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The High Roller at The Linq is reportedly the tallest observation wheel in the world. |
Here are several notable new offerings from Las Vegas to consider for your clients.
Upcoming Hotels
One of the biggest buzzes in town is a new boutique hotel set to debut on the Strip in May. Originally the home of the former Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon and then planned to be a Gansevoort, the hotel is now known as The Cromwell Las Vegas and is under the Caesars umbrella.
When it opens at the end of May, the boutique hotel will have fewer than 200 rooms, including 19 suites, the biggest being the 2,550 square-foot Cromwell Suite. All suites have views of the Strip. Other perks include a full-size refrigerator, wet bars that can be stocked upon request, and steam showers. Several rooms will be dog-friendly, but Fido will have to weigh less than 50 pounds.
Amenities include a casino, naturally; there will also be two nightlife venues (Drai’s Beach Club and Nightclub, and Drai’s After Hours) and a central bar and lounge.
The outdoor space will have two elevated pools lined with daybeds, cabanas and VIP bungalows. Additional VIP areas will offer secluded options with prime Strip views and a private pool.
Celebrity Chef Giada De Laurentiis will have her first-ever restaurant at the Cromwell, which will look out over the Strip from the second floor. Set to open Memorial Day weekend, the restaurant—Giada—will focus on pasta (made daily by hand in an exhibition kitchen) and an antipasto bar. (We’re eager to try the lemon spaghetti and the lemon ricotta cookies.) Cool touch: The restaurant will have automatic retractable windows with views of the Bellagio fountains, Caesars Palace and Bally’s Grand Bazaar Shops, so guests can get an al fresco experience.
RELATED: The New Cromwell Las Vegas Nears Completion
The SLS Las Vegas is set to open over Labor Day weekend in the space once inhabited by the iconic Sahara. The new development will be a mixed-use resort and casino from hospitality company sbe, with more than 1,600 rooms and suites. (The penthouse suites are expected to cover about 3,300 square feet.)
The hotel is expected to have some unique restaurants, including The Bazaar by José Andrés, Katsuya by Starck, Cleo by Danny Elmaleh, and Umami Burger. There will also be four “nightlife experiences” including a new version of sbe’s original nightlife concept, Shelter, and The Sayers Club, regarded as Los Angeles’ most exclusive live music venue. The hotel will also have seven Fred Segal-branded boutique shops (he will be the exclusive retailer for SLS Las Vegas).
Travel agents can reach out to the vice president of hotel operations, Albert Smith ([email protected]) with any questions.
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The Cromwell Las Vegas is a new boutique hotel that will debut in Vegas under the Caesars brand. |
The Linq
A huge development for Vegas in 2014 is The Linq by Caesars Entertainment, a $550 million open-air, pedestrian-friendly district on the Strip located between The Quad and Flamingo Las Vegas that will include plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment. The district is opening throughout the first two quarters of the year, and will cover more than 300,000 square feet and have more than 30 shops, restaurants, bars and venues.
The High Roller, reportedly the tallest observation wheel in the world at 550 feet, is the key attraction here and has already become an iconic addition to the city’s skyline, thanks to its 2,000 LED lights that change colors and patterns. The wheel will have 28 glass-enclosed cabins that can take a total of 1,120 passengers on a 30-minute ride to look out over the city and the desert beyond. (Good to know: The cabins can be booked for private events...even weddings.)
RELATED: First Look: Las Vegas High Roller Debuts at The Linq (VIDEO)
The Linq’s Brooklyn Bowl will be home to live concerts, 32 lanes of bowling, and food by Blue Ribbon. With three levels spanning over 80,000 square feet, it will be one of the largest music venues in the country and will have programming throughout the day and late into the night.
New Restaurants
In late January, Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay opened his 18th Bobby’s Burger Palace in front of the Mandarin Oriental. The high-end burgers come with potato chips...not on the side, but in the burger itself for extra crunch. We hear that the signature item at this eatery will be the Vegas Burger, made with white American cheese, red chiles and BBQ-flavored potato chips.
Even buffets are going upscale: The Bellagio, for example, has launched the first Chef’s Table within a buffet, with a team of chefs preparing culinary dishes tableside. Upon arrival, guests bypass the main line and go to the front entrance of the restaurant, and from there straight to the Chef’s Table. Bellagio Buffet chefs will then review a specialty menu (which can be adjusted based on preferences and dietary restrictions) of cheeses, charcuterie and caviar; made-to-order salads; a carvery with lamb and prime rib; and a house-made chocolate fondue. (Guests of the Chef’s Table can also access The Buffet’s main stations.) Groups of eight or more can make reservations—e-mail [email protected].
Yusho, the Japanese-inspired grill and noodle house by Chicago Chef Matthias Merges, is (as of press time) set to make its Las Vegas debut at the Monte Carlo in April. The menu here will be divided into five categories—Pickles and Relish, Noodles, Grilled + Fried, Steam Buns and Sweets—and signature dishes will include Logan Poser Ramen (a soup made with crispy pork shoulder and a poached egg); charred octopus; and a marinated eggplant steam bun. The space will have a variety of seating options, including an outdoor patio, as well as an open kitchen.
RELATED: UNLVino Las Vegas Wine Event Celebrates 40th Anniversary (VIDEO)
Fans of less-formal dining also have plenty of new restaurants to explore. In early March, the Double Barrel Roadhouse opened at the front of the Monte Carlo Resort, with lots of live music and dancing. For those who want to watch a game while they imbibe, MGM Grand opened the TAP American Sports Bar in January, where every seat faces one of 60 HDTVs, with major games broadcast live. All the traditional comfort foods will be there (think fancy hot-dogs and slider-sized Philly cheesesteak sandwiches), and guests can create their own personalized burgers.