By all accounts, 1999 in Las Vegas could be considered the bridge from the Strip’s golden age into the modern era. Mandalay Bay and Paris debuted that year following Bellagio’s 1998 ribbon-cutting ceremony. And while celebrity chefs were not yet a major trend, the pot had started to simmer with Spago coming onto the restaurant scene in 1992 and Emeril’s Fish House opening at MGM Grand in 1995.
At the center of it all, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Venetian Resort launched May 3, 1999, on the site of the historic Sands, introducing Las Vegas’ first integrated resort concept and revolutionizing the city’s hospitality landscape. The scale was massive, complementing the soul of Venice with 25-foot-high columns built from Botticino marble and frescoes hand-painted by Italian artists. The accommodations were all suites, and gondoliers sang from the canals.
Twenty-five years later, in honor of its quarter-century anniversary, The Venetian Resort unveils a $1.5 billion reinvestment plan, touted as the most extensive and most expensive hotel renovation in history. All facets of the property will benefit from the birthday facelift.
“It’s a corner-to-corner renovation of the resort,” says Patrick Nichols, president and chief executive officer of The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. “We started the master planning two years ago and decided that, since this is such an integrated resort, you can’t do part of it and not the other parts.”
These are the six new additions to The Venetian we can’t wait to see when the project is expected to be completed in 2025.
New Suites
After 25 years, the pioneer of the all-suite resort still boasts the largest standard rooms on the Strip, at more than 700 square feet. Designers Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (whose projects include Four-Star Nobu Los Cabos and Pendry Newport Beach) re-envisioned 4,000 spacious accommodations in The Venetian towers that were inspired by the details of traditional Venetian Carnival costumes.
“It starts with the rooms,” Nichols says. “That’s why people come to Vegas. I’m proud of the design, I think our guests will love them, and all of our suites will be completely renovated.”
The focal point of each accommodation’s color palette is a cabernet-colored plush sofa and headboard. Blue and gray accents contrast with pillows, chairs and paint. The motifs in the artwork and carpet pay homage to the distinct, colorful masks synonymous with the storied and historic Carnival. Other upgrades include 65-inch Samsung TVs, bedside charging ports and energy-efficient LED mood lighting.
“When guests see the grandeur of the sunken living room and the opulence of the bathroom, the suites are very technology friendly, have a very residential feeling, are very comfortable, and are like your home away from home, I think that’s a differentiator,” Nichols adds. “Our convention and leisure guests love having the space.” The revamped units will be available in September 2024.
New Restaurants
On the culinary front, The Venetian Resort will transplant two popular eateries from the East and West coasts. Bringing a little Venice Beach to the desert, the produce-forward pioneer Gjelina will debut in late 2024, serving lunch and dinner from the Venetian’s Restaurant Row. California’s farm-to-table cuisine has long been a favorite with Las Vegas diners, and this establishment will feature the same sustainable-driven menu and sourcing practices as its namesake, carrying on the support of local farmers to the Las Vegas community.
From University of Nevada Las Vegas alumnus and restaurateur Simon Kim, Cote Korean Steakhouse will make its West Coast premiere at The Venetian. International jet-setters have come to love the brand from its New York, Miami and Singapore outposts. Kim promises a tiered dining experience designed in a theater-in-the-round style with skyboxes and dramatic lighting all unique to Las Vegas while remaining true to Cote’s philosophy of marrying the concepts of Korean barbecue with an American steakhouse. The restaurant is known for serving decadent cuts of meat such as A5 wagyu from Kobe, Sendai and Miyazaki to 45-, 90- and 120-day aged steak cooked on smokeless grills. Designed by David Rockwell and Rockwell Group, Cote will be in the Waterfall Atrium.
Since it opened in 2022, the Omakase Room at Wakuda has elevated to revered status in the Las Vegas dining scene. With two seatings a night on Fridays and Saturdays, the six-chair experience is one of the Strip’s most intimate and luxurious dinners. During more than a dozen courses, those lucky enough to score a place at the counter in front of the master sushi chefs embark on a Japanese gastronomic journey guided by tradition, skill and innovation. Hidden in a passageway in the back of the main restaurant, Omakase Room features the artwork of Hiroyasu Tsuri.
