Wynn Las Vegas is an eyeful World's most expensive casino-resort -- at $2.7 billion -- impresses visitors in a city not shy about going over the top.

Las Vegas -- The casino mogul who brought to this desert oasis such over-the-top hotels as the Mirage and Bellagio kicked it up another notch just after midnight Wednesday with the opening of the world's most expensive casino resort, a $2.7 billion behemoth that had guests' mouths agape as they filed through an ornate front hallway bedecked with more than 10,000 flowers.

Thousands rushed into the Wynn Las Vegas as its creator, Steve Wynn, personally stood at the entrance shaking hands, posing for pictures and thanking the rich and the common folk alike for coming to witness what Wynn has modestly likened to the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

"Oh my, God!" gasped Georgina Fields, 34, of Manchester, N.H., who had waited in line for four hours. "Just look at the molding, the tile, everything. "

Even by Las Vegas' larger-than-life standards, the scale of the curved, copper-colored 49-story structure attains new heights of sorts.

A 180-foot man-made mountain covered with full-grown Aleppo pine trees looms like a regiment of guards blocking the hotel's entrance from the street, forcing visitors to come inside to see, for instance, the 100 parasol light fixtures hanging from the ceiling that mechanically dance up and down to music.

The mountain also provides the backdrop for a series of what Wynn calls "experiences" such as a water-and-light show, a 70-foot waterfall and a 3-acre lake.

"The idea of this building was to create extended spaces, to bring the outdoors inside and to transport the guest into another realm," said spokeswoman Denise Randazzo. Such ambition doesn't come cheap.

The 217-acre property is more than twice as expensive as the proposed 1, 776-foot Freedom Tower to be built on the site of the World Trade Center disaster, and just under the $3 billion price tag of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai -- which, among other services, squires guests to a hotel restaurant via submarine.

The cost to build the 2,716 rooms -- minimum size 630 square feet and many appointed with multiple flat-screen LCD televisions -- was $1 million each. That eclipses the previous world record of $775,000 per room at the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawaii.

Naturally, there's an 18-hole golf course -- designed by Wynn and famed golf course architect Tom Fazio -- plus the only Manolo Blahnik shoe store outside Manhattan, a Ferrari-Maserati dealership and 18 restaurants. Some of Wynn's own collection -- including paintings by Picasso, Cezanne, Gauguin, Vermeer and Rembrandt -- is part of the hotel's art gallery.

Wynn is no stranger to such extravagance. He opened the Mirage in 1989 with a waterfall that transforms into a volcano every 15 minutes along the sidewalk in front of the hotel. Treasure Island opened four years later with a fiery live-action pirate show out front that is performed every 90 minutes. Among the entertainment at uber-elegant Bellagio is a mammoth dancing fountain show on a 9-acre lake.

But with the actual getting inside the hotel posing something of an obstacle course, and the prices being on the luxurious side -- the minimum room price is approximately $230 a night -- some observers wonder how much everyday foot traffic the hotel will attract.

"Mr. and Mrs. Omaha will walk in and say, 'OK, fine.' Then, they're going to say, I can't afford the $7 ice cream," said Anthony Curtis, publisher of the Las Vegas Adviser newsletter. "And they'll leave."

Perhaps, but not Thursday, when most of those present were determined to be enthralled.

"I come to every casino opening," says Debra York, 40, from San Mateo. "I just love Vegas, and I come here all the time. All I can say is that I want to stay at the Wynn now. I'll save up some money -- or maybe I'll win some!"

Wynn, 63, who is known to micromanage his properties in matters great and small, and whose name is on many of the slot machines in the hotel's casino, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Wednesday that his latest creation is "more complex than any other structure in the history of the world."

Not everyone was quite as impressed. Rick Garman, who operates a local Web site, Vegas4Visitors.com, wondered what Wynn spent $2.7 billion on.

"It's nice. It's pretty," said Gorman. But I was not blown away. Everybody I spoke to would say, 'It's nice,' but that was it. If my expectations were too high, then Steve Wynn set them too high."

But Wynn doesn't appear worried. He's currently working on the $700 million Wynn Macau in Macau, China, and building the Encore, a $1.4 billion hotel-casino scheduled to open right next door to the Wynn Las Vegas in 2008.

Even Mother Nature wanted to "charge up" Las Vegas at the Wynn Hotel/casino while it was under construction proving the Wynn Las Vegas is the "hottest" place on the Strip.

Wynn Resorts opens with highest room rates on the Las Vegas Strip

After opening April 28 with a blistering first five weeks, the $2.7 billion Wynn Las Vegas megaresort late Monday reported quarterly results that are more in line with what analysts have been expecting.

Some experts say they expect profit to widen in the coming months as the resort begins to attract a loyal following.

Wynn Las Vegas reported a loss of $35.2 million in its first 64 days of operation after paying $43.4 million in pre-opening costs.

