Venetian Las Vegas puts hidden spaces to work

Travel Weekly

3 days ago

For years, the Venetian Resort Las Vegas had been hiding a secret behind the windows of the top floor of one of its two towers.
That entire floor, comprising nearly 80,000 square feet atop the Venetian South Tower, had remained a concrete shell since 2004, part of nearly 500,000 square feet of prime Strip real estate that was sitting empty. Some areas had remained untouched since the resort opened just over 25 years ago.
That all changed after Las Vegas Sands sold the property to Apollo Global Management and VICI Properties for $6.25 billion in early 2022, with the Venetian unveiling a multiyear, $1.5 billion reinvestment project soon after.
Patrick Nichols, who joined the Venetian as CEO in August 2022, helped spearhead efforts to finally put the property's vacant space to use.
Patrick Nichols
"We benefited from almost half a million square feet of 'gray space' with concrete floors, stud walls, all ready to go," Nichols said.
The empty space at the top of the Venetian South Tower has been transformed into "spectacular, penthouse-caliber suites" that are group-friendly, said Nichols.
"These three- and four-bedroom suites are great to book for a birthday party, bachelor party," he said. "And if someone accidentally sprays a bottle of champagne on the ceiling, it's not the end of the world. We heard from our customers that they wanted a spot for celebrations."
One of the new suites added to the top of the Venetian South Tower. Photo Credit: Venetian Resort Las Vegas
The expansion added 78 suites to the property, bringing the resort's total accommodations count to 7,167.
Other gray spaces were transformed into part of the resort's dining program. The culinary expansion has resulted in what Nichols claims is the largest restaurant collection of any similar resort-gaming complex in Las Vegas, with more than 40 dining establishments now operating with more in the pipeline.
"Food and beverage has become more and more important every year," Nichols said. "People don't just plan their trips around where to stay but also where to eat."
Many of the new culinary additions represent extensions of established brands. These include an outpost of Gjelina, a Venice Beach staple with locations in California and New York, and HaSalon, a Mediterranean concept from Israeli celebrity chef Eyal Shani that has a New York flagship.
The bar and dining area at Gjelina Las Vegas. Photo Credit: Venetian Resort Las Vegas
The centerpiece of the Venetian's culinary expansion, however, is its new Via Via food hall, which Nichols describes as "a collection of great quick-service concepts from around the country." Via Via is home to spinoffs of venues like Scarr's Pizza and Ivan Ramen from New York, Molly's Rise and Shine from New Orleans and B.S. Taqueria from Los Angeles, among other cult favorites.
Also among the property's more recent newcomers is Nomikai, a counter-service operation specializing in Tokyo-inspired handrolls, which Nichols said is especially "great for people at conventions grabbing a bite between meetings."
Still to come this fall are two high-profile additions: Michelin-starred Korean barbecue joint Cote and Bazaar Meat, a Spanish steakhouse from Jose Andres that previously operated at the Sahara Las Vegas.
The property has also added entertainment venues, including Voltaire, a 1,000-seat theater featuring cabaret-style seating where guests can see A-list performers like Kylie Minogue and Christina Aguilera in an intimate, art deco setting.
Why did the space sit empty?
Why hadn't the property's previous ownership opted to develop these unfinished areas? Nichols said it was a classic case of decision paralysis.
"The response from them was, there were just too many options," Nichols said. "And we ran into the same thing -- lots of options, but we made some decisions."
The reinvestment project wasn't limited to filling empty spaces. It also encompassed comprehensive renovations of existing areas, with the Venetian South Tower's 1,000 suites completing a refresh at the end of last year. The North Tower's 3,000 suites are currently under renovation and are expected to be completed by year's end.
"The rooms keep the Italian spirit and the Italian architecture -- the crown moldings, the ornate details -- but with a more contemporary flair when it comes to the furnishings and décor," Nichols said.
A newly renovated suite in the Venetian South Tower. Photo Credit: Venetian Resort Las Vegas
Additionally, the property's convention center, which Nichols said typically serves about a third of the resort's visitors, received its first major redesign. The overhaul included new digital technology and lighting systems throughout the meetings spaces.
On the gaming side, the renovation included the addition of the Yahoo Sportsbook as well as a refresh of the main casino floor.
The comprehensive approach reflects Nichols' vision for creating an all-encompassing destination that keeps guests on the property longer during their Vegas visits.
"We're in a battle for guest time," he said. "People come for two days, three days, and the goal is to build a very sticky mousetrap, where there's no reason to leave -- you can get everything you need at the Venetian."