LAS VEGAS (AP) – One of the largest casino projects ever on the Las Vegas Strip has set an opening date, after more than seven years of planning and building.
Resorts World Las Vegas announced on Monday that it will open to the public on June 24 and has begun taking reservations for more than 3,500 rooms across its three Hilton brand HLT,
hotels.
The first ground resort built on the Strip in more than a decade will open during a pandemic that has rocked the Las Vegas economy with business constraints designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Nevada government Steve Sisolak has set a target on June 1 for 100% reopening of businesses that closed in March 2020.
The resort is on the site of the former Stardust, an iconic Las Vegas landmark that was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in 1958 with 1,500 rooms. It closed in 2006 and was owned by Boyd Gaming Corp. when the 32-story tower was imploded in March 2007.
Malaysia-based Genting Group, an operator of resorts and casinos around the world, bought the site from Boyd Gaming in 2013 for $ 350 million.
The $ 4.3 billion project has been under construction since May 2015.
Scott Sibella, president of Resorts World Las Vegas, acknowledged that years of work included delays and redesigns to reimagine the Asian theme of the 35.6-acre property.
“We are filled with gratitude and excitement as we approach our opening… and hope to play a part in the Las Vegas revival after an incredibly challenging year,” Sibella said in a statement. A time when doors opened was not immediately revealed.
The property originated as a 59-story curved red building with a massive dynamic LED facade facing Las Vegas Boulevard. The owner calls the 100,000-square-foot (9,290-square-meter) screen one of the largest in the US.
The three hotels – named Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World, Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World and Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels and Resorts – are designed to offer a variety of amenities.
Announcements in recent weeks have focused on Zouk Nightclub and AYU Dayclub headliners, including Zedd and Tiësto, booked from Singapore-based Zouk Group.
The size of the complex is enormous among the Strip resorts, with more than 40 restaurants, dining and drinking venues; multiple stores and shops; a 117,000 square foot (10,870 square meters) casino; and 250,000 square feet (23,226 square meters) of meeting and banquet space.
The resort will also include a 2.2-acre pool and a spa complex with seven pools.
AEG Presents will partner with the resort in a 5,000 capacity concert and entertainment theater programmed and operated by Concerts West. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has reported potential headliners including Katy Perry, Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.
Resorts World will also have a station connected to the renovated Las Vegas Convention Center by developer Elon Musk’s underground Tesla car transporter.
The biggest development on the Strip was the $ 9.2 billion CityCenter partnership between MGM Resorts International and Dubai World. Opened in December 2009 on 31 acres of land, it includes the Aria, Vdara, Waldorf Astoria and Veer hotel and condominium towers and the Crystals shopping and entertainment area. The Harmon tower never opened due to construction faults and was dismantled.
Other major projects in recent years include the more than $ 4.1 billion Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and $ 2.7 billion Wynn Las Vegas. Known for its dancing water fountains, the Bellagio opened in 1998 for about $ 1.6 billion.