Excluding those costs, the megaresort posted $8.2 million in profit in the second quarter ended June 30. The property's 8 cents per share in profit was in line with analysts' estimates.

Casino companies typically account separately for pre-opening costs, which are costs incurred before a property is operational.

Parent company Wynn Resorts Ltd. said the resort generated $201.1 million in revenue, including promotional expenses. That's about $3.1 million in revenue per day and less than the $4.1 million daily average the resort reported over its first 34 days of operation.

"As we anticipated after month 1, opening weeks had above-average volume which lowered to a more normalized rate in month 2," UBS Securities stock analyst Robin Farley said in a research note today.

Casino revenue was $98.7 million, or about 43 percent of the property's $226.1 million in gross revenue. Non-casino revenue such as rooms, retail, food and beverage was $127.3 million or 56 percent of total revenue.

The slots won an average of $304 per day from customers in the first month and $238 in the second month, still better than expected, Farley said. Tables won an average of $9,200 in the first month and $4,700 in month 2, just below estimates, she said. Overall, casino revenue in the first month was twice what was expected but in June was closer to expectations, she said.

The occupancy rate at Wynn Las Vegas was about 90 percent and the average daily room rate was $284.

In a statement, Chief Executive Steve Wynn said the property's revenue across various departments has been "outstanding" so far and that the property will focus on raising profit margins in the coming months.

"We deliberately and substantially overstaffed in order to offset our expected initial disadvantages in productivity," Wynn said. "We had more than 9,000 employees working with approximately 58 newly integrated operating systems."

Deutsche Bank Securities bond analyst Andrew Zarnett said the results "raise the bar" for resorts in Las Vegas.

In a research note Monday, Zarnett said room rates at Wynn Las Vegas easily topped the Venetian resort's average daily rate of $220 in 2004.

"We believe that as the property improves service and customers gain a greater appreciation of the Wynn experience versus its competitors (rates) and occupancy will continue to rise," he said.

The company broke ground on its Wynn Macau resort in June 2004 and is still on track to open it in September 2006. The majority of architectural and structural work is done on the resort, with 23 floors complete.

Shares of Wynn Resorts fell nearly 4 percent in midmorning trading today to $54.44 per share.

GOVERNOR¹S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM Nevada¹s annual Governor¹s Conference on Tourism will be held at the Wynn resort in Las Vegas Dec. 12-14. The conference will feature industry speakers and performers from China. Gov. Kenny Guinn and Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt will open the conference Nov. 13 with a talk addressing the state¹s rapidly changing tourism industry. Cost is $395.

logon to

http://www.governorsconference.org

On Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m., the soundtrack to Le Reve launches with a performance and CD listening party in the Chambertin Meeting Room at Wynn Las Vegas.

Created by Dragone, Le Reve is the only show in Vegas performed in the round, enveloping the audience in a theatrical experience combining elements of air and water.

The soundtrack features 16 original Benoit Jutras songs and is performed by a seven-piece band, including two vocalists and five musicians.

Sold only at the Wynn Las Vegas Show Shop (and eBay), the CD can be had for $24 including tax.

Wynn Las Vegas to Pop the Cork of New Nightclub, Tryst, on New Year's Eve

Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Country Club
will open its much-anticipated Tryst nightclub on New Year's Eve, Saturday,
Dec. 31.  The stunning new Tryst will launch and operate under the guidance of
managing partners Victor Drai of Drai's Afterhours and Cy and Jesse Waits,
formerly of House of Blues, Light and Tabu.
    Inside the 12,000-sq. ft. Tryst -- a name evocative of an intimate
rendezvous spot for lovers -- guests will find a main room with open air and a
sizable dance floor extending into a breathtaking 90-foot waterfall that
cascades into a secluded lagoon.  Distinguished by deep reds, chocolate browns
and resin blacks, the sophisticated interior of Tryst features intimate
booth-style tables, a private VIP room and a separate ultra-lounge with its
own house music.  The outside patios of Tryst, which are enveloped in dramatic
white linens and shrouded by a grove of trees, offer additional water-side
seating and stage an environment unlike anything else in Las Vegas.
    "Tryst is a unique venue in which a traditional nightclub is transformed
into an intimate location.  With the open air, breathtaking waterfall and
seating alongside the private lagoon, Tryst offers the perfect compliment to
Wynn Las Vegas," says Drai.
   The New Year's Eve grand opening party, which is nearly sold out, will
begin at 9 p.m. and includes a New Years countdown and champagne toast.  The
cover charge is $150 for men and $100 for women (cover also applies to table
reservations).
    Tryst's regular hours of operation are Thursdays-Sundays, 10 p.m. to
4 a.m.  Cover charge is $30 for men and $20 for women; no cover charge for
bottle customers.  Thursday nights is "Industry Night," with complimentary
admission for those in the local service industry with proper ID arriving
before midnight.

