December 1
Kate Perry opened December 29
Luke Bryan opened February 11, 2022
Michael Bublé opens April 27
• Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino:
John Legend opens April 22
Returning Residencies:
Keith Urban, Rod Stewart, Reba, Brooks & Dunn (The Colosseum at Caesars Palace); Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars (Park Theater at Park MGM); Shania Twain, Pitbull (Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood); Lionel Richie, John Fogerty (Wynn Las Vegas), and more
New Shows:
• iLuminate lights up The STRAT with a new show blending music, dance, comedy, technology, and art from the group named “Best New Act in America” by America’s Got Talent
• MAGIC MIKE LIVE Las Vegas, recently debuted in all-new venue at SAHARA Las Vegas
• Derek Hough: No Limit returns to The Summit Showroom at The Venetian Resort, May 18 – Sept. 10
• AN EVENING WITH WHITNEY: THE WHITNEY HOUSTON HOLOGRAM CONCERT to debuted at Harrah’s Las Vegas on Oct. 26