Operator News
US – SLS Las Vegas unveils progress as $100m resort upgrades continue
By Phil - 31 January 2019
SLS Las Vegas has unveiled progress on the $100m resort renovations that began in October of last year including updates to the casino floor, hotel rooms and corridors.
The resort also revealed a new addition to its award-winning culinary program, a fast-casual Mexican concept dubbed Uno Mas. Planning for the reimagined guest experience began in April of last year when Alex Meruelo, founder of the Meruelo Group and owner of Grand Sierra Resort and Casino (GSR) in Reno, Nevada, acquired the iconic casino property.
“We are leading a new era of development at the start of the Strip,” said Paul Hobson, SLS Las Vegas President and General Manager. “We are excited about the physical transformation of the resort and how those improvements impact the guest experience. We want to bring back the type of personal touch and service that made travelers fall in love with Las Vegas so many decades ago. Our boutique size allows us to focus on the individual guest and deliver a unique, personalised experience.”
As the Meruelo Group continues to make enhancements across resort operations, the larger physical transformation of the property moves forward.
Recently unveiled updates to the 60,000 square-foot casino floor feature a bright, modern atmosphere with glamorous finishes including a new layout for the slot and table game pits, a finished ceiling and lighting, and new carpeting. Progress on the casino floor continues as SLS expands its gaming offering to include a new high limit gaming salon as well as a separate seating area.
Further, work will soon begin on an all-new ultra-lounge that will replace the existing Foxtail nightclub.
Additional guest service enhancements are also scheduled to begin later this year including updates to the hotel lobby and guest check-in with more property improvements expected to be announced in the coming months.
In addition to the transformation of the resort’s public spaces, a redesign of both the Story and World Towers as well as upgrades to the Grand Tower are near completion.
“Mr. Meruelo is a visionary who pays close attention to detail. The guest experience is very important to him and those considerations are absolutely reflected in our design,” says Nancy Paolino, founder and chief creative officer for Innovativo Design Inc., whose team is behind the redesign and construction of SLS Las Vegas as well as GSR. “It is a privilege to have the opportunity to reinvigorate such an iconic resort destination and draw inspiration from the wealth of rich history that happened here. It is our goal to pay homage to Las Vegas’ glamorous past, yet deliver a unique and modern design that speaks to today’s traveler.”
SLS Las Vegas is the second gaming-resort operated by Meruelo Group. Meruelo acquired GSR in Reno in 2011. Since that time, he has invested more than $175m to transform that property into the premier luxury resort in northern Nevada. SLS Las Vegas opened to the public in August 2014 and is located on the iconic grounds of the Sahara Hotel & Casino. Meruelo Group assumed leadership of the property in April 2018.
