The SLS Las Vegas is Definitely Happening Now

May 1, 2012 at 4:53 PM | by juliana | Comment (1)

It's been nearly a year since the Sahara Las Vegas closed its doors to make way for the forthcoming SLS Hotel but after the high drama of closing day, not much has happened on the hotel grounds since.

No construction, no renovations, no nothing (except for city approval of the renovation plans back in November.) As you can see from this picture, which we snapped yesterday, the property is completely dead.

Yet today with the announcement that SLS parent company, SBE has secured a $300 million round of financing from Stockbridge Capital, LLC, we bet bulldozers and scaffolding will appear mighty quick. Here's a little summary of what to expect from the anticipated SLS Las Vegas:

The SLS Las Vegas will be created in a high-style collaboration between Nazarian, renowned design icon Philippe Starck and James Beard award-winning chef Jos� Andr�s. The property will be Starck�s first Las Vegas resort and his largest hospitality project to date. Once complete, SLS Las Vegas will feature an all-encompassing, mixed-use resort and casino with more than 1,600 guest rooms and suites and a collection of sbe�s acclaimed restaurant and nightlife brands.

(If you're not familiar with SBE's brands they include Katsuya, Hyde and Shelter.)

SBE, run by CEO Sam Nazarian, has contracted Gensler Architects and Las Vegas-based PENTA Building Group to redevelop and reimagine the iconic property (No word yet on how the artifacts of the Sahara will be worked into the Starck-decor.) The company also announced that a former Wynn-er, Rob Oseland, will serve as President and CEO of SLS Las Vegas.

Lastly, SLS intends to bring "Accessible Luxury" to Las Vegas. What that means for room rates, it's too early to tell but we're thinking just because of its location (in a sort of no-man's land on Las Vegas Boulevard that's too far past Wynn and Venetian for walking and not quite in downtown), the SLS will aim for Cosmopolitan's target clientele (younger professionals/party monsters) but at a much cheaper rate.

Still, we don't think these rooms will ever go below $200 on a weekend.

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