Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas Explained

Hotel Name:Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas
Status:Operating
Map Type:United States Las Vegas Strip#Nevada
Mapframe:no
Former Names:Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas (2009–2018)
Opening Date:December 4, 2009
Number Of Rooms:389 hotel rooms & 225 condominiums
Floors:47

The Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, formerly the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, is a 47-story[1] luxury hotel and condominium building in the CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is managed by Hilton Worldwide as part of the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand. It is owned by Tiffany Lam and Andrew and Peggy Cherng.

The hotel was originally owned by MGM Mirage and Dubai World, and operated by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group as part of its luxury chain. It opened on December 4, 2009, occupying the former site of the Boardwalk hotel-casino. It was rebranded under the Waldorf Astoria name in 2018, following a $214 million purchase by Lam and the Cherngs. The hotel has 389 rooms leading up to the lobby on the 23rd floor. The upper floors contain 225 condominium residences.

History

The property began as the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. It was announced in September 2005, as part of MGM Mirage's CityCenter project. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (MOHG) would manage the hotel,[2] which would be owned by MGM and partner Dubai World. The hotel was built at the southeastern corner of CityCenter,[3] occupying the former site of the Boardwalk hotel-casino.[4]

Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox,[5] [6] with hotel interiors by Adam Tihany.[7] [8] The residential component was designed by Kay Lang and Associates. The hotel received a LEED Gold certification on November 20, 2009.[9] [10] [11]

Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas opened on December 4, 2009. It was the third component to open at CityCenter, following Vdara and Crystals.[1] It was hoped that Mandarin Oriental, a well-known brand outside of the U.S., would help attract foreign visitors to CityCenter.[12] The hotel offered a focus on personalized customer service, and it aimed to attract a high-end clientele.[13] [1] Mandarin Oriental also had the largest and most expensive condos at CityCenter, with an average listing price of $2 million.[14]

Mandarin Oriental opened amid the Great Recession, and saw a disappointing financial performance during its first year, prompting increased marketing and promotions.[15] MOHG viewed the property as a long-term investment.[16]

In 2018, MGM and Dubai World sold the hotel for $214 million to hotel investor Tiffany Lam and Panda Express founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng.[17] In conjunction with the sale, MOHG ceased managing the property on August 31, 2018, and Hilton assumed management, rebranding it as a Waldorf Astoria.[18] [19] The hotel's Asian theme would be removed during renovations,[18] which took place from 2021 to 2024.[20] [21]

Facilities

The Waldorf Astoria is 47 stories.[3] It contains 389 hotel rooms and suites, and 225 condominiums,[22] as well as a two-floor spa, 12000square feet of meeting space, and a pool.[1]

Hotel rooms occupy the first 22 floors.[23] The hotel's original 12000square feet lobby, known upon opening as Sky Lobby, was located on the 23rd floor.[13] [24] At the time, the property was one of three Mandarin Oriental hotels in the world to include a Sky Lobby.[25] The remaining floors are occupied by condos,[25] with seven penthouses taking up the upper floors.[14] The property has separate entrances for residents and hotel guests.[25] Mandarin Oriental was among the most technologically advanced hotels in Las Vegas at the time of its opening. Rooms included a touch-screen device capable of ordering food service and controlling features such as lighting.[26]

Mandarin Oriental opened along with Twist, a 74-seat French restaurant by chef Pierre Gagnaire, marking his U.S. debut. Located in the Sky Lobby, it included floor-to-ceiling views of the Strip. Lighting was provided by 300 golden globes, hung from the ceiling. The restaurant was designed by Tihany, and included a glass staircase leading to a wine loft.[27] [28] [29] Other food and beverage amenities included a sushi and noodle bar, a high tea lounge, and a pastry shop.[28]

In 2017, the Sky Lobby introduced a humanoid robot assistant named Pepper to greet guests and provide information.[30] In 2023, the lobby was moved to the ground level as part of renovation work, while the Peacock Alley tea lounge will take the vacated space on the 23rd floor. Rooms and meeting space were also updated.[21] [31]

