Las Vegas

A WATCHED POT

Hotly anticipated restaurants soon to debut

The Las Vegas food scene is hotter than ever, as the city has become an essential location for celebrity-chef outposts. Here are just a few of the buzzed-about restaurants that either recently celebrated a grand opening or are due to debut soon.

• Hell's Kitchen, Caesars Palace
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's fifth restaurant in the city will be the world's first Hell's Kitchen -- inspired, of course, by his hellaciously popular show of the same name, now in its 17th season. While Ramsay assures customers that the food and dining experience will be top-notch, the new eatery promises also to include a healthy dose of theater. The design will be a nod to the show's studio set, and the bustling kitchen will be conspicuously placed at center stage. This Caesars Palace restaurant will be able to accommodate nearly 300 diners while offering both indoor and Strip-adjacent patio tables. A daily themed brunch and dinner are part of the master plan. At press time, Hell's Kitchen was slated to open on Jan. 26.

• Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer, Venetian
Yes, it's a place for burgers, beer and shakes, but this modern take on the classic luncheonette comes with a pedigree: Michelin-starred Joe Isidori is both chef and co-owner, and Black Tap already has made a name for itself with four locations in New York. This one, the first outside of NYC, debuted in the Venetian in late 2017. Of note are the wagyu beef-based Greg Norman Burgers, as well as the over-the-top Crazy Shakes, replete with colorful candy.

• Roy Choi restaurant, Park MGM
A soon-to-be-named new restaurant from acclaimed Los Angeles-based chef Roy Choi is set to open this fall in the Park MGM, a rebrand of the Monte Carlo (see Local Update). Choi promises that the eatery, a celebration of L.A.'s Koreatown, will offer comfortable, immersive spaces within an eclectic environment, with a cuisine and energy that hearken back to the street-food scene of his home neighborhood.

LAS VEGAS

Local Update

• Caesars Entertainment plans to break ground in the second quarter on Caesars Forum, a $375 million, 550,000-square-foot conference center next to Harrah's and just east of the center Strip. Caesars is acquiring 18.4 acres of land for the project as part of a sale and lease-back deal for Harrah's -- a deal that also will help to finance the construction of the conference center. Slated to open in 2020, Caesars Forum promises 300,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including two 108,000-square-foot ballrooms -- purported to be the world's largest without pillars. Two 40,000-square-foot ballrooms, high-tech boardrooms and a 100,000-square-foot outdoor plaza also are among the plans. Caesars Forum also would benefit from providing direct access to the Linq Promenade, Harrah's Las Vegas, the Flamingo Las Vegas and the Linq Hotel & Casino -- a total of about 8,500 guest rooms. The venue's construction is still subject to approvals from government agencies.

• Last month, Wynn Resorts established a new policy with respect to guest-room "Do Not Disturb" signs. Hotel employees must now contact and/or enter the room if the sign is displayed for more than 12 straight hours. Both Hilton and a number of Walt Disney Resort properties have made similar changes to policy. It has been widely speculated that the move represents increased security protocol spurred by the mass-shooting attack that occurred on the Las Vegas Strip last October.

• The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority broke ground in early January on Phase Two of the expansion to the Las Vegas Convention Center. This $860 million project phase will result in an addition of approximately 1.4 million square feet to the venue. Of that, at least 600,000 square feet will be new, leasable exhibit space that should be completed in time for the January 2021 Consumer Electronics Show. The expansion will allow the LVCVA to simultaneously grow shows in the facility while having room to handle additional business.

• Penn National Gaming, which currently owns and operates 25 gaming properties throughout the U.S., including the Tropicana Las Vegas and M Resort, Spa and Casino, agreed to acquire former rival Pinnacle Entertainment. Pinnacle owns and operates 16 gaming properties nationally. The $2.8 billion deal is expected to close in the second half of this year.

