Virgin Hotels Las Vegas to Join Curio Collection by Hilton

LAS VEGAS—When Virgin Hotels Las Vegas opens in 2020, it will join the Curio Collection by Hilton, becoming the first property in the collection in the city.

The property will continue full-service operations as the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino until early 2020 when it closes briefly for an extensive transformation and renovations that will transform it. In collaboration with JC Hospitality LLC and Virgin Hotels, the hotel will be a reimagined, contemporary Las Vegas entertainment hub and participate in Hilton’s guest loyalty program, Hilton Honors.

“It really is very exciting,” Mark Nogal, global head, Curio Collection by Hilton told Hotel Business. “When you look at a market like Vegas, there are such great opportunities for us… As you look at each of our Curio properties, each property has its own story and its own individual reputation. So, for us, partnering in a unique way with this, knowing it is going to be Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Curio Collection by Hilton is a great milestone for us to get back into Vegas, and bring hotel rooms that our Hilton Honors members can utilize.”

Of the hotels within Hilton’s Collection Brands, the hotel will be the only property located in Las Vegas and the largest in the world, with more than 1,500 guestrooms and 110,000 sq. ft. of meeting and events space.

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will serve those visiting the city as a destination in close proximity to nearby nightlife for evenings out on the Strip. For those looking to remain onsite as well as for locals, the hotel has eclectic bars, tasty restaurants, a casino, fitness facilities and spa, and a live entertainment venue—The Joint.

“This partnership offers up Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as a premium lifestyle hotel option to Hilton’s top-notch global hotels sales force to their global meetings and conventions customer base,” Raul Leal, Virgin Hotels CEO told Hotel Business. “All Hilton Honors members will be able to enjoy their benefits while staying at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. These are new customers that hopefully will become fans of Virgin Hotels. The relationship is a good and smart one for our upcoming hotel. Our typical Virgin Hotels properties are about 275 rooms on average and are located in major urban markets, so it made sense to partner with Hilton in Las Vegas. Curio Collection by Hilton is the right alignment for the Las Vegas Convention market as Las Vegas is one of the top meeting and convention destinations in the world.”

The newly remodeled pool at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will embody the ambiance of a private island, with unique, intimate spaces and a variety of cabana experiences for retreating, or reveling, with new friends.

Once the property reopens, guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy many additional food and beverage options, including Commons Club (Virgin Hotels’ flagship modern dining and social club concept) and The Shag Room, an intimate secret den welcoming visitors for cocktails.

The property is owned by JC Hospitality LLC, and is the result of the vision of a group of investors led by Juniper Capital Partners and the Labourers International Union of North America (LiUNA) (investment managed by Fengate Real Asset Investments) along with their partners Dream, Cowie Capital Partners, Virgin and other private investors.

“JC Hospitality is extremely proud to be investing in the Las Vegas market with amazing brands like Hilton and Virgin Hotels,” said Property President/CEO Richard Bosworth. “We couldn’t be more passionate about the project and this partnership, and look forward to the exciting journey ahead.”