Las Vegas is officially on fire again, thanks in part to a slew of new accommodations, restaurants and attractions and many more developments on the way. Questex’s annual Las Vegas Focus reveals the latest buzz on the Strip, from pool parties to top notch dining to hotel openings and expansions.
Luxury lodging continues its takeover of the Strip with two Asian-themed properties, the 204-room boutique Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino, which features a 27,5000-square-foot casino and a Sothys Spa; as well as the Resorts World Las Vegas slated to open in 2019. The massive property will boast nearly 6,600 rooms, an indoor water park, a rooftop sky park, an ice-skating rink and yes, even a panda exhibit. Other notable openings include The W Las Vegas, a 289-room tower within SLS Las Vegas that features a nearly 2,400-square-foot “Extreme Wow Suite” designed by Lenny Kravitz; and 21 unique Boulevard Penthouses in Boulevard Tower at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas that offer 2,000 to 5,000 square feet of luxury accommodations.
In addition to renovating its rooms, hotels and resorts are constantly upgrading their pool offerings to compete in the always-hot pool scene. Just in time for summer, The Palazzo Las Vegas unveiled its new Aquatic Club, which draws its inspiration from vintage social and athletic clubs. Modern day designer Tory Burch outfitted the pool staff, but the music, everything from jazz to ‘80s pop, to the drink menu have all gone retro. Other stand out pool parties include the Encore Beach at Wynn Las Vegas and The Tank, which features a 200,000-gallon shark aquarium and waterslide, at Golden Nugget.
But what’s really heating up the Vegas scene these days can be found in the kitchen, with new restaurant openings fueling the wave of destination diners. From Iron Chef Masahara Morimoto’s Japanese sensation Morimoto Las Vegas (inside MGM Grand), where your clients can feast on famed Morimoto Stained Glass Rolls, to Chica (The Venetian Las Vegas), which features a menu inspired by Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, Las Vegas’s dining scene is as diverse as ever.
Find the Las Vegas Focus, along with over 30 other niche-specific travel planners at travelagentcentral.com/focus-series.