The Venetian Las Vegas

The Venetian Las Vegas
Location	Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Address	3355 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Opening date	May 3, 1999 (May 3, 1999)
Theme	Venice, Italy
No. of rooms	3,036 (1999) 4,049 (2003)
Total gaming space	120,000 sq ft (11,000 m2)
Permanent shows	Human Nature Jukebox
Signature attractions	Grand Canal Shoppes Venetian Expo
Casino type	Land-based
Owner	Vici Properties
Operating license holder	Apollo Global Management
Architect	KlingStubbins
Renovated in	2003
Coordinates	36°07′17″N 115°10′08″W
Website	venetian.com

The Venetian Las Vegas is a luxury hotel and casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States, on the site of the old Sands Hotel. Designed by KlingStubbins, the hotel tower contains 36 stories and rises 475 feet (145 m). The Venetian is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Apollo Global Management. The Venetian resort complex includes the adjacent Palazzo resort and The Venetian Convention and Expo Center center, as well as the upcoming MSG Sphere at The Venetian. The Venetian-Palazzo complex includes the world's second-largest hotel, with 4,049 rooms, 3,068 suites and a 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m²) casino.;

History

In April 1996, Sheldon Adelson announced plans to create the largest resort on the Strip. This project would be situated on the former Sands property. On November 26, 1996, eight years after it was purchased by the owners of The Interface Group—Adelson, Richard Katzeff, Ted Cutler, Irwin Chafetz and Jordan Shapiro, the Sands Hotel was imploded to make way for The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. Groundbreaking for the hotel began on April 14, 1997.

The resort opened on May 3, 1999, with flutter of white doves, sounding trumpets and singing gondoliers. Actress Sophia Loren joined Adelson, the chairman and owner, in dedicating the first motorized gondola. Built at a cost of $1.5 billion, it was one of the most expensive resorts of its kind when it opened.

In 2004, the Venetian agreed to pay a $1 million penalty to settle a 12-count Gaming Control Board complaint. One of the 12 complaints alleged the hotel had held a drawing for a Mercedes-Benz that was rigged to be won by a high roller who had lost a large amount in the casino. The executives involved were fired.

2007 saw the opening of the sister resort in Macau, The Venetian Macao, modeled after the original Las Vegas property.

In 2013, the Venetian agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Justice $47.4 million to settle charges over "alleged money laundering activities".

Like other casinos in the state, the Venetian closed indefinitely in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the state. In April 2020, the Venetian announced plans to incorporate emergency medical personnel and automatic camera-based body temperature scans into its eventual reopening, which occurred on June 4, 2020.

By the end of 2020, Las Vegas Sands wanted to focus on its operations in Macau, as Asia was expected to recover from the pandemic's impact at a faster rate. The company was in early discussions to sell the Venetian, the Palazzo, and the Sands Expo. Adelson died in January 2021, and Las Vegas Sands announced two months later that it would sell the three Las Vegas facilities for $6.25 billion. Through the deal, Vici Properties bought the land under the facilities for $4 billion, and Apollo Global Management acquired the operations for $2.25 billion as part of a triple net lease agreement with Vici. The sale was finalized in February 2022. The two hotel properties retained their names, but the Sands Expo was renamed the Venetian Expo.

Design

Recreation of St Mark's Campanile at the Venetian

The Venetian is themed after Venice during the 1400s and 1500s, and it features numerous landmarks from the city. Initially, Adelson did not plan for the resort to have a theme. His second wife, Miriam, eventually suggested theming the resort after Venice, where they had honeymooned in 1991.

Two architectural firms worked on the project: Stubbins Associates, and Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo. Many of the resort's landmarks and statues were created by Treadway Industries. The design project included 250 artists and sculptors. For historical authenticity, the resort hired two Venice historians, while Treadway sent a team there to photograph the city. Venice mayor Massimo Cacciari was critical of the design, calling it a "mega-galactic example of kitsch" and comparing the resort with a "street walker".

Outdoor canal

The exterior entrance along the Las Vegas Strip is replicated after Doge's Palace and includes a recreation of the Rialto Bridge. It also features a 315-foot-high replica of St Mark's Campanile, topped by a statue depicting Gabriel. A revolving restaurant or lounge had been considered for the top of the tower, but it was deemed too small, measuring only 40 square feet. The Grand Canal Shoppes occupy an Indoor plaza, which depicts St. Mark's Square and features a sky-painted ceiling. Another area of the resort features 21 Renaissance-era paintings that were framed and attached to the ceiling.

The Venetian includes a replica of Venice's Grand Canal that goes through the resort's interior and exterior. Gondolas travel throughout the canal, and visitors can ride on them for a fee. In 2013, the indoor canals were drained for a month-long renovation, the first since the resort opened. At the time, the gondolas attracted an annual 500,000 riders.

