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The evolution of Las Vegas’ luxury landscape

All eyes are on Las Vegas this week as #eventprofs descend on the city for the annual Imex America. So, there’s no better time to check out the latest luxury openings and developments.

Las Vegas looks set to be the top city for meetings and events in the US in 2019 according to CWT’s recent trends report, and the recent flurry of new openings in the luxury category plus several major developments in the pipeline are helping to keep the product fresh and ever-evolving. And one thing these developments have in common is they are definitely less kitschy Vegas of old and far more contemporary in design, though still with a touch of glamour – it is Vegas after all.

The most recent addition, NoMad, officially opened its doors last week (12 October), on the top four floors of the Park MGM resort. Conceived by Sydell Group in partnership with 2017 World’s Best Restaurant winners, Chef Daniel Humm and restaurateur Will Guidara, NoMad Las Vegas offers 293 rooms and suites designed by French architect Jacques Garcia.

Reflecting Garcia’s timeless style, with a distinct New York sensibility, rooms feature custom-designed furnishings, hardwood floors, Bellino linens, custom Argan bathroom products and original art-work curated by Paris- based design studio be-poles, who have been an integral part of the NoMad hotels from inception.

The first-ever NoMad Casino sits under the historic Tiffany glass ceiling that is original to the former Monte Carlo. The high-limit gaming floor, with blackjack, baccarat and roulette, takes inspiration from the old-world glamour of European casinos and the playfulness of the hotel’s new home on the Las Vegas Strip.

The classical theatres of France inspire the design of NoMad Bar, an all-day dining destination with breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night menus curated by Chef Humm. The Restaurant, a NoMad signature, will make its debut in November 2018 along with private dining spaces and meeting rooms.

The Park MGM, formerly Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, opened with its new name earlier this year as part of an ongoing $450 million overhaul that will see further new features rolled out before the end of the year.

These include Roy Choi at MGM, the renowned chef’s first restaurant in Vegas, Eataly, and a new nightlife concept, On the Record. The latter is an 11,000 square-foot lounge with three different rooms and a combination of both indoor and outdoor spaces, which will open on 31 December for an epic New Years’ Party.

Park MGM has 2,600 rooms on top of NoMad’s 293, and phase one of its 77,000-square-foot conference centre combines non-traditional spaces and flexible design that it claims are designed to fill an unmet need for small groups visiting Las Vegas.

Also making its debut on The Strip last month was the luxury Waldorf Astoria brand. Formerly Mandarin Oriental, the hotel is now operated by Hilton Management Services and in 2019 it will be redesigned with newly-styled rooms and public spaces.

Boasting 389 rooms and 225 residences, including 55 suites and three expansive Presidential Suites, Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas is set in a luxurious, non-gaming, non-smoking environment. As new design plans and vision emerge, the hotel has embarked on an 18-month journey to reimagine the property’s rooms.

The property offers 12,000-square feet of stylish event space, including the glamorous Waldorf Ballroom, situated three floors above Las Vegas Blvd and featuring a unique walk-out balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows featuring views of the Strip. Other features include Michelin-Star rated Chef Pierre Gagnaire’s award-winning restaurant, Twist, Sky Bar and Tea Lounge, Waldorf Astoria Spa and eight floor pool deck.

Looking further ahead, a new luxury resort and casino, The Drew Las Vegas, is scheduled to open on the north end of the strip in 2020 on the site of the unfinished Fontainebleau project. The property will feature nearly 4,000 rooms, debut the Edition brand in Las Vegas and feature the Strip’s first JW Marriott.

The $3 billion Resorts World Las Vegas, an Asian-themed casino with 3,000 rooms, and Paradise Park, featuring 1,500-room hotel, are also expected to open in 2020. These three major developments are expected to revitalise the north end of The Strip.