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Venetian and Hyatt have announced a long-term licensing agreement, which means Venetian is now part of the Hyatt family of hotels, also known as World of Hyatt.

Such licensing agreements are common in Las Vegas hotels, and are mainly motivated by casinos gaining access to massive marketing databases to drive new business.

This is a a great partnership for Venetian and Palazzo, not so much for Rio, which is awkward, so naturally we’re talking about it.

There are several World of Hyatt hotels in Las Vegas (Hyatt Place Las Vegas, Hyatt Place Las Vegas at Silverton Village), but the only one that really matters is Rio.

Rio has invested many tens of millions in refreshing the off-Strip resort, also a World of Hyatt partner, now Hyatt fans get to choose between Venetian and Rio.

Rio has vastly improved recently, but still. It’s the Venetian.

On the bright side, Rio is getting an NBA arena out back, so that could change the game substantially.

What does Venetian’s partnership with Hyatt mean? Per the news release, “Soon, World of Hyatt members and eligible meeting and event planners will be able to earn and redeem loyalty points on qualifying stays, earn credit toward the Brand Explorer Award and, for World of Hyatt elite members, enjoy additional on-property benefits. With this long-term licensing agreement, Hyatt will offer more choice for rewarding travel experiences and stays in the all-suite resort at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip.”

Things can work in the other direction as well, with Venetian Rewards members getting Hyatt benefits.

Again, from the official announcement, “As part of this long-term licensing agreement, World of Hyatt will, in the future, offer elite Venetian Rewards members benefits within World of Hyatt. Additionally, in the near future, these two hospitality powerhouses will work together in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) and convention space to also complement each other’s strengths in group business.”

The convention thing is huge for Venetian because of its massive Venetian Expo (Venetian Convention and Expo Center, formerly the Sands Expo Convention Center). That’s the one Sheldon Adelson used to own. He’s the one who pretty much kicked the door in at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority offices when he heard they wanted to expand the Las Vegas Convention Center because it competed with his venue. Those were the days.

Hotel loyalty clubs are akin to casino loyalty clubs. People tend to frequent places where they can get perks for their repeat business. You know, loyalty.

A company like Hyatt brings a lot to the table in a partnership. Global reach, trust, better online visibility, operational expertise and economies of scale. Hyatt benefits by expanding its footprint in the world’s greatest destination, Las Vegas.

Hang in there, Rio. Maybe bringing back the “Masquerade Show in the Sky” isn’t such a bad idea after all.

Update (12/20/24): Everyone plays nice in Vegas.

We’re all friends here. 🤗

— Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas (@RioVegas) December 20, 2024

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Just when you thought the cavalcade of horseshit was finally over for the former Wet ‘n Wild water park site after All-Net Arena was euthanized, it continues with the release of renderings for yet another Strip resort project that’s never, ever going to happen: LXVP.

Yes, that was a lot, but we’re very busy and important, so we don’t have time to dilly and/or dally.

We were pretty much the lone Las Vegas media outlet to call out the All-Net sham for a decade, and we’re proud to do it again for LXVP. Here’s a look at a rendering of this imaginary resort.

Big thanks to Channel 8 for being the first to dig up these renderings from paperwork submitted to the Winchester Town Board, whatever that might actually be.

When the plan is rubber-stamped by the Winchester Town Board, it will then go to the ever-gullible Clark County Commission for further rubber stamping.

Reminder: Renderings and plans are not financing, and without financing, this project isn’t a reality, nor will it ever be.

The folk who created the renderings, Steelman Partners, are legit, however. Drawings aren’t cheap, but we’re talking thousands of dollars, not billions. That’s a whole different ballgame. Speaking of ballgames, see also the utter lack of funding for the A’s ballpark and Bally’s Corp. resort on the former Tropicana site.

Are we simply a naysayer for the sake of naysaying? No, although, we sometimes say “nay” when it’s clear something is a a wholly ridiculous charade fashioned from smoke, mirrors and beetle dung. It’s not pessimism, it’s common sense. We’ve been pointing out the sheer stupidity of this particular dog and pony show since it was announced in April 2024.

Our local media does what it always does, it just repeats what its told, never questioning whether the information is in any way tethered to reality.