The evening begins with cocktails at the bar. A mixologist makes each drink tailored to your palate to complement the passed canapés. Afterward, you are escorted into the Omakase Room for a front-row seat to a custom full-sensory dining experience with delicacies such as chu toro (a medium fatty tuna) with butter miso, kizami wasabi and crispy yuba (tofu skin), kamasu (barracuda) salt stone Aburi style, otoro (tuna belly) and mirugai (geoduck) on the ever-changing menu.
New Casino Action
For those who love to bet big, The Palazzo unveils the new High Limit Lounge with blackjack, commission-free Tiger Baccarat, roulette, Millionaire Progressive Ultimate Texas Hold’em and craps tables; 67 slot cabinets; and an inviting bar with a cocktail menu for spirited exploration.
As Las Vegas has transformed into the sports and entertainment capital of the world, sports betting comes into focus in a new way, and The Venetian reveals its Yahoo Sportsbook powered by William Hill with a 1,700-square-foot video wall and a display that can show up to 40 different sporting events. The setting offers multiple experiences with streamlined betting stations, a bar, private fan caves and 98-inch televisions where you can watch up to eight games. When it’s time to feast, order burgers from Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer or regional Asian cuisine at Noodle Asia without leaving your team.
The poker room has a fresh look, a new second-floor location and a significant tech enhancement. Now, it provides a room that allows players to stream tournament final tables and cash games. With 50 tables across 14,000 square feet, The Venetian poker room is one of the largest and most popular in the city. Amenities include a self-serve soda fountain and coffee machine, dedicated restrooms, televisions and USB and USB-C charging ports for every seat.
New Convention Center
A big chunk of the renovation budget ($188 million) is going toward refreshing The Venetian Convention Center, one of the largest meeting facilities in the world. The Venetian will wrap up the remodel in stages between 2024 and 2026. Innovations for groups will include a new modern color scheme (cream, white and platinum, accented by caramel upholstery and blue Demark carpeting), lounge spaces for meetings, optimized lighting and tech capabilities with longevity. There is even a speakeasy-style event space.
New Entertainment
In less than a year, the 1,000-capacity jewel-box showroom Voltaire, which makes you feel as if you are a genie in a champagne bottle with its hundreds of bubble lights, has quickly become a celebrity hot spot hosting musical talents such as Kylie Minogue and Jason Derulo for intimate shows.
“Everyone’s trying to figure out what’s next in nightlife,” Nichols says. “That was part of the genesis for Voltaire in creating a one-stop shop that can take you from when you finish dinner at 8 p.m. until midnight. It’s where you can have some fun, have a bottle of champagne or wine, chat with your friends, enjoy a cool show and catch Christina Aguilera in the same room.”
Close to the Sphere, The Venetian has become the most convenient pre- and post-concert stopover for those visiting the largest spherical structure in the world. Opening in the fall, Shin Lim, the Canadian-born, American-raised Asian-Pacific magician who captivated viewers on America’s Got Talent, moved his residency from The Mirage to The Palazzo Theatre at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. His close-up magic has attracted more than 1 million people to his Vegas shows.
F1 Partnership with BWT Alpine
Leading into 2023’s inaugural F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, The Venetian Resort partnered with the BWT Alpine racing team. That alliance continues and expands in year two.
“Las Vegas is transforming as a destination,” Nichols says. “We are the entertainment and culinary capital of the world, and with the Super Bowl and Formula One, we showed what we’re capable of hosting large events.”
As the race once again takes over the Strip from November 21 to 23, you might even see the team’s celebrity investors (Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, Michael B. Jordan, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes) around the property, and there will be BWT Alpine experiences all over the resort. The Venetian is ideally positioned on a corner turn, facing 20% of the track. Racetrack View Suites in The Palazzo Tower look onto the track as it winds past the Sphere and down Las Vegas Boulevard.
“This year, our viewing platform in front of the resort is being expanded to accommodate 1,200 people,” Nichols says. “What’s great about it is that it’s convenient. It’s a two-minute walk from anywhere, and you are in the middle of the action, and you get food from our chefs — Thomas Keller and Wolfgang Puck.”