• In the first half of this year, the official rebranding of the 2,992-room Monte Carlo Las Vegas Resort and Casino will take place, with two distinct hotels opening in that same building. Park MGM will be the first to debut, while the NoMad Las Vegas will open later this year. Already, new restaurants have been opening and new meeting space is being developed to mark the transformation of the space. The Park MGM's guest rooms will be modern and luxurious, with residential touches evoking the sense of a metropolitan apartment. Rooms will have large picture windows that open onto valley views, with living-room-like seating and scattered cushions. The hotel will offer one floor with Stay Well rooms, to include energizing lighting, dawn-simulator alarm clocks, long-wave night lighting, air-purification systems, memory-foam mattresses, shower infusers and additional wellness-focused amenities.

• The 826-room Westin Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa has been transformed into a nongaming, nonsmoking property. The former casino floor is now home to a restaurant and lobby bar called Jake and Eli, as well as to upgraded meeting spaces. Four new meeting rooms off the lobby increase the hotel's meeting capacity by 20 percent, bringing the new maximum to 350 attendees. The spaces are flexible, with the option to add a private buffet or menus from Jake and Eli, as well as a dedicated prefunction space. Earlier this year, all of the guest rooms were updated, and the Hibiscus Spa and Salon and Westin Workout Fitness Studio were redesigned. A final phase of renovations, including to the outdoor pool area, will wrap up in this quarter.

• The Flamingo Las Vegas is in the midst of a $90 million renovation of 1,270 of its 3,545 guest rooms. The new room designs, which feature hues of gold and bright pops of pink, pay homage to the 72-year history and character of the resort, which was formative in the Strip's early development. The new rooms began debuting last November, and the project is expected to wrap up by midyear.

• Wynn Resorts acquired the North Strip parcel of land that once was home to the New Frontier and was subsequently owned by Australia-based Crown Resorts. A casino-resort property planned by Crown never materialized and was officially shelved last year. Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn, whose company paid $336 million for the 38-acre site, wants to build a 2,500-room hotel on the property, which would be connected to the existing Wynn and Encore resorts by an air-conditioned hallway. The company already has begun constructing a Carnivale-themed complex, potentially to be named Paradise Park, on the former golf course between the Wynn and Encore resorts. That complex, to be built around an hourglass-shaped lagoon, is slated to have 224,000 square feet of meeting space, a 1,500-room hotel with a casino and restaurants, a 30,000-square-foot outdoor pavilion and a 103-foot-diameter carousel on a dock jutting out over the lagoon.

• Caesars Palace Las Vegas wrapped up a $100 million renovation to its 1,181-room Palace Tower, the resort's largest. The final piece of the extensive makeover was the addition of 10 new luxury villas on the tower's 29th floor. Each of the villas is outfitted with more than $1 million in exclusive furnishings and curated décor. The villas range from 2,750 square feet to 4,085 square feet and blend different architectural styles to create a collection "worthy of a well-traveled aristocrat," according to the resort. Each villa boasts one of four aesthetic themes: Ancient Grecian, Biedermeier (German), English Regency or French Empire, and includes touches such as imported stone, architectural lighting and 24K gold-plated bathroom fixtures. Among the villa-associated amenities are private elevator entry to the 29th floor, 24-hour butler service, limousine transportation to and from McCarran International Airport, and VIP check-in and Total Rewards Diamond queuing privileges at all Caesars Las Vegas resorts. Villa rates start at a cool $3,109 per night.

AIMING HIGH

The Linq Promenade, Caesars Entertainment's open-air hub of attractions on the Las Vegas Strip, will be the new home of the Fly Linq zipline experience, slated to debut in late 2018. It will become the first and only such ride on the Strip -- and join Fremont Street's SlotZilla as the second ziplining opportunity in town.

The $20 million Fly Linq will be developed by the team behind the Linq's High Roller and feature 10 side-by-side ziplines. Construction is expected to begin this spring.

Plans call for an elevator that will provide open views of the Strip while carrying riders to the top of a 122-foot-high launch tower to begin their rides. Passengers will be fitted for their gear and will choose to ride in either a seated or "Superman" position, depending on their level of adventurousness.