The reality is the folks involved with this project do not have the wherewithal to actually make it happen.

There’s James R. Frasure Jr., CEO of LVXP; Chief of Staff Christine Richards (a professional dancer and choreographer) and Chief Construction Officer Nick Tomasino. Nick Tomasino managed the construction of The Sphere, the venue that went a billion over budget. Bygones!

Paul and Sue Lowden (a former Nevada state senator, but nobody’s perfect), and their Archon Corp., are also involved in the project. The pair have operated a handful of small casinos that generated dozens of dollars in revenue (including Hacienda, Pioneer and Santa Fe Station), along with the aforementioned Wet ‘n Wild.

The Lowden’s son, Chris Lowden, was sued for fraud and racketeering related to the Stoney’s Rockin’ Country company in 2016, a brand Archon owns.

No one involved with LVXP has said where financing will come from, mostly because it’s not coming from anywhere.

To rattle off the alleged features of this project would be like naming the anatomical features of a mermaid, so we won’t, except to say they’re lofty and imaginative.

As is required by Nevada state law now, developers enthusiastically claim the resort will have an 18,000-seat sports arena to try and lure an NBA team. As we have shared, this is already happening at the Rio site, so LVXP is unmitigated fiction.

The only thing missing at LVXP is a Stargate. Give them a minute.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Las Vegas Strip, the proposed LVXP site (currently a mosquito breeding ground) is between Fontainebleau and the Sahara casino, owned by noted douchenozzle Alex Meruelo. All due respect to douchenozzles.

The well-meaning but delusional folks at LVXP say they’ll start building this multibillion-dollar resort “in early 2025,” the first of many hallucinatory dates that will come and go for the next several years as the developers scramble to find financing that is never going to materialize.

There are so many exciting projects in Las Vegas, it’s best we not waste time on the outlandish ones that aren’t happening. This, friends, is a metric ass-ton of that.

Update (11/17/24): Oh, look, another rendering of the LVXP project that is never, ever happening.

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There’s a lot going on at Caesars Palace, the grande dame of the Las Vegas Strip. For our fellow youths who may be unfamiliar with the term “grande dame,” Caesars Palace possesses a fair amount of “gyatt.”

Anyway, the old girl still has some vixen in her with a number of venues coming online in the next month or two, including a high limit slot area, high limit table games area and Caspian’s Lounge, along with Mokbar in the resort’s food hall. A couple of areas have already debuted. Buddy V’s Pizzeria just opened in the food court and a high limit slot area got a beautiful makeover.

Let’s take a look at some of the newness at Caesars Palace, the quintessential Las Vegas resort and a place where we used to work before founding our online media empire. If you thought, ” That ’empire’ should be in quotation marks,” your insolence is duly noted.

Let’s start with the things that have already quietly been unveiled at Caesars Palace.

A small high limit slot room just off the casino floor has gotten a serious refresh.

Prior to the renovation, the room was popular but looked like it had been rode hard and put up wet, unbecoming of a high limit room in the flagship resort of Caesars Entertainment.

Done. Revamped high limit slot room is adorable, echoing the design of the dome above the main casino. Huge new high limit slots and tables areas will be live in the next few weeks. @CaesarsPalace //t.co/aGCw54D3N4 pic.twitter.com/DBWJiCiX1O

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) October 26, 2024

We texted photos of the abused chairs in the room to higher ups in the company, and we proved once again that whining can have a positive impact on the world. The new chairs are fleek AF.

Do you know this blog at all?

Also new at Caesars is Buddy V’s Pizzeria in the resort’s food hall, quickly becoming a place where you might actually want to eat voluntarily, despite Bobby’s Burgers.

We haven’t tried this Buddy V’s yet, but we stopped by prior to opening and the food looked tasty. (We like his spots at the Linq and Venetian, Harrah’s not so much.) Buddy V’s Pizzeria replaces the price gougefest that was DiFara Pizza. Yes, there’s cake.

Buddy V’s Pizzeria security breach @CaesarsPalace. LFG! @CakeBossBuddy pic.twitter.com/usfzhvHwli

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) October 26, 2024

New things are awesome, but we especially enjoy seeing what’s next and not publicly viewable yet. We call these sneak peeks “security breaches” just to make them sound more romantic.

