Iconic Las Vegas Strip resort casino getting massive overhaul
The Las Vegas Strip brings the world, at least an outsized version of it, to the middle of the Nevada desert.
There are, of course, Strip properties like The Wynn and Encore that are just very nice hotels with attached casinos, but most resort casinos have a theme.
That's true of lower-level properties like MGM Resorts International's (MGM) Excalibur which has a medieval theme, and Caesars Entertainment's Flamingo, which offers a lot of pink and some actual flamingoes. Many higher-end Caesars and MGM properties have much more elaborate themes.
Caesars Palace evokes the Roman Empire, while the company's Paris Las Vegas has French flair and its own Eiffel Tower. MGM's New York, New York boasts its own Statue of Liberty, and while you won't mistake it for New York, it still has some touches and New York style that reinforce the theme.
The heaviest-themed property on the Las Vegas Strip, however, may be the Venetian. When it opened in 1999, the resort was lauded for its attention to detail and its inclusion of Venice-style canals, authentic gondolas and other Italian touches.
It's an impressive property that will be getting overhauled as part of a massive investment in updating the brand.
Venetian's rooms getting remodeled
The Venetian has already started on a $1.5 billion overhaul of its 4,000 rooms. The renovations are going to be extensive.
"Following the recent launches of HaSalon, Voltaire Belle de Nuit, and Sphere at The Venetian, the resort’s comprehensive top-to-bottom reimagining touches everything from a rebrand of The Venetian’s iconic lion logo to a redesign of the resort’s greatest assets, its suites, which remain the largest standard room on The Strip," the company said in a news release.
The launch of the Las Vegas Sphere, a revolutionary music and performance venue, has brought new attention and visitors to The Venetian. The venue has hosted a U2 residency and a handful of Phish shows, and it will soon welcome Dead & Company for multiple shows.
The Venetian has always been an all-suite hotel that attracts higher-end customers. The brand competes with the more upscale brands at Wynn, MGM and Caesars.
"All 4,000 suites in The Venetian towers, including signature suites, will be completely updated. The new suites are inspired by the traditional ornate costumes of the Venetian Carnival, infusing energy, spirit, and warmth in a contemporary, fresh design," the company added.
Gaming improvements are coming, too
The Venetian should see an uptick in customers visiting its property due to the Sphere. And given the cost of tickets to shows at that venue, those visitors should be prime targets for the resort's casino, which will be upgraded.
"In addition to first-to-market entertainment, the redevelopment presents new gaming offerings including The Palazzo High Limit Lounge, the fully redesigned sportsbook complete with a multiyear naming-rights partnership with Yahoo, the Yahoo Sportsbook powered by William Hill, and a brand-new poker room that will debut this summer," the company said.
In addition to the $1.5 billion overhaul of the resort casino, the Venetian will invest $188 million in its expo center, one of the premier convention locations on the Strip.
"Inspired by the needs of the property’s longstanding group guests, key design elements will include an elegant new color palette which presents an upscale departure from the traditional convention spaces, luxury lounge spaces for meetings and innovative new technology that will continue to lead the market for years to come," The Venetian added.
That work will start this summer while the room renovations and other improvements have already begun. Guests can book stays in the remodeled rooms beginning in Sept. 2025.
