Latest news with #PatrickNichols
Travel Weekly
3 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Venetian Las Vegas puts hidden spaces to work
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."
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Travel + Leisure
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
The Venetian in Las Vegas Is Getting a $1.5 Billion Overhaul and We Got a Preview of Its Best Suites and New Restaurants
Less than three years after announcing a $1.5 billion reinvention of The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, the initial phases of the project have been completed. 'We are proud to have delivered on that promise,' the resort's president and CEO, Patrick Nichols, tells Travel + Leisure . The massive glow-up introduced Las Vegas to its first Israeli dining concepts, courtesy of acclaimed chef Eyal Shani. Miznon, a fast-casual pita shop, made its debut, followed by HaSalon, a marriage between Mediterranean fine dining and Tel Aviv bacchanalia. Next came Voltaire, a next-generation nightlife venue dreamed up by the resort's chief content officer, Michael Gruber. Voltaire has already hosted sold-out shows from Kylie Minogue, Christina Aguilera, and Jason Derulo, and is now home to a limited run of Dita Von Teese's burlesque show. The culinary rollout continued with an outpost of Los Angeles' beloved farmers' market-to-table favorite Gjelina, and Nomikai, an elevated sushi restaurant complete with a tucked-away speakeasy. But the most highly anticipated additions are still to come. Soon, the property will welcome a trio of standout openings: COTE, the first (and only) Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse in the U.S.; the Las Vegas migration of José Andrés' avant-garde Bazaar Meat from Sahara Las Vegas; and a new food hall called Via Via. All three will be open by the end of the year, according to Nichols. Via Via features a curated lineup of cult-favorite concepts from across the country. Think an outpost of Florence's legendary sandwich shop All'Antico Vinaio, Nashville's hot chicken Howlin' Ray's, and New York's Scarr's Pizza. The roster also includes a revival of chef Ray Garcia's Los Angeles B.S. Taqueria, Tokyo-and-NYC favorite Ivan Ramen, and two hits from New Orleans chef Mason Hereford: the breakfast haunt Molly's Rise & Shine and the all-day counter-service gem Turkey and the Wolf. There is even a cocktail bar called Close Company from the team behind L.A.'s Death & Co. Beyond the buzzy culinary additions, The Venetian's top floors now house some of the most opulent suites in the city. Its Signature Suites collection includes penthouses, presidential suites, and the crowning jewel, chairman suites, all of which have been completely reimagined and packed with over-the-top amenities, such as media rooms, Tonal gyms, steam baths, and saunas. The living room inside the Richmond Chairman suite. Thomas Hart Shelby/The Venetian Resort 12 Best Las Vegas Hotels 20 Totally Free Things to Do in Las Vegas 'We stripped them all down to the studs,' says Nichols. 'The goal was to bring in smart technology and create spaces that feel truly residential—comfortable, luxurious, and designed for how people actually live and entertain.' To that end, four distinct design schemes were developed by NYC-based firm Meyer Davis and London's Richmond International. All marry Italian sensibilities with Vegas whimsy, featuring Venetian plaster, Murano glass–inspired lighting, and custom Italian-crafted furnishings. Butler service comes standard, along with steam showers, Japanese toilets, and Dyson hairdryers. In the penthouse suites, plush Italian fabrics, corner-framed Venetian photography, and Scarpa flooring–inspired carpets set a refined tone. The presidential suites center around a sculptural, hand-crafted resin bar and feature Moroso leather armchairs, ripple-detailed dining tables, and custom-colored pianos. The five chairman suites showcase exquisite Officina Luce chandeliers, embroidered leather dining chairs, and a woven Murano glass–inspired bar backdrop that practically begs for a negroni moment. Some suites also feature unexpected elements, such as karaoke lounges, poker tables, and private bars that feel more like members-only clubs or hidden speakeasies. 'There's a suite for every kind of traveler,' Nichols notes. 'Whether you want something energetic and fun, or timeless and elegant, we've got it.' The refresh also brings a new naming structure to the resort's towers: The Venetian now refers to the North and South Towers—the former being the original 1999 tower, and the latter opening in 2003. While the Signature Suite refresh completes the larger $550 million room revamp of these towers, Nichols exclusively revealed to T+L that the South Tower's penthouse space, which, until now, had remained an unfinished 'gray shell,' is being quietly completed. Slated to open this summer, these 78 new suites will range from two to four bedrooms and, unlike the Signature Suites, which are reserved for The Venetian's top casino customers, these will be available for the general public to book. 'They'll be some of the largest suites you can book in Las Vegas,' says Nichols. And the upgrades aren't stopping there. 'We're working on some exciting things at The Palazzo next,' Nichols adds, though, for now, the details remain under wraps.