Features

Casino and hotel

Venetian casino floor, 2014

The Venetian includes a 120,000 sq ft (11,000 m²) casino. Due to lack of demand, the resort's poker room closed in 2000, with plans to expand the race and sports book. Amid a resurgence in poker popularity, the resort added a new $2.6 million poker room in 2006, featuring 39 tables. At 11,000 sq ft (1,000 m²), it was the third largest poker room on the Strip. The resort eventually replaced it with the larger Sands Poker Room, which debuted in 2012. It was the largest on the Strip, measuring 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m²).

In 2001, the Venetian announced changes aimed at accommodating high rollers. This would include expansion of the baccarat pit, modifications to 18 suites, and the addition of semi-private gaming and dining areas. In 2005, the Venetian opened the Paiza Club, a high-rise private gaming area catering to Asian high rollers. Las Vegas Sands had opened the Sands Macao in China a year earlier, building up a new customer base in Asia.

In 2006, Nevada became the first state to approve mobile gambling, and the Venetian reached a deal with Cantor Gaming to provide such a service at the resort. The mobile gaming devices, developed and operated by Cantor, offered games such as blackjack and video poker. They were usable in public areas of the resort such as restaurants and the pool area. The Venetian introduced the devices in 2008, becoming the first Las Vegas resort to offer them. Cantor took over the Venetian's sports book operations in 2011, and spent $30 million to renovate the facility, which measured 10,000 sq ft (930 m²). A high-limit slot salon opened in 2013, featuring 118 machines and butler service.

The Venetian and Venezia towers

The Venetian opened with 3,036 suites. The original hotel tower is 35 stories and 480 feet in height. Plans were evaluated in 2000 for a second tower, to be built atop the resort's 10-story parking garage. Construction eventually began in July 2002. The 12-story Venezia tower opened in June 2003 and added 1,013 rooms, for a total of 4,049.

The 50-story Palazzo, directly north of the Venetian, includes more than 3,000 rooms. When considered as a single property, the Venetian-Palazzo complex ranked as the world's largest hotel, with approximately 7,100 rooms. The complex has a total of 225,000 sq ft (20,900 m²) in gaming space.

In 2010, the Venetian and Palazzo partnered with InterContinental Hotels Group through a 10-year deal. The Venetian rooms were renovated in 2015. Two years later, the Venetian became the first Las Vegas resort to allow hotel bookings through Facebook Messenger.

Clubs and lounges

Tao club entrance and interior

A nightclub, C2K, opened in late 1999 and was leased out to a third-party operator. The Venetian closed the club in August 2000, alleging rampant drug use and sexual activities. The closure came a month after a woman died at the club of an ecstasy overdose. It reopened two months later, under new management.

In its early years, the Venetian included a club known as the Venus Lounge. In 2005, Vivid Entertainment leased the space and opened it as Vivid, a 7,000 sq ft (650 m²) nightclub. Vivid closed in 2006, and sat vacant until the 2009 opening of Smokin' Hot Aces, a rock and roll bar.

Tao, a popular nightclub and restaurant, opened in 2005. It covers 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m²), including 12,000 sq ft (1,100 m²) for the nightclub. A dayclub, known as Tao Beach, opened in 2007. The five-acre Tao Beach covers the nightclub's rooftop.

In 2012, the Venetian opened The Bourbon Room, a 1980s-themed lounge. It took over the former La Scena lounge and accompanied the resort's new Rock of Ages show, which was performed in a separate venue. The show and lounge closed in early 2016. The Bourbon Room was replaced by the Dorsey, a cocktail bar opened later in 2016. It went on to become one of the most popular bars in Las Vegas. It is scheduled to close in June 2023, to be replaced by Juliet Cocktail Room.

Restaurants

Tao restaurant interior

The Venetian initially featured 15 restaurants, three of which were ready for the resort's soft opening. Notable chefs at the resort included Emeril Lagasse, Joachim Splichal, Stephan Pyles, and Wolfgang Puck. In contrast to most Las Vegas resorts, the Venetian opened without a buffet, as Adelson sought an upper-class clientele: "The people who want buffets are not consistent with the luxury and quality that we've put together here".

Tao Asian Bistro has consistently ranked as the highest-grossing independent restaurant in the U.S. since its 2005 opening, in part due to alcohol sales in its bar. The restaurant features Asian decor, including a giant Buddha statue. Another restaurant, Royal Star, also served Chinese food until its closure in 2006.