Accolades

Within a year of opening, Mandarin Oriental received the AAA Five Diamond Award.[32] In 2011, the spa was named by Forbes Travel Guide as a Five-Star recipient.[33] Two years later, readers of Travel + Leisure named the Mandarin Oriental among the best hotels in Nevada.[34] U.S. News & World Report, in its 2017 Best Hotels Rankings, also named it as the top hotel in Las Vegas.[35] In 2024, readers of Travel + Leisure voted it the best hotel in Las Vegas.[36]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: CityCenter's Mandarin Oriental makes Vegas debut. Las Vegas Sun. Richard N.. Velotta. December 4, 2009. 2018-04-26.
  2. News: Smith . Rod . A touch of world-class: Mandarin Oriental tapped to manage CityCenter's anchor hotel . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 16, 2005 . https://web.archive.org/web/20051211015615/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Sep-16-Fri-2005/business/3388080.html . December 11, 2005.
  3. News: Hansen . Kyle B. . CityCenter hotel welcomes new employees with gala . February 7, 2023 . Las Vegas Sun . November 22, 2009.
  4. News: Casper . Ashley . Knowing Vegas: How many implosions have there been? . February 8, 2023 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . January 30, 2015.
  5. News: Q&A with Mandarin Oriental architect Bill Pedersen . Las Vegas Business Press . December 14, 2009 . January 13, 2023 . subscription.
  6. News: CityCenter goes from Strip to students . Las Vegas Business Press . December 28, 2009 . January 13, 2023 . subscription.
  7. News: Herman . Valli . The Strip's CityCenter hotels up the ante . January 28, 2023 . Los Angeles Times . January 3, 2010.
  8. Web site: Tihany Design: About: Profile. 2011-07-14. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110717054832/http://www.tihanydesign.com/about_profile.html. July 17, 2011.
  9. News: Two more CityCenter structures earn high green ratings . February 2, 2023 . Las Vegas Sun . November 20, 2009.
  10. News: Lucht . Nicole . New LEED certifications cement CityCenter's green status . February 2, 2023 . Las Vegas Sun . November 27, 2009.
  11. Web site: CityCenter Earns Fifth, Sixth LEED Gold Ratings . Meagan . Drillinger . November 20, 2009 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20091124041326/http://www.travelagentcentral.com/usa-las-vegas/citycenter-earns-fifth-sixth-leed-gold-ratings-18479 . November 24, 2009.
  12. News: Robison . Jennifer . The CityCenter of attention . Las Vegas Review-Journal . June 27, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060702064708/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-27-Tue-2006/business/8177305.html . July 2, 2006.
  13. News: Benston . Liz . For CityCenter's nongaming Mandarin Oriental, service is 'be-all, end-all' . January 12, 2023 . Las Vegas Sun . July 21, 2009.
  14. News: At Mandarin Oriental, condos offer amenities at a price . January 12, 2023 . Las Vegas Sun . April 15, 2010.
  15. News: Benston . Liz . Can luxurious Mandarin Oriental hotel make it here? . January 12, 2023 . Las Vegas Sun . February 26, 2011.
  16. News: Mandarin Oriental not expecting quick return on Vegas hotel . January 12, 2023 . VegasInc . May 19, 2011.
  17. News: Buyers of Mandarin Oriental on Strip finally revealed. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Eli. Segall. August 31, 2018. September 1, 2018.
  18. News: Hilton's Waldorf Astoria to debut in Las Vegas. Associated Press. Regina. Garcia Cano. August 30, 2018. 2018-08-31.
  19. News: What changes will you find with the switchover from Mandarin Oriental Vegas to the Waldorf Astoria?. Los Angeles Times. Jay. Jones. August 31, 2018. 2018-08-31.
  20. Web site: Szydelko . Paul . A refresh is in the works at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas . Travel Weekly . July 19, 2024 . August 23, 2021.
  21. News: Ross . McKenna . Waldorf Astoria renovates rooms, plans Peacock Alley tea lounge . July 19, 2024 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . November 8, 2023.
  22. Web site: Liao . Christina . Waldorf Astoria Begins Its Takeover Of Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas . Forbes . February 10, 2023 . August 31, 2018.
  23. News: Schwartz . David G. . Inside The Las Vegas Strip's Overnight Ultra-Luxe Changeover . January 13, 2023 . Forbes . September 24, 2018.
  24. News: Stutz . Howard . Mandarin adds swank to Strip . January 12, 2023 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 11, 2009.
  25. News: Stutz . Howard . Mandarin Oriental brings amenities people willing to pay for . January 12, 2023 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . December 4, 2009.
  26. News: Finnegan . Amanda . CityCenter hotels' features at your fingertips . February 3, 2023 . Las Vegas Sun . April 5, 2010.
  27. News: Collins . Glenn . Let's Twist, Pierre Gagnaire Tells the Food Press . January 13, 2023 . The New York Times . September 22, 2009.
  28. News: Hallock . Betty . Pierre Gagnaire is bringing a French Twist to Las Vegas . January 13, 2023 . Los Angeles Times . August 26, 2009.
  29. News: Vegas Strip makes room for Twist . . November 22, 2009. . Glenn . Collins.
  30. News: Akers . Mick . Dash of Pepper spices up Mandarin Oriental's lobby . January 12, 2023 . Las Vegas Sun . November 17, 2017.
  31. Web site: Morris . David . This Luxury Las Vegas Hotel Just Got a Multimillion-dollar Refresh — Here's What's New . Travel + Leisure . July 19, 2024 . October 28, 2023.
  32. News: Engle . Jane . Las Vegas: Two CityCenter hotels get top AAA rating . February 3, 2023 . Los Angeles Times . November 26, 2010.
  33. Web site: Forbes Travel Guide: 2011 Five-Star Hotel, Restaurant and Spa Award Winners. Forbes Travel Guide. 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110807194130/http://www.forbestravelguide.com/five-star-spas.htm . August 7, 2011.
  34. News: Sylvester . Ron . Which Nevada hotels are tops in Travel & Leisure poll? . February 3, 2023 . Las Vegas Sun . January 11, 2013.
  35. News: Velotta . Richard N. . Las Vegas hotels ranked high in U.S. News & World Report survey . February 3, 2023 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . February 1, 2017.
  36. Web site: Walhout . Hannah . The No. 1 Hotel in Las Vegas Has No Gaming, No Smoking, and a 27,000-square-foot Spa . Travel + Leisure . July 19, 2024 . July 9, 2024.

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