A new crop of hospitality stunners is lighting up Sin City from the Strip to the Southwest Valley.
By Nicholas Tamarin
Now there’s no reason to leave Las Vegas. While there’s never been a shortage of hospitality offerings on the Strip, Sin City–in addition to its burgeoning art (Arte Museum, Las Vegas Art Museum) and sports (the Raiders, Athletics, Golden Knights, and Aces) scenes–continues to unveil exciting new hotels that cater to every type of visitor. Each of these resorts is contributing to the evolving landscape of Las Vegas, which has almost tripled in population since 2000 to nearly three million people, making the city a top destination for travelers seeking fresh experiences. Keeping KBIS in mind for February 25-27, here are the hottest new hotels to book now:
1. Fontainebleau Las Vegas
At 735 feet, the new sister property to the famous Fontainebleau Miami Beach is the tallest building in Vegas if you don’t count the Strat. This luxury hotel on the North Strip features chic destination restaurants like Mother Wolf and KYU in addition to an awe-inspiring art program that includes a triptych of towering gilded sculptures by Urs Fischer. Located across the street from the West Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the design is sleek and modern throughout the 3,700 rooms and suites and 150,000-square-foot casino with 42-foot ceilings.
The 67-story resort also boasts 500,000 square feet of meeting and convention space and features a bevy of high-end amenities, including a six-acre elevated pool deck, a 14,000-square-foot fitness center and a 55,000-square-foot, two-level spa. KYU, serving unique interpretations of wood-fired Asian cuisine with an open kitchen and view of the Las Vegas Strip, is one of 36 new-to-market eateries including Golden Age Hollywood–inspired Papi Steak. Or you can enjoy world-class DJ sets at LIV Las Vegas, a nightclub featuring an incredible view of the turntable talent for any ticket holder.
2. Horseshoe Las Vegas
As part of Caesars Entertainment’s initiative to bring back this historic brand to the Strip, the casino juggernaut has transformed Bally’s into the Horseshoe, the iconic spot that formerly had a presence on Fremont Street. The new version now has a prominent mid-Strip location and a renewed focus on gambling as the host of the World Series of Poker.
The rebranding aimed to bring back the classic, gambler-friendly spirit of the original, founded by Benny Binion in 1951, while incorporating modern amenities and an updated design. Like its predecessor Bally’s, Horseshoe Las Vegas maintains a strong focus on live entertainment. Along with the addition of Blake Shelton’s Ole Red and Bottled Blonde for food, drinks and music, the Jubilee Theater continues to host a variety of shows and performances, offering a mix of classic entertainment and modern acts that help bring a major piece of Vegas’s Wild West history full circle.
3. Durango Casino & Resort
The first major casino resort in the rapidly growing Southwest Valley, the Durango aims to capture both locals and tourists seeking an alternative to the Strip’s high-energy atmosphere 10 miles away. The subtle-for-Vegas Stations Casinos property is designed by Studio Munge and the Rockwell Group with a sleek, mid-century modern aesthetic featuring desert-inspired elements like lush plantings and fire features that reflect the natural surroundings of the Las Vegas Valley.
The hotel tower also has more than 200 rooms and suites with hand-carved stone, wood, and warm metal accents. High-tech touches like digital check-in and 40 charging stations for electric cars add function to the fun of enjoying a cocktail and the gorgeous Las Vegas weather by the luxurious pool deck and cabanas at the Bel-Aire Lounge. Or you can watch a game at the indoor-outdoor George sports bar then choose from a variety of cuisine at the diverse Eat Your Food Out food hall or any of the 15 stylish restaurants and bars including Nicco’s Steakhouse, the Santa Monica–inspired Summer House, Mexican coastal cuisine hotspot Mijo, and 80’s speakeasy Wax Rabbit.