Bouchon, a French bistro by chef Thomas Keller, has operated since 2004. It is located in the Venezia tower and was designed by Adam Tihany. Yardbird Southern Table & Bar opened its second location in 2015, at the Venetian. Chef Mario Batali had two restaurants at the Venetian, both of which closed in 2018, after sexual misconduct allegations were made against him. Estiatorio Milos, a Greek seafood restaurant, opened in 2021.

Convention space

Sands Expo in 2010

The resort opened with the Venetian Congress Center, offering 500,000 sq ft (46,000 m²) of meeting space, in addition to the adjoining Sands Expo behind the Venetian, which opened in 1990 as part of the earlier Sands resort. A 150,000 sq ft (14,000 m²) expansion of the Congress Center and Sands Expo brought the resort's total meeting space to 1.9-million sq ft (180,000 m²). The expansion cost $45 million and was finished in 2003.

The Venetian helped popularize Las Vegas as a convention city, particularly thanks to its Sands Expo. Las Vegas Sands renamed it as the Venetian Expo in 2021, while in the process of selling the facility. The Venetian Congress Center was also renamed The Venetian Convention Center.

Museums

The Art of the Motorcycle at Guggenheim Las Vegas, January 2003

Two museums, affiliated with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, opened at the Venetian on October 7, 2001. Both were designed by architect Rem Koolhaas.

• The Guggenheim Las Vegas operated in a 63,700 sq ft (5,920 m²) building until January 2003, hosting only one exhibit up to that point: Guggenheim's The Art of the Motorcycle. The facility and exhibition cost $37 million to develop, and averaged 666 daily visitors; it needed 3,000 to 4,000 to justify operating expenses. The low attendance was partly attributed to decreased tourism brought on by the September 11 attacks. Several new exhibits had been considered as replacements, but none came to fruition due to lack of funding. The Venetian announced in May 2003 that the Guggenheim Las Vegas space would become a new performance theater for the resort.
• The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum operated in partnership with the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. The facility measured 7,660 sq ft (712 m²) and hosted 10 exhibitions before closing in May 2008.

Other features

Since 1999, the resort has included a Madame Tussaud's wax museum, marking the first U.S. location. The resort also features the Grand Canal Shoppes, an 875,000 sq ft (81,300 m²) shopping mall. In 2000, the Venetian became the first Strip resort to open a child-care center for its employees. The Venetian opened with five pools, and the 2003 Venezia addition included another pool deck and the resort's first wedding chapel. Upon its opening, the resort also included the 63,000 sq ft (5,900 m²) Canyon Ranch SpaClub. The spa was expanded during construction of the Palazzo, bringing it to 134,000 sq ft (12,400 m²). It is among the largest spa and fitness centers in Las Vegas.

Entertainers

The Venetian is home to four theaters: The Opaline Theatre, The Palazzo Theatre, The Sands Showroom, and The Venetian Theatre. In October 2005, Blue Man Group opened at the Blue Man Theatre and continued performing there until September 2012, when the show relocated to the Monte Carlo resort. On June 24, 2006, the show, Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular, opened at a new Paris Opera House styled theatre at The Venetian. The show concluded on September 2, 2012. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill headlined their Soul2Soul concert series which began in December 2012 and ended in April 2014.

Gallery

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  The Rialto Bridge at the Venetian
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  View of the outside Gondola rides from second floor balcony just outside the casino.
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  Another outside view of the front from the balcony, at night.
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  This grand gallery connects the reception area and the casino.
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  The centerpiece of the Grand Canal Shoppes entrance hall ceiling.
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  St. Mark's Square at the Grand Canal Shoppes is surrounded by restaurants and shops. It is also the site of live costumed shows.
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  This Venezia reception area is located on the 10th floor of the Venetian/Palazzo complex.
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  St. Mark's Campanile and outdoor fountain at the Venetian
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  Footbridge at the Venetian facing toward The Strip
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  Gondola ride at the Venetian

In popular culture

Films

• The Venetian's casino, lobby, and exterior were among the filming locations for the 2001 film Rat Race. The hotel rooms were also portrayed in the film, although these scenes were shot on a sound stage in Canada.
• The Venetian was a prominent filming location for the 2005 film Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous.

Television

• In 2000, the cooking program Emeril Live shot several episodes in the Showroom.
• By 2003, the resort had made several appearances on the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
• A 2005 episode of Megastructures, titled "Ultimate Casino", focuses on the resort's design and construction.
• The U.S. TV series What Not to Wear shot its series finale at The Venetian and Palazzo in 2013, inviting more than 100 past contributors from the show's 10-year run to participate.
• The American game show Wheel of Fortune filmed episodes for its 31st season at the Venetian and Palazzo in 2013.

External links

• Official website