By the end of 2020, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas will be rebranded as Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
On March 30, 2018, Sir Richard Branson of Virgin along with a team of investors declared their acquisition of the Hard Rock. They intended to be operational by the end of that year. However, the conversion of the Hard Rock into Virgin is progressing at a leisurely pace.
New timeline to create Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
The complete transformation of the hotel has been a slow process. Several minor setbacks and changes to the original plan have caused the opening date of the new casino-resort to be postponed a few times.
The timeline for the opening of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas looks to be set following the identification of all required updates. The Hard Rock will continue to operate with minimal to no disruption until early 2020. Design plans are nearing completion and the construction timeline has been established.
The casino is already undergoing minor updates. The major construction projects at the casinos will commence shortly after the Super Bowl in 2020. In contrast to other recent hotel renovations, the Hard Rock will shut down for the construction.
The Hard Rock is scheduled to shut down from April to June 2020. Soon after Election Day 2020, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is expected to open.
In a press statement, Richard Bosworth, President and CEO of Virgin Hotels, said: “I chose not to vie with the campaign’s distraction, considering how crucial Nevada and Las Vegas are in the election.” He added, “We are inaugurating a new hotel, and we don’t want this to be overshadowed by that distraction.”
Transformation of Hard Rock is already underway
The reinvention of the Hard Rock is kicking off with a few minor changes. Craft + Community has taken the place of Culinary Dropout. This new eatery also operates as a gastropub, emphasizing comfort food and quality beer.
The Hard Rock gained its fame partly due to the Rehab dayclub. However, it has since closed and a new pool experience, Breathe Pool Lounge, has been introduced. This new lounge features two pools and offers views of the Vegas Strip from its second-floor location.
The Hard Rock is set to undergo significant renovations next year, specifically at its 5-acre pool complex. As of now, there are no specific details available on how the pool area will be revamped.
Upon opening, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will offer 1,500 refurbished hotel rooms. The property’s new owners will also enhance The Joint, which will stand as the sole music venue at Virgin Hotels since Vinyl will undergo closure, expansion, and transformation into a nightclub.
The construction project involves expanding the casino floor. Richard Branson hinted at the design specifics in a previous interview with Conde Nast Traveler, although no official details have been released yet. He shared that unlike the Hard Rock, the Virgin Hotel won’t confront visitors with slot machines immediately upon entry. He promised a tasteful and fun atmosphere with a well-balanced appeal.
A third party will operate the casino at Virgin, hence the details about the number of table games and slot machines are currently unavailable. Warner Gaming is currently in charge of casino operations, but this may change as their contract is due to end next year. According to the CDC Gaming Report, Virgin is considering a potential tenant to invest in the gaming floor and assume control of the casino.
Virgin has not stated if CG Technology will still run the sportsbook when Virgin Hotels launches next year. The sportsbook operator faced issues with the Nevada Gaming Commission last year. Moreover, beginning in May, CG Technology will cease operating the sportsbook at M Resort.
Vegas is on a casino reinvention hot streak
Not all newly established casinos in Las Vegas are brand new buildings. Some casino operators are opting to transform existing properties into new casinos rather than constructing entirely new structures. As 2018 came to a close, MGM Resorts completed their transformation of Monte Carlo into Park MGM. The process, which essentially created a new hotel, took two years and cost over $550 million.
Station Casinos, the new owner of Palms, is currently undertaking a massive renovation and upgrade of the property. The refurbishment, costing $620 million, is set to impact most of the property.
Comparatively, the budget for converting the Hard Rock into Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is relatively small. The estimated construction costs for this transformation are a modest $150 million to $200 million.
