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Travel Weekly
29-06-2025
- 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."
Miami Herald
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Las Vegas Strip casino closes 1980s superstar singer residency
Comedy singers and musicians have entertained audiences with clever and hilarious song lyrics for decades. Songs performed by comedic artists sometimes contain original lyrics and music. And other times, the artist might borrow the music from a well-known song and write parody lyrics to create a comedic song. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Back in the 1950s and '60s, musician, singer, songwriter, satirist, and mathematician Tom Lehrer, now 97, entertained a more cerebral crowd on his piano. Related: Las Vegas Strip casino shuts down superstar rock band residency You might find a YouTube video out there somewhere of him performing one of his songs about math or his classic song, "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park." Comedian Allan Sherman had a huge hit in 1963 with his comedy song "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter From Camp)," which won a Grammy Award and reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The next year, during Beatlemania, Sherman had another humorous novelty song, "Pop Hates The Beatles," sung to the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel." Rock and roll legend Chuck Berry, who wrote and performed some of the most influential rock songs ever like "Johnny B. Goode," "Sweet Little Sixteen," and "Rock and Roll Music" in the 1950s, had his only No. 1 hit with a novelty song, "My Ding-A-Ling" in 1972. In the 1960s, Ray Stevens had some hit novelty songs like "Ahab, The Arab" and "Guitarzan," before hitting No. 1 in May 1974 with his biggest hit, "The Streak." Comic actor Martin Mull, who passed away in June 2024, recorded seven comedy music albums with original music and lyrics from 1972 to 1979. After performing his act in clubs for several years, Mull got his break on the Norman Lear series "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" in 1976 and its spin-offs "Fernwood 2 Night" in 1977 and "America 2 Night" in 1978, in which he played talk show host Barth Gimble. As the 1980s began, Mull stepped away from recording albums, but still performed live concerts at clubs and on the college circuit, as this writer witnessed. Mull began to spend more time acting on the big screen, as he took a lead role in the 1980 comedy film "Serial" and other motion picture roles in films like "Mr. Mom" in 1983 and "Clue" in 1985. But the most popular comedy recording artist ever is still performing to sell-out crowds after over 40 years in the business and is finishing a major engagement. Image source:Legendary comedy rock star "Weird Al" Yankovic closes his popular sold-out residency in the Venetian Theatre at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas with a final show on June 21. Related: Las Vegas Strip casino extends pop superstar's sold-out residency Weird Al Yankovic scheduled five shows at the Venetian Theatre for June 13, 14, 18, 20, and 21, back in September 2024, to kick off his 73-show Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour, with plans to perform his iconic hits and some never-performed-live-before fan favorites. The tour ends Sept. 25 in Clearwater, Fla. More Las Vegas: Las Vegas Strip Sphere signs another superstar band residencyLas Vegas Strip casino closes country superstar's residencyLas Vegas Strip casino signs global superstar singer to residency Special guest Puddles Pity Party, the 7-foot singing sad clown, opens all of the shows. Puddles has performed shows at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts Theatre and London's Soho Theatre, as well as a residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. A review of Weird Al's tour page shows that VIP tickets for 49 of his shows are sold out; tickets for six shows, including the final Vegas show, are sold out; and joining a waitlist is required for 25 shows on the tour. Weird Al, who has won five Grammy Awards, rocketed to fame in 1984 with his Michael Jackson "Beat It" parody song "Eat It" and Greg Kihn Band "Jeopardy" parody "I Lost on Jeopardy." He is considered the biggest-selling comedy recording artist of all time, according to the Grammy Museum. Related: Las Vegas Strip casinos can't escape an alarming trend The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
UPI
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Ashlee Simpson to perform two Las Vegas concerts Labor Day weekend
1 of 6 | Ashlee Simpson, seen with daughter Jagger Snow Ross at the 2019 premiere of "Frozen 2" in Los Angeles, will perform two Las Vegas shows at the end of August. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo June 3 (UPI) -- Ashlee Simpson will perform two shows on the Voltaire stage at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, the venue announced Tuesday. Simpson's concerts will take place Aug. 29 and 30 over Labor Day weekend. Simpson's new show is called "I Am Me." The set list will include "Pieces of Me," "La La" and "Boyfriend." The Voltaire seats 1,000. The show begins at 9 p.m. both nights. "We're working so hard to make this show feel personal and special," Simpson said in a statement. "I can't wait to share this experience and connect with the audience in such a perfect setting." Tickets start at $65 on the Voltaire website. Simpson is the younger sister of singer and fashion designer Jessica Simpson. Her last release was the 2019 single "Phases" as Ashlee + Evan with her husband, Evan Ross, following their 2018 self-titled EP.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ashlee Simpson Ross Announces ‘I Am Me' Shows at Las Vegas' Venetian Resort
Ashlee Simpson Ross has announced her upcoming 'I Am Me' show, taking place at Las Vegas' Venetian Resort on Aug. 29-30. The performances, announced exclusively on Variety, see the pop singer touching down in Vegas over Labor Day weekend, with a pair of nights slated for Venetian's Voltaire venue that seats a thousand patrons. More from Variety Ashlee Simpson to Star in 'The Recipe Files,' Anchoring QVC and HSN's Streaming Holiday Originals Slate Packed With Product Tie-Ins (EXCLUSIVE) Ashlee Simpson Returns to the Stage for Surprise Performance With Demi Lovato 'I've been holding onto this news for a while, and I'm beyond thrilled to finally share it — I'm hitting the stage in Vegas!' Ross tells Variety. 'Music has always been the place where I feel the most alive, and I'm looking forward to sharing that energy with you all. I'm so grateful for my fans who have supported me throughout my entire career. Let's make these shows unforgettable!' Last year, Ross celebrated the 20th anniversary of her breakthrough debut 'Autobiography,' with the same milestone approaching for her sophomore album 'I Am Me' this October. At her Vegas shows, Ross is expected to perform hits including 'Pieces of Me,' 'La La' and more. Ross last released her third album 'Bittersweet World' in 2008. A decade later, she teamed with her husband Evan Ross for the EP 'Ashlee + Evan,' which they put out just ahead of their reality series of the same name that aired on E! Throughout the years, she starred on stage as Roxie Hart in 'Chicago' on Broadway and the West End, and has dabbled in acting with roles in 'The Recipe Files' and 'Pawn Shop Chronicles.' General on-sale for Ross' 'I Am Me' shows is currently available at and tickets start at $65. Doors for both performances open at 9 p.m. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hyatt Hotels Corp (H) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Growth Amidst Macroeconomic ...