Participants will zip eastward, flying 1,080 feet above the Linq Promenade. Following the flight, they will disembark near the base of the High Roller.

The automated ride system will be completely custom-built, using technology developed by global zipline experts. The design calls for two automated gear-retrieval lines as well, to keep things moving quickly. Caesars is partnering with thrill-ride experts Xventure on the project; the latter will lead both the development and subsequent operation of the zipline.

Meeting Hotels: Las Vegas has more than 150,000 guest rooms citywide. Among the largest properties -- all on the Strip -- are the 5,044-room MGM Grand, 4,400-room Luxor Hotel and Casino, 4,027-room Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, 4,004-room Aria Resort & Casino, 3,981-room Excalibur Hotel Casino Las Vegas, 3,960-room Caesars Palace Las Vegas, 3,933-room Bellagio Las Vegas, 3,767-room Circus Circus Las Vegas, 3,545-room Flamingo Las Vegas, 3,400-room The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 3,211-room Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, 3,066-room Palazzo Las Vegas and 3,044-room Mirage.

Hotels with 1,000 to 3,000 guest rooms include the 2,992-room Monte Carlo Las Vegas Resort and Casino; 2,961-room Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino; 2,916-room Paris Las Vegas; 2,884-room Treasure Island Las Vegas; 2,814-room Bally's Las Vegas; 2,716-room Wynn Las Vegas; 2,550-room Harrah's Las Vegas; 2,522-room Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Las Vegas; 2,496-room Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino; 2,427-room Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower; 2,419-room Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel & Casino; 2,253-room Linq Hotel & Casino; 2,163-room South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa; 2,034-room Encore at Wynn Las Vegas; 2,024-room New York-New York Hotel & Casino; 1,886-room Orleans Hotel and Casino; 1,728-room Signature at MGM Grand; 1,505-room Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas; 1,495-room Vdara Hotel & Spa; 1,467-room Tropicana Las Vegas--A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel; 1,324-room SLS Las Vegas; 1,282-room Trump International Hotel Las Vegas; 1,117-room Delano Las Vegas, and 1,003-room Plaza Hotel and Casino.

Meeting hotels with fewer than 1,000 rooms include the 826-room Westin Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa; 781-room California Hotel and Casino; 717-room Tuscany Suites & Casino; 711-room Gold Coast Hotel and Casino; 702-room Palms Casino Resort; 696-room Hooters Casino Hotel; 645-room Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall; 638-room D Las Vegas Casino Hotel; 629-room Downtown Grand Las Vegas Hotel and Casino; 599-room Palms Place Hotel and Spa; 576-room Palace Station Hotel; 548-room Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel; 496-room Alexis Park All Suites Resort; 427-room Suncoast Hotel and Casino; 424-room Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas (in the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino main tower); 400-room Main Street Station Casino Brewery and Hotel; 392-room Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas; 390-room M Resort, Spa and Casino; 361-room El Cortez Hotel and Casino; 322-room Hampton Inn Tropicana; 314-room Mardi Gras Hotel and Casino; 300-room Silverton Hotel and Casino Lodge; 299-room Marriott SpringHill Suites Las Vegas Convention Center; 289-room W Las Vegas; 278-room Marriott Las Vegas Convention Center; 255-room Platinum Hotel; 220-room Embassy Suites Convention Center Las Vegas; 202-room Hyatt Place Las Vegas; 200-room Aliante Casino + Hotel + Spa; 200-room Santa Fe Station Hotel Casino; 200-room Texas Station Gambling Hall and Hotel; 190-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Las Vegas Airport; 188-room Cromwell; 181-room Nobu Hotel and Restaurant; 155-room Hilton Garden Inn Las Vegas Strip South; 150-room Rumor Boutique Hotel; 149-room Marriott Courtyard Las Vegas Convention Center; 64-room Artisan Hotel Boutique, and 51-room Skylofts at MGM Grand.

Summerlin, Nev., about five miles north of Las Vegas, is home to the 814-room Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa; 548-room JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort, Spa & Golf; 154-room Marriott Courtyard Summerlin; 123-room Element Las Vegas Summerlin, and 106-room Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas Red Rock/Summerlin.

