Cosmopolitan opens doors to what execs hail as next generation of Las Vegas hotels

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opened to the public on schedule Wednesday as locals joined tourists in exploring the Strip's latest hotel-casino -- and probably the last to open over the next decade as Las Vegas and the gaming industry recover from a weak economy.

With 10 seconds before the doors opened at 8 p.m., guests, staff and executives counted down the remaining moments before Killers frontman Brandon Flowers threw a nine on the craps table. His first of three throws was the signal to dealers and guests seated at the gaming tables that the casino floor had opened.

"It's just the beginning," Cosmopolitan chief executive John Unwin said shortly after the opening. "We've brought the plane in for a touchdown. Now it's time to take off, and all the charts should point up for the next five years."

Unwin said the resort's opening signaled the beginning of the next generation of hotels in Las Vegas.

Billed as "polished without pretense," The Cosmopolitan is unique among Strip hotel-casinos in that its vertical design places shops, restaurants and other amenities on multiple floors throughout the two 50-story towers.

The $3.9 billion resort sits on 8.7 acres between the Bellagio and the CityCenter complex.

Owned by Germany's Deutsche Bank after foreclosing on the original developer in 2008, The Cosmopolitan opened 2,000 of its 2,995 rooms Wednesday. It is the only hotel-casino to open on the Strip this year, with all the rooms scheduled to open by July.

The resort has a 100,000-square-foot casino and 36,000 square feet of high-end retail shops, including British-brand AllSaints and Beckley, a boutique selling women's clothing and accessories.

Ashley McMillan, 27, checked in with her husband, Forrest, on Wednesday afternoon for two days.

"This is new and different and definitely appeals to a younger crowd," she said.

Hotel guests were able to check in during the afternoon before the grand opening.

Previously a regular at Encore, Forrest McMillan, 27, switched his preference to The Cosmopolitan.

"My parents stay at the Encore, while we are staying here," the Dallas resident said. "This is well-designed and interesting, while the Encore is comfortable, relaxed luxury. I like luxury, but I'm just too young for the Encore."

Antony Bibbs arrived in Las Vegas late Wednesday from Anderson, Ind., with his girlfriend, mother and aunt.

"We enjoy coming to Las Vegas for the openings of new hotels. We were here for the opening of Aria, Encore and now The Cosmopolitan," Bibbs said. "This is going to be our last one for a few years because of the economy. I wanted to surprise my mom, aunt and girlfriend, so we are staying here for two nights."

Before the public opening, The Cosmopolitan hosted a party for invited guests, who sampled wine and food from the resort's restaurants.

Flowers played a three-song set in the three-story Chandelier Bar. Late Wednesday, he played a private concert for invited guests by the resort's signature pool that overlooks the Strip.

On New Year's Eve, The Cosmopolitan will host a party with headliners ColdPlay and Jay-Z.

On Wednesday morning, Unwin cut the ribbon with executives and others involved in the construction of the resort, including Related Cos. Vice President of Development Ron Wackrow, Perini Building Co. CEO Craig Shaw and architects David Rockwell and Brad Friedmutter.

"I'm very pleased with how The Cosmopolitan turned out," Friedmutter said. "It's the designers and architects that create a place, but it's the people who fill out that space with activity. I'm very happy. It was an incredible collaboration."

Unwin told about 200 employees and invited guests that The Cosmopolitan was "bringing back a bit of personality to Las Vegas."

"We all understand that this is an opportunity of a lifetime, and we are treating it that way," he said. "The Cosmopolitan embraces Las Vegas. Welcome to luxury redefined with (luxury) restaurants, shopping, music and state-of-the-art gaming."

Unwin also thanked employees, from construction workers to hotel staff, calling them "co-stars" for their work in preparing to open the property.

The hotel-casino has a vertical multitower design that blends into the skyline of CityCenter. Its private terraces provide views of the Strip and the entire city.

"This is the biggest project we've ever managed," Wackrow said. "It's nice to have a success. We expect this project to be a big success. This is a proud moment for me and the entire team who built this building. It was a true collaborative effort."

The new resort will increase overall room capacity in Las Vegas by 1.5 percent and includes a spa and fitness facility, three pools and 150,000 square feet of conference space.

In-room amenities include plasma televisions, a custom bar, and Japanese soaking tubs and rain showers in the bathrooms.

After all the speeches by company executives and local politicians have concluded, the question remains: Will the new hotel-casino be successful?

The Cosmopolitan is not part of a major hotel chain, even though it announced a partnership with Marriott International's Autograph Collection. Through the partnership, Unwin expects the resort to benefit from the Quest loyalty program, which drives customers in the leisure, corporate and group markets.

