Encore Las Vegas

History

Encore is a sister property to Wynn Las Vegas, which also consists of a single hotel tower. By February 2004, owner Steve Wynn had decided to build a second tower with 1,300 rooms, for an approximate total of 4,000. This would help make the Wynn complex more competitive among other expanding resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Wynn complex was built on the former site of the Desert Inn resort, which was purchased and closed by Steve Wynn in 2000. The last remaining hotel structures of the Desert Inn – the Palms and St. Andrews towers – were imploded in November 2004, making way for Encore. It was originally planned only as a hotel tower with a boutique casino, although the strength of the economy prompted Wynn to expand the project, Encore would be targeted at a higher-end clientele compared with that of Wynn Las Vegas.

Wynn Resorts sold $400 million in stock to finance Encore, which cost a total of $2.3 billion. Tutor Saliba, based in California, served as the general contractor. A nine-story Desert Inn parking garage, the last remainder of the resort's structures, was imploded on March 6, 2007, as construction progressed on Encore.

Encore was expected to employ more than 5,000 people, with approximately 1,400 relocating from Wynn Las Vegas.

Encore opened at 8:00 p.m. on December 22, 2008. More than 1,000 people attended the opening. Due to the period's economic downturn, the opening was designed to be more subdued compared with that of previous resorts. At the opening, Steve Wynn gave high rollers a few million dollars to make the initial bets and initiated the action by declaring over a microphone, "Let the games begin!"; the start of gambling was accompanied by a recording of Frank Sinatra's "Luck Be a Lady Tonight".

The resort opened with one nightclub, and two other clubs were added in May 2010, replacing the resort's existing porte-cochere at a cost of $68 million. The project included a new pedestrian entrance and landscaping, both along the Strip. With these additions finished, Wynn declared that the $5.2 billion Wynn complex was now complete.

Features

During the design phase, Wynn Resorts consulted with Forbes Travel Guide in hopes of attaining its five-star rating. DeRuyter Butler was the chief architect. Jerry Beale, senior vice president of design, described Encore as "the flirty younger sister" of Wynn Las Vegas.

The Encore hotel tower is nearly identical to the one at Wynn Las Vegas, both using bronze glass. The Encore tower is 48 stories, although its top floor is labeled "63". Due to bad-luck superstitions among gamblers, the tower skips the 13th floor (triskaidekaphobia) and those containing the number 4 (tetraphobia). Encore opened with 2,034 hotel rooms. The rooms were remodeled in 2015, and a $200 million hotel renovation project was announced for both Wynn and Encore in 2021.

Like Wynn Las Vegas, Encore also features natural lighting in certain areas of the resort, an uncommon trait for casinos.

The resort opened with 27000 sqft of retail space at the Encore Esplanade, Las Vegas' only Roberto Cavalli boutique opened at the property in 2023. Designed by Dan Barteluce, the Encore Esplanade consists of an indoor walkway connecting to Wynn Las Vegas, with lattice ceilings providing natural lighting.

The Encore opened with a 61000 sqft spa, and includes 60000 sqft of convention space intended for meetings, conferences and events. The space includes both ballrooms and breakout rooms.

Restaurants

Encore opened with five restaurants, including Sinatra; it serves as a tribute to the singer, who was friends with Wynn. The Italian restaurant features various personal memorabilia that once belonged to Sinatra. Other dining establishments included Society Cafe, and the Asian restaurant Wazuzu, the latter overseen by chef Jet Tila. along with Botero Steak. Following a renovation, the latter reopened at the end of the year as Jardin (French for "Garden").

Switch operated until 2012. Andrea's, an Asian restaurant and lounge named after Wynn's wife Andrea Hissom, opened in its place in 2013. The lounge area included an LED screen image of Hissom's eyes. It closed in 2020 and was replaced by Elio, marking the first Mexican restaurant for the Wynn complex. A new Mexican restaurant, Casa Playa, opened in its place the following year. Casa Playa is led by executive chef Sarah Thompson and offers a tequila and mezcal selection.

Clubs

Drai, who operated the Tryst nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas, was again recruited to run the XS nightclub at Encore. XS, measuring 40000 sqft,

Encore Beach Club, a 55000 sqft pool complex for adults, opened in May 2010. It was joined by a new 5000 sqft nightclub known as Surrender, which connected to the beach club. Both were managed by Sean Christie's Las Vegas Nightlife Group, which also operated the Blush nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas. XS and Surrender later became some of the top-grossing nightclubs in the United States.

In 2010, rapper Lil Jon signed a DJ residency at Surrender. Swedish DJ Alesso has also performed there and at Encore Beach Club. The Chainsmokers and Kygo each began ongoing residencies at XS in 2017. Other entertainers at the clubs have included Swedish House Mafia, country artist Dustin Lynch, and DJs Marshmello, Diplo, and RL Grime. Performing artists are managed by Jared Garcia. In 2018, the position of artist relations was taken over by David Hadden. By that time, Encore Beach Club had taken over the Surrender space.

Shows

The Wynn complex has two theaters, including the Encore Theater. It was originally built as part of Wynn Las Vegas and is located between the two resorts. It has 1,480 seats, and has hosted numerous entertainers, including Danny Gans, and Garth Brooks.

Accolades

In a 2009 review for The New York Times, Brooks Barnes wrote, "Until the economy improves, the opulent hotel will come across a bit like a boom-times relic. But there's always a market for quality, and Encore offers that in spades". That year, Travel + Leisure named it among the 45 best new hotels. The magazine praised Encore's natural lighting and indoor plant life, stating that both features make the expansive public spaces feel "downright cozy".

At the end of 2009, Encore received the AAA Five Diamond Award, as well as the Five Star award from Forbes Travel Guide. The two spas at the Wynn complex were also the only ones in the state to have five-star ratings. The complex has since been a repeat winner of both awards.Retrieved November 7, 2022:{{ubl | | | | |

Gallery

File:Wynn and Encore from Las vegas Monorail.jpg|Encore during construction, January 2008 File:Encore Las Vegas 2008 Opening date.jpg|Wynn and Encore on opening day as seen from The Palazzo File:Encore-wynn-towers.JPG|Encore and Wynn seen from the east, with Trump International Hotel Las Vegas in the center File:Encore Suites at Wynn Las Vegas.jpg|Tower view from Las Vegas Boulevard File:Encore, Las Vegas June 2013.jpg|New pedestrian entrance at Encore File:Encore Casino - panoramio.jpg|Close-up of entrance File:Encore Las Vegas Beach Club at night.jpg|Encore Beach Club, seen from the Strip at night File:Encore Las Vegas hotel lobby.jpg|Hotel lobby File:DSC32252, The Encore Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (6341141807).jpg|Encore Esplanade

References

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