El Cortez (Las Vegas)

El Cortez (Las Vegas) is a historic hotel and casino located in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The property is owned by Kenny Epstein and features a unique blend of Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival architectural styles, reminiscent of the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Fairmont Hotel. El Cortez has been a popular destination for Hollywood stars, including Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin, who often performed at the nearby Riviera Hotel and Casino and Sahara Hotel and Casino. The hotel has also been featured in several films, including The Godfather and Casino, which were directed by Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, respectively.

● History

The El Cortez was built in 1941 by John Kell Houssels, John Grayson, and Marion Hicks, with the help of Wayne McAllister, a renowned architect who designed several other notable hotels in Las Vegas, including the Sands Hotel and Casino and the Desert Inn. The hotel quickly became a popular destination for entertainers, including Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr., who often performed at the nearby Caesars Palace and MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. In the 1950s and 1960s, the El Cortez was also a favorite haunt of Mafia figures, including Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky, who were involved in the development of several other casinos in Las Vegas, including the Flamingo Las Vegas and the Stardust Resort & Casino. The hotel has been owned by several notable individuals, including Moe Dalitz, a Cleveland gangster who was involved in the development of the Desert Inn and the Stardust Resort & Casino, and Kenny Epstein, a Las Vegas businessman who has owned the hotel since 2007.

● Architecture

The El Cortez features a unique blend of Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival architectural styles, with a distinctive façade that includes a neon sign and a clock tower, similar to the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. The hotel's design was influenced by the work of Wayne McAllister, who was inspired by the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Fairmont Hotel. The hotel's interior features a range of decorative elements, including terrazzo floors, mahogany paneling, and crystal chandeliers, similar to those found in the Waldorf Astoria New York and the Plaza Hotel. The hotel's lobby is decorated with a range of artwork, including paintings by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, and features a marble reception desk and a grand staircase, similar to those found in the Hotel del Coronado and the Grand Hotel Europe.

● Amenities

The El Cortez offers a range of amenities, including a casino, a restaurant, a bar, and a nightclub, as well as a fitness center, a spa, and a pool. The hotel's casino features a range of games, including slots, blackjack, and craps, and offers a players club and a high-limit gaming area, similar to those found in the Bellagio and the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. The hotel's restaurant serves a range of cuisine, including American, Italian, and Mexican dishes, and features a wine list with a range of wines from Napa Valley and Sonoma County. The hotel's bar offers a range of cocktails and live music, and features a piano lounge and a dance floor, similar to those found in the Copacabana and the Tropicana Las Vegas.

● Gaming

The El Cortez casino features a range of games, including slots, blackjack, and craps, and offers a players club and a high-limit gaming area, similar to those found in the Caesars Palace and the Wynn Las Vegas. The casino is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and features a range of tournaments and promotions, including slot tournaments and poker tournaments, similar to those found in the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour. The hotel's gaming area is decorated with a range of artwork, including paintings by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, and features a bar and a restaurant, similar to those found in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and the Palms Casino Resort.

● Renovations_and_expansions

The El Cortez has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, including a major renovation in 2007, which added a new wing to the hotel and updated the casino and gaming areas, similar to those found in the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino and the Bellagio. The hotel has also added several new amenities, including a fitness center, a spa, and a pool, and has updated the lobby and public areas with new decor and furniture, similar to those found in the Four Seasons Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton. The hotel's owners have also invested in several sustainability initiatives, including energy-efficient lighting and heating and cooling systems, similar to those found in the LEED-certified Aria Resort & Casino and the Mandalay Bay.

● Notable_events

The El Cortez has hosted several notable events over the years, including conventions, weddings, and concerts, and has been featured in several films and television shows, including The Godfather and Casino, which were directed by Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, respectively. The hotel has also been a popular destination for Hollywood stars, including Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin, who often performed at the nearby Riviera Hotel and Casino and Sahara Hotel and Casino. The hotel's casino has also hosted several high-stakes poker tournaments, including the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour, which have been won by poker players such as Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu. The hotel has been recognized with several awards, including the AAA Four Diamond Award and the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award, similar to those received by the Bellagio and the Wynn Las Vegas. Category:Hotels in Las Vegas