A Rolls-Royce Phantom Sits In Front Of Wynn Las Vegas
Photo Courtesy of Michael Shaffer
Everything at Wynn Las Vegas exudes extravagance. And rightfully so. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star property is known for creating vivid vacation memories with over-the-top guest experiences. For instance, its Wynn Golf Club, which was designed by Steve Wynn and Tom Fazio, is the only course connected to a resort on the Las Vegas Strip, and its main nightclub, Tryst, comes complete with a 90-foot waterfall. Who wouldn’t be happy here?
And now, thanks to some new initiatives, Wynn Las Vegas gives visitors even more reasons to stay at the luxury hotel. Recently, it teamed up with Rolls-Royce for its White Glove Program, an initiative where Rolls-Royce chauffeurs learn every detail they need to know before whisking a client to and from the resort. In addition, the resort’s Lakeside restaurant really drives home what it means to offer a fresh catch with its ambitions ocean-to-table dining experiences.
Add these niceties to the artwork that’s found throughout the property along with the artistic beauty seen in Le Rêve-The Dream and it’s easy to see why we adore Wynn Las Vegas this summer.
Dine at Lakeside
Don’t be surprised if you see live Alaskan king crabs or Scottish lobsters flip-flopping around when you step into the kitchen at Wynn Las Vegas’ Lakeside restaurant. Executive chef David Walzog has plenty going on back there. The talented toque, who also serves as the executive chef of Four-Star SW Steakhouse, has roughly 125 pounds of fresh fish flown in every day. “We set up a program with a local Hawaiian vendor,” says Walzog of his ocean-to-table initiative. He receives pomfret, mahi mahi, snapper, sea bass, swordfish and more. “We get fresh fish right off the boat.”
Chef Walzog’s Daily Catch, Photo Courtesy of Wynn Las Vegas
Appetizers such as the oyster Rockefeller with spinach, smoked bacon and hollandaise or entrées like the lobster risotto with leeks and fine herbs won’t disappoint. And whatever the fishermen catch just might end up being the roasted Hawaiian day boat fish entrée served with artichokes, tomato, celery, olives and oregano vinaigrette. According to Walzog, “Our guests will come every night and have different things.”
Ask for a table next to the large floor-to-ceiling windows so you can ogle the Lake of Dreams while savoring a seven-pound South Australian rock lobster. The crustacean and a glass of Ramey Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley are sure to fill you up.
Be wowed by the White Glove Program
When your Uber driver comes to pick you up from your hotel, he simply pulls up and off you go. But when a Rolls-Royce White Glove chauffeur like Andi McCann waits for you, he has already made sure that the vehicle is located in a visually appealing location. You’ll never see a Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II idling next to a stinky dumpster; if anything, you’ll find the vehicle parked parallel, equally distant from the nearest curb with each tire three inches from a noticeable line on the ground. The reason for this is simple: he’s gone through the White Glove Program, a sort of high-brow boot camp that luxury car owners send their chauffeurs to.
In this program, McCann and other drivers learn exactly how precise they have to be when they’re around you and other precious cargo. Case in point: You’ll never get into a car with the air conditioning vents facing different directions nor will you ever see one seat reclined and the other not. The car will always be in perfect condition before you arrive.
And if McCann takes you to the airport, he’ll place your luggage in the trunk and then have you scan the trunk to make sure you’re not forgetting any items. Why? Well, he would rather put your mind at ease before leaving the hotel so you’re not in the back seat worrying if you left your Marc Jacobs duffel back in the suite. Little touches like these make your ride pleasant and help to alleviate any stress. Once you’re in the car, you’ll notice that McCann will make eye contact with you in the rearview mirror to check that you’re OK. After that, he will turn the mirror up, ensuring you have the privacy you need during the ride.
Jeff Koons’ “Tulips,” Photo Courtesy of Laura Downey
The White Glove Program also covers things such as not accelerating after stopping at a red light but rather gathering momentum. McCann shows you how he assists a woman when exiting the vehicle to protect her from paparazzi or from random passersby trying to check her out if she has a short dress on, too. There are so many pointers that drivers have to learn and they aren’t all about the vehicle, either. Some relate to the chauffeur’s personal standards of donning a plain black tie with a full Windsor knot, wearing shoes with leather soles, offering to shake the hands of each passenger and more.
Appreciate art at every turn
When you’re walking around Wynn Las Vegas, take note of the artwork. One of the standout pieces, which sits in front of the Wynn Theater Rotunda, is “Tulips” by artist Jeff Koons. Purchased at an auction in 2012 for more than $33 million, the three-ton bouquet of stainless-steel twisted balloon flowers — the colorful work is guarded around the clock by a security officer — is a part of Koons’ Celebration series. Another favorite is the Eiffel chandelier originally created by Gustave Eiffel for an apartment building in Paris in 1918. The fragile wooden and Favrile glass fixture, which was bought in 2003 at a Christie’s auction in Paris (then restored and rewired), now sits at the entrance of the Terrace Pointe Café. You’ll also see local artist Tim Bavington’s vibrant “Full Fathom Five” near the café. Inspired by author Sylvia Plath’s eponymous poem and the Stone Roses song “Elephant Stone,” this five-panel painting — you actually see four panels because one is with the hotel’s design guru, Roger Thomas, in his private collection — showcases musical tones in a bold and beautiful way.
More artistic expression can be seen in Le Rêve-The Dream at the Wynn Theater. The 75-minute, Franco Dragone-directed show is filled with fantasy, aerial acrobatics and live music — all done with a literal and figurative splash. We recommend getting the VIP Indulgence package — you are in Vegas after all — because it comes with comfortable lounge seating, Perrier Jouët champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and private video screens that display behind-the-scenes footage.
