Scheduled to debut in the fourth quarter of 2023 after 15 years stalled, Fontainebleau Las Vegas released new renderings of the interior design of its 67-story, vertically integrated luxury destination, which will host more than 550,000-square-feet of customizable indoor and outdoor meeting and convention space, described by the brand as having a “revolutionary, experience-driven approach to business travel that takes full advantage of its coveted location, upward-thinking design and unparalleled accessibility”.
In an effort to resume convention industry after the pandemic, this long-awaited project is determined to become a hub for conventions under the new ownership of Fontainebleau Development, Florida developer Jeffrey Soffer’s firm. It will feature a pillarless ballroom spanning more than 105,000 square feet; a three-level, more than 90,000-square-foot theater with generous pre-function space capable of hosting business functions to entertain, nearly 62,000 square feet of additional space that can be used to create up to 57 breakout rooms, three executive boardrooms overlooking almost 25,900-square-foot of an outdoor hospitality garden. Construction began in November last year.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas groundbreaking ceremony
“The Conference Center offers unrivaled flexibility and ease for planners to bring their meeting and conventions to life – whether they are preparing for large gatherings or intimate conversations”, Fontainebleau described. “Fontainebleau las Vegas will integrate the most advanced digital amenities throughout its conference spaces, with multiple exterior branding opportunities, touchscreen technologies and next-level audio and visual tools supported by dedicated and experienced in-house experts”.
With the Las Vegas convention Center’s $1 billion West Hall expansion within steps of the resort, Fontainebleau, the project seeks to combine synergies for meeting and convention planners once it is up and running.
In an official press release, Fontainebleau Las Vegas President Cliff Atkinson, who took the role earlier this year, spoke about the project and said: “The introduction of Fontainebleau Las Vegas inot this market comes with elevated expectations among meeting planners, so we are already thinking several steps ahead and crafting solutions to new opportunities. Our position on the Strip and the multitude of event spaces within Fontainebleau serve as the foundation upon which we are building the future of the Las Vegas convention industry, powered by the collective knowledge, success and imagination of our incredible leadership team”.
“It cannot be overstated how much our unique design plays a role in our ability to move this city’s convention industry forward. When guests arrive, they will immediately recognize that they are at the convergence of modern business travel and luxury hospitality – it’s a world that empowers them to explore, engage, and shape their visit to their liking”, Atkinson concluded.
Fontainebleau Development Senior Vice President of Sales, Catering and Conference Services Tony Yousfi, added: “We are creating an environment in which each space, each touchpoint, allows guests to perform at their highest level. Fontainebleau may be new to Las Vegas, but we are not new to hospitality. From location to navigation to every major and minor detail, our resort is designed with the convention guest and meeting planner top-of-mind”.
The Convention Center’s expansion debuted last June with the World of Concrete trade show, and was billed as the first major convention locally and nationally since the pandemic hit.
Head of the Fontainebleau Development Jeffrey Soffer initially broke ground on the Fontainebleau in 2007, but the Las Vegas real estate market crashed, leading the project to bankruptcy in 2009. In 2021, Soffer reacquired the still-unfinished skyscraper, which was 75% complete at the time.
In 2021, Las Vegas saw a flow of 2.2 million convention attendees, up from 1.7 million in 2020, when lockdowns and closures were at their peaks. Back in 2019, 6.6 million convention attendees were registered in the area.
