Las Vegas is no stranger to reinvention. At this year’s HD Expo + Conference, an expert panel featuring Michael Wood of Wynn Design & Development, Matt Erickson of MGM Resorts International, Lin Jerome of Refined Restaurant Group, and Elizabeth Blau of Blau + Associates spotlighted what’s driving the city’s ever-evolving hospitality scene.
The consensus: today’s travelers are coming for much more than gaming.
Creativity in full force
Las Vegas remains one of the world’s most experimental and inspiring hospitality hubs.
“The city is just a place of such unbridled creative talent,” says Blau, citing everything from the iconic Bellagio fountains and Cirque de Soleil to newcomers like the Sphere and Allegiant Stadium. “It makes us all want to be better, whether we’re doing a bar or a restaurant or hotel rooms—the bar is set so high here,” she adds.
A new focus on health
Wellness-driven experiences are gaining momentum citywide.
For example, Jerome says, “We are now frying everything that we have across all of our brands in avocado oil—people are healthier and want to do fun things.” At her Café Lola properties, daytime events include DJ-fueled coffee parties aimed at Gen Z. “You can have a matcha party during the day with your friends, come together, listen to this great music, have fun, and go home at four o’clock and still feel good.”
Erikson echoes this shift: “The challenge that we’re solving for right now is that the younger generation doesn’t drink as much,” he says. “So how do you monetize what they like to do? How do you give them an experience that’s conducive to what they would enjoy without the alcohol?” He notes heightened interest in clubstaurants, where F&B combines with music, ambient lighting, high design, and immersive experiences.
The social media effect
Social media continues to drive design decisions and guest expectations. “Social media has really been our bread and butter to date,” Jerome shares. Erikson agrees: “Traditional marketing will not get you there. You can have an incredible product, but if you don’t have social media and you don’t have the influencer aspect, you’ll have trouble.”
Wood emphasized that shareability is baked into the design process. “It’s about being photogenic—the lighting that everyone will look their best,” he notes. “The new normal is to designing for how a space is shared. People come to places now because they want an experience, an escape—and interior design is a part of that.”
Budgeting, big and small
From billion-dollar renovations to DIY ingenuity, budgets run the gamut in Las Vegas. In every situation, though, it’s about impact. “We try to put money in areas where the guest will see, feel, and sense that there’s real money spent,” says Wood, referencing the $800 million revamp of the Wynn’s Encore towers. “In the past, we would’ve ripped it out, but in this instance, it has some years left in it, so we decided to restore it.”
Jerome, operating on a much leaner model, completed two full restaurant buildouts for just $110,000. “I went down to the stone yard… there was this huge heap of stone scraps,” she shares. “I looked at it and said, ‘This is so beautiful. I need this. I got $450, will you take it?’ He goes, ‘Send somebody to pick it up tomorrow.’” The result? “It’s the most beautiful wall and it cost me $450,” she says. “I was born scrappy. I’ll always be scrappy. It can 100 percent be done.”
