First impressions are critical when guests visit casinos; that’s why the recently completed renovations at Harrah’s Las Vegas paid special attention to the hotel lobby. Gone is an old map of the United States and a circular cream-colored counter “that went on for days,” says Harrah’s Las Vegas Senior Vice President and General Manager Dan Walsh. The lobby is now decorated with contemporary art that provides a more open and welcoming atmosphere so front desk personnel can better interact with patrons.
“We’ve created that sense of arrival where people walk in and see that this is an elevated hotel and casino,” Walsh says. “It gives you the sense that you’re walking into an elegant property.”
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The $200 million renovation project began in 2016 with the remodeling of the 1,622 rooms in the Valley Tower. All 2,542 rooms and suites on the property were completed in 2020, and Walsh credits Caesars’ Entertainment leadership for completing the work during the pandemic.
While the room improvements are important, the overall look of the hotel is immediately noticeable to guests or even anyone just passing by the property. In a design that the late musician Prince would love, Harrah’s new color scheme is predominantly purple.
“There was a period, maybe ten to fifteen years ago when the Harrah’s brand was redone with a goal of creating a fun culture, a fun atmosphere,” Walsh says. “A lot of those colors were purples and grays, and we tried to incorporate those colors into the renovation.”
Walsh says the new color scheme replaces the former Mardi Gras theme which featured a lot of browns, greens and cream colors, and is especially prominent on the gaming floor. There are also new marble floors and bronze columns, and the exterior of the property has also been redone, with LED lighting and state-of-the-art marquees replacing dome lights and static signage.
“It’s really brought a vibrant look to the property,” Walsh says. “People come in and just can’t believe what it looks like compared to what it used to be.”
Harrah’s also features PizzaCake, the fast-casual restaurant helmed by Cake Boss star chef Buddy Valastro. And in September, former teen heartthrob Donny Osmond will do his first-ever solo residency.