Caesars Palace will soon have two new spaces for its high rollers.

The high limit slots salon is going to be resplendent, or perhaps even another word we actually know the meaning of.

It’s clear no expense is being spared. Other sumptuous high limit rooms have been cropping up on The Strip, and locals casinos (like Station Casinos) have been giving the big boys a run for their money with elegant offerings for their much-coveted high limit gamblers.

Here’s a look behind the construction wall.

The room will feature a very fancy chandelier, among other amenities.

This new high limit area will have more of a party vibe than the existing Palace Court high limit room at Caesars Palace, intended to capture some of the Omnia foot traffic. Palace Court isn’t going anywhere, this is additive.

Here’s one of the decorative flourishes on display in the future high limit slots room at Caesars.

The high limit slot area is connected to the high limit table games area by a hallway with a sweet cage. Photos of casino cages is strictly forbidden, so here’s a photo of the cage because we do not live by society’s rules.

The high limit table games salon will continue the club-esque vibe.

There will be a small bar in the table games salon, but no video poker (at opening, anyway).

The high limit table games room will have roulette and blackjack and the usual suspects, but no craps table to start.

The new high limit spaces should be complete by the end of 2024.

Getting a fix on where these high limit rooms are situated isn’t easy, but they’ll be easily accessible from the main casino floor. They’re across from Omnia, sort of next to where the Pussycat Dolls party pit was. Across the way from Stanton Social Prime, that place you haven’t been yet.

Also in the works is Caspian’s Lounge. This new lounge, from Clique Hospitality, sits in the former home of Cleopatra’s barge. At this point, it’s an empty box, no trace of the former showroom in sight.

Caspian’s Lounge will have live music, but it’s not being built as an entertainment venue, we said appreciatively.

Caspian’s will have a small bar, of course.

Clique Hospitality has a number of Las Vegas venues ranging from terrible (Side Piece at Red Rock) to outstanding (Clique at Cosmo and Tailgate Social at Palace Station), so we have high hopes for Caspian’s Lounge, especially if no cigar smoking is allowed.

Enjoy this world premiere of a song we made for you. We can't stop singing it and hope you do not have the same experience, probably. pic.twitter.com/f0BKdxYJWj

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) September 7, 2024

Are you maxed out on Caesars Palace news yet? Tough.

Also in the works at the resort’s food court are Mokbar and Tortazo by Rick Bayless.

The name of Mokbar is officially Mokbar, but the signage says “Mok Bar.” This is a smidge confusing. To make matters even more baffling, it’s really Mŏkbar, with a little thing over the “o.” That diacritical mark is called a “breve.” Mokbar translates as “eat bar.” We didn’t think food court tenants could sell liquor (as it could interfere with the landlord’s liquor revenue), so this should be interesting.

Anyway, Mokbar is from the adorable Esther Choi, so we’re looking forward to trying it. The space was previously Tiger Wok & Ramen.

As for Tortazo by Rick Bayless, it’s not as far along as the other new concepts in the Forum Food Hall, not to be confused with the food offerings at the Caesars Forum, a convention space nowhere near Caesars Palace. Don’t get us started.

We’re almost done, but feel compelled to give a little scoop about the Caesars Palace poker room.

The poker room has been shut down as the casino’s high limit areas are rejiggered, but it will be back. It won’t, however, be in the same spot, we’re told. It’s going to the other end of the casino, closer to the parking garage, the entrance to the Forum Shops and by Vanderpump Cocktail Garden. It’s fluid, but it’s coming back, so don’t freak out.

In perhaps the biggest Caesars Palace news, we’re pretty sure the elevators in the self-park garage are being repaired. Half the elevators were out of order when we left Caesars Entertainment in 2013, and we’re pretty sure they have remained that way until now. Just saying.

Can any cable experts confirm Caesars Palace is repairing its parking garage elevators, at least two of which have been inoperable since we worked there more than a decade ago? pic.twitter.com/7ierXEVKEA

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) October 26, 2024

All these changes at Caesars Palace follow on the heels of a serious investment in breathing new life into this famed throwback casino, including a beautiful new bar just off the hotel lobby and a new valet entrance.

