More than 18 years after it was announced and 16 years after its groundbreaking, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the 67-story luxury resort and casino by Fontainebleau Development, opened its doors on the Las Vegas Strip on December 13.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas resides on nearly 25 acres in a premier location adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center District West Hall. The resort features a 150,000-square-foot casino, -class dining, entertainment and nightlife, and more than 3,600 hotel rooms and suites.
“The Fontainebleau era in Las Vegas begins now,” said Fontainebleau Development Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Soffer, who announced the development in May 2005. “This magnificent resort is a testament to our 70-year commitment to excellence, a catalyst that will change the way the world views luxury hospitality and design on the Strip.”
Originally projected to open in 2009, the project went bankrupt in 2009 during the Great Recession and went through a series of owners (including Carl Icahn and Marriott International) and names in following years. Construction was halted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Soffer reacquired the property in partnership with Koch Real Estate Investments in February 2021. The hotel was renamed Fontainebleau Las Vegas in late 2021.
The grand opening festivities began at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday with a “Bleau Carpet” arrival attended by celebrities, dignitaries and VIPs including Cher, Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Lenny Kravitz, Jessica Biel, Axl Rose, Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis, Las Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, Sylvester Stallone, Tommy Hilfiger and local casino executives. These invited guests became the first to sample Fontainebleau Las Vegas’ signature restaurant and bar collection, including Fontainebleau originals Don’s Prime, Bleau Bar, Nowhere, Azul and Collins as well as Groot Hospitality’s Papi Steak and Komodo, Chef Evan Funke’s Mother Wolf, Asian-inspired hotspot Kyu, among others.
Doors opened to the public shortly before midnight.
