The Venetian is one of the most popular hotels in Las Vegas. In fact it’s not only a hotel it is much more than that. It even has its own casino. With The Palazzo Hotel and the Sands Expo Convention Center becomes the largest hotel complex in the world.
The Las Vegas Sands Corporation is the owner and operator of this humongous hotel and also of The Palazzo. These two combined can accommodate guests in up to 7,128 rooms, making it one of the largest hotels in the world. Between the two, The Venetian is bigger having no less than 4,049 rooms.
This hotel has a very weird policy. Every three years all the rooms are renovated no matter if there is no complains or any defects. This way it can be up to date and follow the actual trends. Of course, this doesn’t mean that its theme is changed in any way. Like the name suggests the hotel has a Venice theme.
Finalized in the spring of 1999 The Venetian was the most modern hotel, setting several standards. Even these days it is hard to find other hotel that is as fabulous as this. Europe being a popular holiday location among the wealthy American residents, choosing a true Italian city as inspiration proved to be a profitable decision.
Sands, the owner company, already had a hotel at this property. This was the MGM Sands. Taking in consideration its popularity it would be risky just changing its theme or changing anything about it. However, building another hotel in its place was considered insanity. Despite the risks on November 26, 1996, the lights of the main sign were turned off, forever.
After a $1.5 billion dollar investment on May 3, 1999 The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino opened its doors to public. At this time, it had “only” 3,036 rooms on 35 levels. Even the fact that it was the biggest hotel at that time didn’t make the investors pleased. Over the years, more than a thousand rooms were added.
Maybe, because the success of the risky decision made in 1998, The Venetian is continuously growing and the owner isn’t afraid to change major things. From 2001 four different exhibitions opened in the museum. It may sound weird the simple fact that a hotel has its own museum; in case of this hotel this feels usual. While in The Venetian, you can visit the Masterpieces and Master Collectors: Impressionist and Early Modern Paintings, the Art Through the Ages: Masterpieces of Painting from Titian to Picasso, the American Pop Icons and the A Century of Painting: from Renoir to Rothko. These exhibitions feature painting by van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso and even Gauguin.
Beside the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum, you can also find a Madame Tussauds wax museum. Beside the original London museum, there are only six other around the world. Giving home to these is a true privilege.
Not only are these two museums present to ease the hunger for culture of the visitors, but two permanent shows are also present in this hotel. These two shows also have their own theater. Opened in 2005, the 1760-seat Blue Man Theater is the home of the Blue Man Group’s show. Less than a year later, in the summer of 2006, the Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular debuted in the Phantom Theater. The hour and half-long show can be enjoyed in the Palais Garnier styled theater.
After sitting hours, you may feel the need for some sport. You can be sure that The Venetian offers you everything in recreation. Visiting the fitness facility, golf course, swimming pool or tennis court you can keep in shape.
Those who visit this lavish hotel can’t miss the casino that operates in the same building. Covering an area more than 11,000 square meters it has plenty of room for the 120 casino games. Not only the slot machines are filling this huge casino, there is also a poker room present. With its 39 tables it gives you the opportunity to play anything from no-limit Texas Hold ‘Em, through Stud and even Omaha. The smoke-free environment, comfortable chairs, two dozen flat screen TVs and food service ensure that you can concentrate on the game. If tired of gambling you can visit one of the three state of the art sports lounges.
If you’re looking for live music, you may visit the La Scena Lounge, which offers concerts in a large variety of music styles. Letting you taste the weekly changing special cocktails until 10 pm the V Bar is a perfect location for conversation. After this time, the place shows its real place and becomes the perfect location to party. Operating seven day a week and DJs playing music of a large variety of style it’s not hard to spend your nights here. Everyone can find here the tunes to dance to from 80’s pop to commercial house, from old school through hip-hop to mash-ups or even soul and reggae.
Despite the Italian theme the hotel has, you can feel like you were in the Far East visiting the Tao Nightclub, Lounge or Beach. Surrounded by velvet and silk, century-old wood and Japanese koi you will live a unique experience.
Waking up isn’t always easy especially if you played at one of the sport fields of the hotel and partied all night long. The Canyon Ranch SpaClub is the place to start your day. Being a full featured health spa and fitness club it has everything you need. Visiting the 20,000 square meters Pool Deck is a wise choice for anyone, who likes swimming. Situated above the forth floor in the Venetian Tower, it has three pools offering enough space to swim and a hot tub.
Of course, you won’t have to walk around the city to find a place to eat. A whopping nineteen restaurants are operating in this complex. Because being an Italian themed hotel it’s necessary to offer Italian cuisine. Beside this, you can find restaurants offering foods to feel like you were in a traditional restaurant in Japan; such place is the Tao Asian Bistro and the Noodle Asia. Vegetarians should visit Zeffirino, while those who are looking for traditional Mexican foods are welcomed in the Taqueria Cañonita.
Maybe the best-known feature of The Venetian is the gondola rides in the Grand Canal. This ensures the ultimate Venetian feeling. After you got out the gondola, the beautifully arranged shops add even more to the Italian feeling.
Las Vegas is the home for many luxurious hotels, but surely The Venetian Resort, Hotel & Casino is one of the best-known, and over nine years of operation became a real trademark of the city.
