The Fontainebleau Las Vegas resort received its final approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday, with regulators unanimously voting to license the property. The $3.8 billion casino, which looks at a December 13th opening date, will become the tallest resort in Las Vegas with 67 stories and 3,644 rooms.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas is a joint development by Koch Real Estate Investments, the real estate investment arm of Koch Industries. It was first planned in 2005 but was delayed for nearly two decades after the financial meltdown of the Great Recession, and real estate crashes.
Jeffrey Soffer, CEO and chairman of Fontainebleau Development, was the original developer of the Las Vegas project when it broke ground in 2007, shortly after which the project went into bankruptcy in 2009. Soffer reacquired the property in 2021, after several ownership changes.
Soffer on Thursday was licensed with business partner Brett Mufson. He thanked Nevada regulators and Clark County for helping bring the project to completion.
He said: “This marks a pivotal milestone in our journey, and we are deeply appreciative of the trust and confidence that commission members have placed in Fontainebleau Development, our leadership, and our vision for Fontainebleau Las Vegas.”
Jeffrey Soffer, CEO and chairman of Fontainebleau Development
“We’re also grateful to the people of Nevada and Las Vegas for their support of our project, as well as our members, who have been working tirelessly to bring Fontainebleau Las Vegas to life. The completion of this project is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and collective belief in creating unparalleled hospitality experiences. It’s been a long time.”
Fontainebleau Las Vegas President Mark Tricano told the Commission: “In less than 30 days, we will be open, and I, with a high degree of confidence, feel that what we will bring to market will make our ownership, our team members, this commission, the State of Nevada and our local community very proud.”
Embrace mid-century grandeur and pure happiness as a new era of luxury hospitality arrives in Las Vegas on 12.13.23. Drawing from our 70-year Miami Beach landmark, Fontainebleau’s chic design melds sophistication with contemporary flair. Elegance and an iconic journey await. pic.twitter.com/Faey82NUjU
— Fontainebleau Las Vegas (@fblasvegas) November 15, 2023
Tricano said that Fontainebleau has hired about 5,000 employees as of last week. The casino is looking to hire 7,100 employees full and part-time when fully staffed.
“One of the keys we’ve seen is entering the marketplace by our culture first. When we launched our recruiting campaign several months ago, all of our efforts were about our team members and member-forward approach,” he said.
The property will feature its simplified bowtie logo, a nod to its Florida-based parent company Bowtie Hospitality LLC, throughout public and private spaces. These include the casino carpet, the glass chandeliers, the shape of the wayfinding signs, on drawer handles in the rooms, and more.
Beneath our magnificent chandeliers promises to be the newest, hottest rendezvous spot in all of Las Vegas. Enjoy an experience unlike any other at the new Fontainebleau Las Vegas resort and casino—12.13.23. #FontainebleauLasVegas pic.twitter.com/laZo8L0Sn1
— Fontainebleau Las Vegas (@fblasvegas) November 9, 2023
Las Vegas Review-Journal said that the resort has several nods to its sister property on Miami Beach, which include a lobby bar named after Collins Avenue and pillars throughout the public spaces that reference the Florida hotel.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas will have 36 restaurants and bars, with its casino being the second-largest in Las Vegas behind Wynn and Encore. The property’s casino will operate six private gaming salons for high rollers. Its race and sportsbook will be operated on Station Casinos’ STN-branded platform.
Commissioner Brian Krolicki said: “This is a saga worthy of a Netflix miniseries. To be weeks away from opening after the journey and ordeal is heartening. The employment numbers are marvelous.” For her part, Commissioner Ogonna Brown told Tricano that the property looks like a “classy affair.”