One last bit of newness! A recent news release we deleted because we are very important and busy said something about a new Omnia Dayclub. This explains some of the tree removal in front of Caesars Palace.

While it doesn’t fit our F1 narrative, we’ve been informed these changes are making way for the recently (and quietly) announced Omnia dayclub. //t.co/8AGshbyOrh

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) October 16, 2024

It’s expected this space will be used for F1-related activities prior to the construction of the Omnia Dayclub, but few details have been provided. It’s possible the details were provided during our recent behind-the-scenes tour (sorry, “security breach”), but we don’t take notes, which we’re aware is a serious character flaw, however, you are not our mom.

You know we’ll keep you in the loop about all the new developments at Caesars Palace, so check back hourly for updates.

Update (11/7/24): We told you to check back! The day after our post went live, Caesars Palace announced the aforementioned food hall concepts—Tortazo by Chef Rick Bayless, Mokbar by Chef Esther Choi and Buddy V’s Pizzeria—have all simultaneously opened and Forum Food Hall has been rebranded to Celebrity Food Hall.

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We dig up the Vegas skinny, so you don’t have to. Or something.

The “something” we dug up this time is an internal MGM Resorts missive that provides details about the upcoming rebrand of Delano at Mandalay Bay to W Las Vegas.

Delano officially becomes W Las Vegas in mid-December November 2024, but changes are already happening. Let’s see what else is in store.

Typically, after the first photo in our story, we remind you we broke a story long before it was officially announced or confirmed. We are not going to do that this time, other than to say we were the first to share Delano would be getting a rebrand (July 2024) to W Las Vegas (August 2024). The official confirmation finally came in Oct. 2024. You’re so gullible. Do you know this blog at all?

Anyway, please stop fawning over our girthy prowess, it’s embarrassing.

Back to business!

As shared previously, the internal communication confirms Delano will become W Las Vegas in mid-December 2024.

Here’s a look at the document we’re sharing exclusively until the unethical nimrods at the Las Vegas Review-Journal steal it without attribution.

W Las Vegas will be operated by MGM Resorts and the current team will remain in place.

There will be no changes to the current food and beverage outlets, for now.

There are quite a few things that will be renovated over the next few years, however. Those renovations include the entrance, lobby, 3940 (a coffee stand), front desk and a “Mandalay Bay to W Las Vegas transition hallway.”

A new lobby lounge concept is in the works, Living Room. Yes, there’s already a Living Room at Intrigue at Wynn. It’s unclear if W and MGM have access to the Internet.

Yes, there was a Living Room when W was attempted at SLS for a minute back in 2016.

The memo also says Delano Beach Club will be rebranded to W Wet Deck and the space will be refreshed.

Yes, we’re just repeating all the items you just read in the internal communication. Mostly because you have to hear things at least twice for them to stick.

Skyfall will stay Skyfall, but the space will get a refresh.

Perhaps most significantly, all the rooms at what is now Delano will be renovated to conform with W standards, whatever those might be. The room renovation is scheduled for completion in 2027.

The full renovation of W Las Vegas will be completed by 2028 unless the world goes to hell in a handbasket, then all bets are off.

Delano doesn’t have a casino, and neither will W Las Vegas, so it’s hard to care about all this.

Still, it’s not all that often we see a hotel rebranded on the Las Vegas Strip, so this is pretty big news. Monte Carlo became Park MGM. Bally’s became Horseshoe. Mirage is becoming Hard Rock Las Vegas.

There are probably more, but we’re too exhausted from all the Review-Journal shaming to effectively use the Googles. Here’s a site that does a good job of keeping track.

Delano, the most mispronounced hotel on The Strip, is becoming W Las Vegas, so update your list of Las Vegas hotels where you don’t stay because you can’t gamble there.

Update (11/5/24): The Delano sign is already being removed.

Wasting no time on the Delano rebrand to W Las Vegas. (h/t @DSchwartz99LV) Related: //t.co/6Rz7OatIHi pic.twitter.com/ez0gWGYCuU

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) November 5, 2024

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Imagine sharing yet another story months before it’s officially announced and watching local news lose their minds because their sources suck and you can’t even really brag about it because if you’re known for one thing, it’s modesty.