"This opportunity creates a powerful partnership by aligning interests, broadening market share and driving growth," he said.

Contact reporter Chris Sieroty at csieroty@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.

Trending topics:

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• Chris Sieroty
• Deutsche Bank AG
• gambling
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• John Unwin
• Las Vegas
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• ribbon-cutting ceremony
• The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. jdsummerlin Dec. 16, 2010 | 10:25 p.m. Report Abuse

   We went to check it out tonight and LOVED it! CityCenter and Vdara are in some major trouble now I should think, as the Harmon Hotel sits across the street and ROTS!
   Jim and Bobby had better reinvent something before Vdara implodes!

2. woofwoof Dec. 16, 2010 | 2:59 p.m. Report Abuse

   NextGen is spin for server based slots and 25 dollar BJ.

3. z_white_knight Dec. 16, 2010 | 2:39 p.m. Report Abuse

   All I know is that The Cosmopolitan doesn't like to hire older workers who are well qualified. So because of that I hope they lose everything! Seen these places come and go in the last forty two years, and am willing to bet, this will be one of them!

4. Green Dragon Regular Dec. 16, 2010 | 2:10 p.m. Report Abuse

   @joey7jh-
   
   And yet, oddly enough, when one goes to the Strip, one finds Bellagio, MGM Grand, Wynn/ Encore, and CityCenter all crowded while places like Harrah's and Flamingo are relatively quiet...

5. talkwjon Dec. 16, 2010 | 1:52 p.m. Report Abuse

   I saw it... it's nice very hard to get in and out of and I would saw it doesn't hold a candle to Encore... or even a match.
   
   (nice but cheap materials and it shows)

6. TheBrain Dec. 16, 2010 | 1:41 p.m. Report Abuse

   I love how stories talk about "new jobs" being created when a casino opens. Outside of the contruction jobs most of the others aren't "new". There is only so much demand for services and if a new establishment opens, like in this case, then is shares business with the existing ones. That means it will take customers and gambling/entertainment dollars form existing casinos and they will lay off workers. See there aren't any "new" jobs - maybe redistribution of jobs but none created. It isn't like opening a casino will suddenly cause business to come in that wasn't there before unless it is truly unique and draws a market that previously didn't come to LV and that simply isn't the case here.

7. VegasDude2010 Dec. 16, 2010 | 10:53 a.m. Report Abuse

   The Cosmopolitan is 'next generation' all right. It won't be till the next generation where they turn a profit. After what they did to those poor condo customers, I'll never step foot in that place.

8. Duane.Dowden Dec. 16, 2010 | 9:34 a.m. Report Abuse

   Hey, do you know that a couple of hundred people payed hundreds of thousands of dollars EACH to live in non existant condos at the fabulous "Cosmo"? Now they are fighting a court battle because the "Cosmo" is not even refunding their deposits and the "condos" are now just hotel rooms. I say BOYCOT THE COSMOPOLITAN until they settle up with the early faithful and trusting investors who currently have little hope of seeing anything. Why would I spend money in a place that is not taking care of it's oldest friends - the investors. Watch out Cosmo, you will be the next property to drop like a rock - and you brought it on yourself.

9. BiscuitMKE Dec. 16, 2010 | 8:55 a.m. Report Abuse

   During my last 3 visits to Vegas (May 09, May 10 and Nov. 10), I've noticed an increase in the number of people visiting the city. Each of my visits were 6 days (Sun. to Sat.), and each day I had to contend with a large crowd of people. I stayed at the Rio (twice) and the Monte Carlo (first time) and there were 'tons' of people all over the place. No matter where I chose to play (from Tropicana to Mirage to Downtown's Golden Nugget) there were people, people and more people.
   
   Yes, we are in an economic downturn and yes, Vegas DOES have TOO MANY high-end resorts... but the people are beginning to visit Vegas more often (including me). So, The Cosmopolitan will have a certain amount of success (as will CityCenter) because people WANT to vacation in Vegas. I think CityCenter is beautiful and marvelous and I'm sure The Cosmo is likewise, so I wish them tremendous success. That being said, Vegas needs to remodel, refurbish the every-day-Joe places (Tropicana is doing a terrific job) because we low to low/middle-end folk cannot hang (for long) in the high-end, over-the-top resorts. Refurbish the north end of the Strip!

10. RussBBinVegas Dec. 16, 2010 | 8:41 a.m. Report Abuse

    So, just out of curiosity, who will be on the hook the day Deutsche Bank declares there's not a snowball's chance in hell that "cash flow" can get anywhere near servicing the gigantic loan it took to build this place. Like ALL the huge banks that have made atrociously stupid loans, the US taxpayer will then throw in a billion or 2, to cover the obviously inevitable losses?

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