More novel adventures in Southern Nevada
Las Vegas has always struck me as a choose-your-own-adventure city—one where meeting producers are the authors of unforgettable narratives. The city offers all the essential elements of a compelling story: from gourmet journeys worthy of a classic epic and nature-inspired interludes that read like quiet poetry, to dazzling spectacles that play out like blockbuster finales. On a recent trip, I explored some of the newest chapters added to the Las Vegas saga—and even wandered off The Strip to discover a surprisingly vibrant subplot in nearby Henderson.
Meet and Stay
Let’s start with a cliff-hanger a half hour from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). The long-developing property that started life in 2002 as Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas and briefly went by the nom de plume of Ravella at Lake Las Vegas is now giving off main character vibes as Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa. The grand Mediterranean architecture set against the dramatic Mojave’s mountains and desert is getting ready for prime time with a refresh of the 349 oversized guest rooms, while the 43,476 sq. ft. of meeting space and elevated culinary program continue to draw groups looking to be Las Vegas-adjacent with access to golf and outdoor activities.
One of the heroes in the Henderson story is M Resort Spa Casino, where a $206 million expansion will add 384 guest rooms (for a total of 774 rooms) and 15,000 sq. ft. of convention space. The property is the official headquarters hotel of NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and is home to Raiders Tavern & Grill, a restaurant dedicated to the team.
In cozy downtown Henderson, Station Casinos’ Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa & Casino is starting its own elevated renovation with the unveiling of an all-new casino bar and plans for a restaurant row.
MGM Resorts, fresh off the announcement of a partnership with Marriott International to offer Bonvoy benefits to guests and meeting professionals, is investing $300 million in MGM Grand Hotel & Casino to update 4,200 guest rooms and create more suites. In a fun plot twist, a new pop-up Netflix Bites will feature cuisine inspired by hit streaming television shows. Think Bridgerton Regency Tea and WWE Smashburger.
Experience
If an action page-turner is in your group’s future, it might be time to check out the new F1 X, an interactive Formula 1 experience offering a tech-driven journey through a cutting-edge 4D exhibition. Alternatively, a new 21,000-square-foot F1 Arcade Las Vegas opens this fall in Caesar’s Forum Shops with 87 simulators, a Champagne bar and outdoor terrace overlooking The Strip.
Swingers Las Vegas, the adults-only golf club and arcade experience at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, has introduced a line of zero-proof cocktails to pair with elevated street food and carnival-themed team-building challenges.
Area15 is foreshadowing a 20-acre expansion this fall with the slow opening of Zone 2, eight buildings with 300,000 sq. ft. of next-generation Retailtainment District, including a Boeing 747 fuselage direct from Burning Man and Universal Horror Unleashed.
Dine
The dining collection at Fontainebleau Las Vegas now includes Mother Wolf, Evan Funke’s Hollywood script-worthy Roman classic tableau, mysterious Azul mezcal bar and Nowhere lounge.
Caesars Entertainment continues to dominate the best-seller lists with celebrity chef restaurants at multiple properties. Michelin-starred Chef Rick Bayless elevated the food court at Caesars Palace Las Vegas with Mexico City favorites at his new Tortazo restaurant. Across the street, new at Paris Las Vegas is Dominique Ansel Marche, a Parisian pastry marketplace that guarantees happy endings.