    Opening its doors on April 28, 2005, Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Country
Club has positioned itself as the preeminent destination resort on the Las
Vegas Strip, where every detail has been designed for the ultimate comfort and
convenience.  The 217-acre Resort offers more than 2,700 guest rooms and
suites in its gleaming 50-story bronze tower; 22 food and beverage outlets
specializing in fine Italian, French, Mediterranean, Chinese, Japanese and
American fare.  In addition, Wynn Las Vegas features the Strip's only 18-hole
golf course, designed by Tom Fazio and Steve Wynn; a 110,000-sq. ft. casino
with coinless slots and a full complement of table games; a full-service
salon, fitness center and signature spa and the Wedding Salons at Wynn Las
Vegas.  Entertainment at Wynn Las Vegas includes Le Reve and Avenue Q.  For
more information, please visit http://www.wynnlasvegas.com.

Wynn Promo Changed
Currently giving two comp (free) buffets to new Red Card enrollees who earn 150 points ($1350 coin-in) during their first visit/trip.

The promotion has changed from 50 points to 150. Valid Monday thru Friday. 

Price Rising
According to a regulatory filing, the cost of Wynn Resorts' Encore is now pegged at $1.74 billion.

This is an increase from earlier-stated numbers ranging from $1.4 to $1.6 billion.

Las Vegas Resort Encore Breaks Ground

The Wynn has changed the face of the northern part of Las Vegas Boulevard, and Friday Steve Wynn broke ground on his second tower for a new $1.4 billion resort.

At the groundbreaking, Wynn didn't need flashy renderings or to brag about size of the new Encore Resort. He says it's about a small-town Las Vegas tradition that he learned when he was 25.

"When people feel good and safe about the people they work for they have a whole different body language that gets translated to the customers," Wynn said. "There is a feeling of family."

Keeping that feeling of family was a struggle as he ushered in the era of the mega resort in Las Vegas. Wynn said Encore is the right formula.

"Trying to take the wonderful feeling that you get in a boutique hotel and do it for a lot of people at the same time and its worked," Wynn explained. "I think that made me nervous before we opened this hotel. I am not nervous about it anymore. Encore is going to exploit intimacy even more. The rooms are bigger, but the hotel is going to feel smaller. It is going to feel very personal."

There will be thousands of rooms and it will cost $1.4 billion dollars, but that’s the price of intimacy he says. Casino floors will be separated from other activities with gardens and pools and at the push of a button he says outdoor activities will be in a climate controlled glass room. And this isn't the end. There’s plenty of room for it on the 240-acre site of the old Desert Inn.

"We will probably be in construction on this great Desert Inn site probably for the rest of my life and that is gonna be great fun, creating jobs for people, creating opportunity, raising a little tax money and making a few bucks on the side ourselves maybe," Wynne said.

The new is planned for opening between Christmas and New Years 2008. Construction is set to begin on Monday.

Steve Wynn is spending $15.9 million to buy the right to amp up the WLV show Le Reve from its creator, Franco Dragone, who’s too busy to do it himself.

Wynn has hired Moses Pendleton, artistic director of a surrealist dance company called MOMIX, to do the fine-tuning, such as adding visual effects like lasers, beefing up the choreography, and introducing more artists.

"The baseline show," which cost $110 million to produce, "stays as is," according to a Dragone spokesperson. The revamp will be completed sometime in 2007.

Legendary Boston Celtic coach and player Bill Russell is having an adult basketball fantasy camp at the Wynn Las Vegas starting October 17^th.

Participating in the camp are his legendary friends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Julius Erving, Jerry West, Magic Johnson and more.

However all this NBA royalty don’t come cheap, the camp costs $15,000.

Joint US Airways/MasterCard/Wynn Promotion

 
US Airways Vacations has just announced that passengers who use a valid MasterCard to book a three-night or more vacation package at Wynn Las Vegas with US Airways Vacations, between Nov. 12 through Dec. 31, 2007, will receive a $200 MasterCard gift card after their stay.
 
Book online at usairwaysvacations.com to avoid the $10 call center fee and enter promo code MCWYNN.
 
Travel must be completed by Feb. 15, 2008.

Wynn Las Vegas available for phone wagering

9 January 2008

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- As reported by the Thoroughbed Times: "One Las Vegas race book has started accepting phone account wagers on Thoroughbred races.

"The race book at Wynn Las Vegas accepted its first out-of-state wager in December. While the state's gaming control board and gaming commission approved such wagers in 2005, Wynn is the first Nevada race book to add interstate wagering. Wynn currently has just one out-of-state customer.

"...Wynn accepts only phone wagers as current Nevada law does not allow Internet account wagering.

"...Wynn can accept wagers from players in Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wyoming..."

