Operators of the SLS Las Vegas offered an update Tuesday on the Las Vegas Strip property’s $100 million redevelopment project that includes a casino remodel, hotel room updates and a new restaurant.
What is not changing is the name.
SLS President Paul Hobson said the resort still has a partnership with sbe Entertainment, which owns the name SLS as well as several of the property’s restaurant brands.
“We have had conversations around the future name going forward,” Hobson said. “For now, we are SLS and we haven’t set about any course in particular.”
Many observers believe the property, which was purchased last year by Alex Meruelo’s privately-held Meruelo Group from San Francisco-based Stockbridge Capital Partners for an undisclosed price, would revert to the name Sahara.
SLS Las Vegas President Paul Hobson,
Clark County building permits, discovered by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, refer to property as the Grand Sahara Resort, and the property’s rewards program is named Club 52, which denotes the year the Sahara opened.
The Rat Pack-era property became one of the iconic Las Vegas Strip resorts with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and other entertainers hanging out in the casino’s lounge. Stockbridge and sbe Entertainment boss Sam Nazarian purchased the Sahara in 2007 for $400 million. The resort was closed in 2011 and reopened in 2014 as the SLS.
Now, Meruelo Group is spending $100 million to give the property’s 60,000-square-foot casino a new look, that includes a bright and more modern atmosphere with a finished ceiling and new lighting. The casino’s slot machine areas and table game pits have been given a new layout.
Hobson said a new casino lounge and a new premium gaming area will be developed.
“We’re doing the casino in four phases and we’re on phase three,” Hobson said. “We are excited about the physical transformation of the resort and how those improvements impact the guest experience.”
As part of the casino remodel, however, Katsuya, a Japanese restaurant brand owned by sbe, will be removed and become the site for the premium gaming area.
A casual Mexican dining concept, Uno Mas, will open in the Spring. Hobson said Katsuya employees will be able to transfer to the new restaurant.
Tacos from Uno Mas
“Uno Mas is the first new addition to the culinary program since the resort reopened five years ago,” said SLS Vice President of Food and Beverage Anthony Olheiser. He said the property will launch new dining options over time.
What won’t change, Hobson said, is the commitment Chef Jose Andrés has made to the SLS. His award-winning Bazaar Meat will continue to be SLS’s signature restaurant.
SLS plans to replace the Foxtail nightclub with a new ultra-lounge and changes will come to hotel lobby and guest check-in area.
As for the hotel areas, a redesign of the Story and World Towers, as well as upgrades to the Grand Tower, are near completion. Improvements also include enhancements to the elevator lobbies and room corridors as well as remodeled rooms. The Grand Tower had been operated by W Hotels and SLS took back control of building in August. SLS plans to upgrade the spa area.
The SLS transformation is similar to what Meruelo accomplished with his company’s first casino, the Grand Sierra in Reno. Formerly, known as the Reno Hilton and Bally’s Reno, Meruelo Group spent $175 million to transform the Northern Nevada property.
“Mr. Meruelo is a visionary who pays close attention to detail,” said Nancy Paolino, chief creative officer for Innovativo Design Inc., which is overseeing redevelopment at SLS and handled the redesign of the Grand Sierra. “The guest experience is very important to him.”
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgamingreports.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
