Venetian Resort

Venetian Resort. A major luxury resort and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. Opened in 1999, it is renowned for its elaborate theming inspired by the city of Venice, Italy, and is one of the largest hotels in the world by room count. The property is a cornerstone of the modern mega-resort era in Las Vegas, combining extensive gaming, high-end retail, convention space, and fine dining.

History

The resort was developed by businessman Sheldon Adelson through his company Las Vegas Sands, constructed on the former site of the historic Sands Hotel and Casino. Its opening on May 3, 1999, marked a significant shift towards integrated resorts focusing on non-gaming revenue from conventions and retail. A major expansion, The Palazzo, was added in 2007, creating the largest contiguous hotel and convention complex in the United States. Following Adelson's death, ownership and operational control shifted, with the property's real estate acquired by VICI Properties and operations managed by Apollo Global Management.

Architecture and design

The resort's architecture is a lavish recreation of Venetian landmarks, featuring detailed replicas of the Doge's Palace, the Rialto Bridge, and the Campanile. Its interior is dominated by the Grand Canal Shoppes, an indoor retail street with a painted ceiling simulating a daytime sky, complete with gondola rides along manufactured canals. Design firms including Wimberly, Allison, Tong & Goo and Hirsch Bedner Associates contributed to the project, which incorporates millions of square feet of marble and extensive artwork. The adjacent The Palazzo tower continues the Italianate theme with a more modern aesthetic.

Casino and gaming

The casino floor spans over 120,000 square feet and offers a comprehensive array of gaming options. These include thousands of slot machines, a wide variety of table games such as blackjack, craps, and roulette, and a large poker room that has hosted events for the World Series of Poker. The race and sports book is operated by Cantor Fitzgerald and features a massive video wall. The casino is a central revenue driver and has been a key venue for high-stakes gambling in the Las Vegas Valley.

Accommodations and amenities

All accommodations are suite-style, totaling 4,049 suites across the resort and The Palazzo. The property boasts a diverse collection of restaurants from celebrity chefs, including establishments by Thomas Keller, Wolfgang Puck, and Mario Batali. The Canyon Ranch spa and club offers extensive wellness facilities, while entertainment options have included long-running shows like Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular. The resort also contains the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum and significant convention space managed by Vegas Events.

Ownership and operations

Originally developed and operated by Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas Sands, the property underwent a major corporate restructuring following Adelson's death. In 2022, the real estate was sold to VICI Properties in a sale-leaseback transaction, while the operating rights were acquired by a subsidiary of Apollo Global Management. This separation of real estate assets from management is a common model in modern gaming industry finance. The resort competes directly with other major Strip properties like Wynn Las Vegas, Bellagio, and MGM Grand.

Category:Hotels in Nevada Category:Casinos in Las Vegas Category:Buildings and structures in Paradise, Nevada