Staff Writer
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas hopes to generate some serious buzz when it opens its doors for the first time on March 25 with zero resort fees, a perk that is sure to delight Vegas guests as this expense is universally reviled.
The recent announcement was made by Richard “Boz” Bosworth, President and CEO of JC Hospitality.
In an official press release, Bosworth stated that in addition to the waiving resort fees, guests of the newly opened resort would also “be able to enjoy complimentary self-parking and Wi-Fi at no charge” throughout the hotel and casino complex. The move was part of the property’s efforts to “dazzle guests even before their arrival.”
Virgin Hotels is the first major casino resort in Las Vegas to do away with resort fees against the backdrop of a city suffering the negative economic effects of the coronavirus. Experts agree that measures like this can help the gaming and hospitality sectors transcend overcome the challenges the gaming and hospitality industries have been beleaguered by since the onset of the pandemic. Of particular concern has been the sharp decline in reservations and falling gambling revenues.
Once opened, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will be the fifth property operated by the hospitality business unit of British businessman Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. The other four Virgin hotels are situated in Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, and San Francisco. Following its Las Vegas opening, Virgin intends to launch venues in Louisiana, New York City, and Silicon Valley in 2021.
The move to eliminate resort fees forms part of Virgin’s No Nickel and Diming policy that dictates that the advertised price is all guests will pay with no “surprise fees and no cancellation costs”, among others.
Countdown to launch
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will open its doors on March 25 following two delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic and state-enforced restrictions on non-essential businesses. The property’s initial launch was planned for the fall of 2020, but it had its opening pushed back to mid-January with the final postponement to late March announced in February.
The Vegas venue is an off-Strip hotel and casino complex on Paradise Road, occupying a site previously held by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. Hard Rock shut down for good in February 2020 for $200 million in renovations and upgrades that would eventually transform it into a Virgin Hotels resort.
The site was purchased in 2018 by Virgin’s hospitality operation and JC Hospitality.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas offers 1,500 chambers and suites across three towers. The towers form part of the Curio Collection by Hilton thanks to a partnership between Virgin Hotels and Hilton inked in 2019.
Connecticut casino operator Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment will operate the new 60,000-square-foot casino which will feature a vast selection of slot machines and table games as well as a Betfred-operated sportsbook.
The resort will also boast a five-acre pool oasis, a 4500 attendee capacity venue for live music and entertainment, and a dozen food and beverage stores, including Hakkasan Group’s Casa Calavera, Nobu, and Michael and David Morton’s One Steakhouse.
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