In Henderson, Nev., approximately 17 miles southeast of the Strip, properties include the 495-room Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa, 493-room Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa, 457-room Sunset Station Hotel Casino, 349-room Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa, 347-room Aston Monte-Lago Village Resort, 155-room Marriott Courtyard Henderson/Green Valley and 146-room Homewood Inn by Hilton Henderson.

Laughlin, Nev., is about 90 miles south of the city. Meeting hotels include the 1,907-room Aquarius Casino Resort; 1,505-room Harrah's Laughlin; 1,498-room Tropicana Express Hotel & Casino; 1,405-room Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino; 1,164-room Colorado Belle Hotel, Casino & Microbrewery; and 1,053-room Edgewater Hotel & Casino Resort.

To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.

MADE TO ORDER

The multifunction venue Enclave, which opened last spring, offers 75,000 square feet of flexible event space, including a 9,000-square-foot unobstructed ballroom as well as both rooftop and garden outdoor areas.

Convention Centers: Las Vegas Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 2 million square feet; number of meeting rooms, 144; (702) 892-0711

Mandalay Bay Convention Center; exhibit space, 1.1 million square feet; number of meeting rooms, 75; (877) 632-7900

Sands Expo & Convention Center; exhibit space, 477,600 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 23; (702) 733-5556

Cashman Center; exhibit space, approximately 98,100 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 14; (702) 386-7100

Airport Transit: Las Vegas International Airport, about one mile west of the Las Vegas Strip and five miles from downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, $13-$26 to Las Vegas Strip properties, about $24 to downtown; by shuttle, $8-$12 to Strip hotels, $9-$13 to downtown. Uber and Lyft operate in Las Vegas.

Taxes: On the Las Vegas Strip: room tax, 12.5%; sales tax, 8.15%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12.5%. Downtown (Fremont Street Experience): room tax, 12.5%; sales tax, 8.15%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12.5%. Sales tax is not applied to guest rooms nor resort fees, but it is applied to other hotel charges.

Group Venue: To stroll through the Neon Boneyard North Gallery, the primary outdoor exhibition space of the Neon Museum Las Vegas, is to experience Las Vegas history in an entirely unique way. The lot is piled high with the signs that defined the main streets of Las Vegas, from the 1930s to the present, all brimming with vintage local color. Guided tours are available, and the photogenic museum also is available for private events. Up to 200 people can be accommodated in the North Gallery, while as many as 400 can attend an event in the Neon Boneyard across the street. (702) 387-6366

Golf: Las Vegas and its environs are home to a wide variety of golf options. Choices include Aliante Golf Club (702-399-4888), Angel Park Golf Club (702-254-4653), Anthem Country Club (702-614-5050), Arroyo Golf Club at Red Rock (702-258-2300), Badlands Golf Club (702-242-4653), Bali Hai Golf Course (702-855-3429), Bear's Best Las Vegas (702-804-8500), Black Mountain Golf & Country Club (702-565-7933), Canyon Gate Country Club (702-363-0303), Desert Pines Golf Club (702-855-3429), Desert Willow Golf Club (702-263-4653), Dragonridge Country Club (702-614-4444), Durango Hills Golf Club (702-229-4653), Eagle Crest Golf Club (702-240-1320), Highland Falls Golf Club (702-254-7010), Las Vegas Country Club (702-734-1122), Las Vegas Golf Club (702-646-3003), Las Vegas National Golf Club (702-734-1796), Las Vegas Paute Golf Resort (702-658-1400), The Legacy Golf Club (702-897-2187), Los Prados Golf Course (702-645-5696), Painted Desert Golf Club (702-645-2570), Palm Valley Golf Club (702-363-4373), Red Rock Country Club (702-304-5600), Rhodes Ranch Golf Club (702-740-4114), Roal Links Golf Club (702-855-3429), Shadow Creek (702-791-7161), Silverstone Golf Club (702-562-3770), and TPC Las Vegas (702-256-2000).