Free Wynn buffet for new players   Sign up for a Red Card (it's free) and receive $10 in freeplay (1x playthrough before cashing out). After the $10 in freeplay is used, you start earning points. Every $3 in playthrough on slots is equivalent to 1 point ($9 playthrough for video poker). At 25 points, you get a free buffet. At 50 points, you get two free buffets. (After that, it jumps to 500 points for the next free buffet.) That's just $75 in playthrough, and assuming 90 percent payback on slots, you're looking at an expected loss of $7.50 for the best buffet in Las Vegas.

XS Nightclub
With his latest nightclub, Steve Wynn offers up the ultimate Las Vegas experience.

Brainstorming sessions are nothing new to Steve Wynn; his days are often filled with them, his outer office looking like an endless parade of executives from different teams, offering up ideas to paint the ultimate portrait of the Wynn resort experience. It was during such a meeting last year, while Encore was still under construction, when one conversation changed the face of the Las Vegas nightclub scene.

“We were sitting around the conference table—Victor Drai, the Waits brothers and myself,” Wynn says, referring to Drai, then the co-owner of Tryst, the nightclub at Wynn, and Jesse and Cy Waits, Tryst’s managing partners. “These guys made Tryst the most successful nightclub on the planet, so it was time to talk about what we were going to do in Encore. What was the concept and name for this club? The best names are organic. At one point I said, ‘What happens in a nightclub? People behave excessively; it’s a place of excess.’” Wynn is fond of sketching out ideas, a notepad is never far from his reach, and in that instant he took a piece of paper and wrote down two letters: XS.

“Steve’s goal from the start was to do something in nightclubs that never had been done before,” says Cy Waits, who with twin brother Jesse also serves as managing partner of XS. “XS is grand and over the top. It’s a bigger club, so there’s a bigger wow factor.”

At 40,000 square feet, XS is one of the largest nightclubs in Las Vegas and “it’s the most luxurious by far,” says Jesse. “When you walk into XS and you’re presented with its design and energy, it takes your breath away.”

XS is inspired by the curves of the human body, a notion that is apparent from the moment you enter, passing through a hallway in which beautiful male and female dancers’ torsos are sculpted in the walls in gold leaf, inviting you to join them in a dance. Once through this hallway, you find yourself at the top of the staircase with a panoramic view of the club, a mix of gold crocodile-embossed leather banquettes, mirrored mosaics, Murano-glass chandeliers, and concave female torsos in gold leaf above the gold-resin bar tops. Beyond the indoor space, the illuminated pool beckons with its island bar and 30 VIP cabanas.

This combination has impacted how guests experience the club. “At the beginning of the night everyone tends to drift out to the pool area,” he says. “But as the night progresses and the energy builds, you want to be inside and part of the action on the dance floor.”

Cy agrees. “Everyone definitely gravitates toward the pool first, but one of the great things about XS is that you have choices,” he says. “There are so many things to discover that you can make this experience exactly what you want it to be.”
Saint Tropez comes to Las Vegas?

Steve Wynn has long been a fan of the iconic spots found in the south of France, St. Tropez in particular--where Byblos, Cinquante-Cinq, and Nikki Beach have set the tone for Mediterranean revelry. It’s no accident that the vibe of XS reminds one of this; Wynn, however, is confident that he’s raised the bar, no pun intended, on the experience.

“It’s the day-long club scene transitioning into the excitement of the night, but in Saint Tropez you have to travel all over town to enjoy it all; here, I’ve integrated everything at once,” Wynn says, pointing to the adjacent restaurant Botero, an elegant, modern steakhouse helmed by executive chef Mark LoRusso and also co-owned by Drai. When Encore opened in December, Botero quickly emerged as a hot spot for dinner, not only because of LoRusso’s imaginative cuisine, or for a view of the famed sculptor’s works of art; it’s also the close proximity to XS that inspires guests to linger over dinner before being lured to the club scene outside.

With XS, Wynn once again has the most talked-about nightspot in Las Vegas on his hands. A line of eager clubgoers snakes down the hallway on a typical night. What’s the best way to guarantee a great evening? “It makes the most sense to book a table in advance, and being a guest of the hotel absolutely helps,” Cy advises, while Jesse’s tips include thinking about what you’re wearing, “we very much cater to an upscale crowd.”

The fact that XS fully lives up to its name is a notion that pleases the man who wrote two letters down on a piece of notepaper. “A club’s success today is rooted in building a better mousetrap,” Wynn says with a smile. “And we’ve built the best mousetrap in town.”

LOCATION
Encore Las Vegas

HOURS OF OPERATION
Fri-Mon 10pm - 4am

DRESS CODE
Dress code is strictly enforced. No hats, oversized jeans, baggy clothing, or athletic wear.

AGE RESTRICTION
21 years or older