As megaresort trend fades, companies focus on luxury in small settings

As megaresort trend fades, companies focus on luxury in small settings 2 April 2014

By Howard Stutz

LAS VEGAS -- Las Vegas is getting smaller.

That is, if you call 1,600-room and 1,100-room Strip hotels boutique properties.

By the end of the year, Las Vegas will have about a half-dozen hotel-casinos that operators classify as boutique, luxury or lifestyle in their marketing efforts.

Its actually not a unique concept.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and The Palms Casino Resort, for example, began as smaller hotel-casinos before expansions grew their room bases.

The idea was to break from the Strips megaresort business model 3,000 or more rooms and suites, multiple restaurants and entertainment venues, large retail and convention facilities for something a little more intimate.

Karie Hall, general manager of the 188-room The Cromwell Caesars Entertainment Corporations entry into the boutique hotel market said personalized service is a balancing act. Customers of smaller properties want to be known to the staff, but they also want to be unknown so that the level of service isnt smothering, especially in Las Vegas.

A smaller property allows you to keep things new and fresh, Hall said. You know a customers personality, their wants and what they dislike. And you also know the level of service to provide.

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As megaresort trend fades, companies focus on luxury in small settings