RevPAR Growth: 5.7% system-wide for the quarter. Luxury Brand RevPAR: Increased over 8%. Business Transient RevPAR: Increased 12% in the quarter. Group RevPAR: Increased 9% in the quarter. Net Rooms Growth: 10.5% during the quarter. Pipeline Rooms: Approximately 138,000 rooms, a 7% increase over last year. Loyalty Program Members: Increased by over 2 million, totaling approximately 56 million members, a 22% increase over the past year. Gross Fees: $307 million, up 16.9%. Adjusted EBITDA: $273 million, a 24% increase after adjusting for assets sold in 2024. Share Repurchase: Approximately $149 million of Class A common stock repurchased. Total Liquidity: Approximately $3.3 billion, including $1.8 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Full Year RevPAR Outlook: 1% to 3% growth expected. Net Rooms Growth Outlook: 6% to 7% driven by organic growth. Adjusted Free Cash Flow Outlook: $450 million to $500 million. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with OPI. Release Date: May 01, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Hyatt Hotels Corp (NYSE:H) reported a strong RevPAR growth of 5.7% for the first quarter, driven by luxury brands and business transient travel. The company achieved a net room growth of 10.5% during the quarter, with significant new signings and openings, including the Venetian Resort Las Vegas. Hyatt's World of Hyatt loyalty program saw a 22% increase in membership, adding over 2 million members in the first quarter. The introduction of the Hyatt Select brand aims to expand offerings in the upper mid-scale segment, targeting secondary and tertiary markets. Hyatt Hotels Corp (NYSE:H) maintained a strong balance sheet with total liquidity of approximately $3.3 billion, supporting future growth and acquisitions. Hyatt Hotels Corp (NYSE:H) adjusted its full-year RevPAR growth outlook to a range of 1% to 3%, indicating a potential slowdown in growth for the remainder of the year. The company experienced a slowdown in short-term leisure and business transient bookings in the United States, particularly affecting upscale brands. There is macroeconomic uncertainty impacting future booking activity, with mixed indicators for RevPAR growth in international markets compared to the United States. Hyatt Hotels Corp (NYSE:H) faces challenges in completing property sales, with some transactions not expected to close this year due to market conditions. The company is experiencing slower booking activity at lower chain scales, impacting distribution segment performance. Q: Can you provide an update on how you expect your business units to perform in the current macro environment, particularly regarding distribution and incentive management fees? A: Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO, explained that while the environment is choppy, the first quarter was solid. The all-inclusive business remains strong, with a 7% increase in pace for the second quarter. Business transient and group travel are also performing well, with luxury and upper upscale segments showing strength. Joan Bottarini, CFO, added that the owned segment, which is now less than 20% of earnings, is performing strongly, with margins up 70 basis points year-over-year. Q: Are you seeing cancellations or just fewer bookings, and what is the group booking pace for the remainder of the year? A: Mark Hoplamazian noted significant cancellations in government bookings, but corporate bookings are up, especially in IT, consulting, and banking sectors. The group booking pace for the remainder of the year is up 2.5% to 3%, with corporate bookings showing strong future pace. Q: Can you provide more color on the Playa transaction timeline and potential buyers? A: Mark Hoplamazian stated that they expect to sign a deal for asset dispositions soon, with a commitment to sell down $2 billion by 2027. They have a strong track record of meeting or exceeding their goals in terms of time, dollars, and valuation. Q: What level of cost inflation are developers seeing, and how is it impacting US construction? A: Mark Hoplamazian mentioned that developers are factoring in contingencies as high as 20% for construction costs. However, there is ingenuity among developers, with some sourcing case goods domestically to mitigate tariff impacts. About 30% of the pipeline is under construction, and the activity feels better than a year ago. Q: How confident are you about meeting the conditions for the Playa transaction? A: Mark Hoplamazian expressed confidence in meeting the conditions, including achieving an 80% tendered percentage and obtaining antitrust clearances, primarily from Mexico. They are currently in a waiting pattern for antitrust clearance. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
