Las Vegas Trends Report 2015: What’s New In The New Year
Happy New Year! Hospitality, technology, luxury, and spa experts recently weighed in on what Pursuitist can expect, trends wise, from Las Vegas in 2015.
1.Emerging Millennial Influence
While Gen Y’s spending power will soon surpass that of any other age group, this generation’s influence is what sets it apart from previous ones.
“Millennials grew up on technology and view it as a means to navigate their world,” says John Bollen, chief digital officer of MGM Resorts International. “In 2015, we will see how the impact of this group’s preference for sharing experiences with their peers and need for connectivity influence everything from in-room technologies to entertainment offerings.”
A perfect example? According to Bellagio Executive Chef Edmund Wong, group dining concepts will continue to gain popularity, due to the increasing spending power of millennials, who subscribe to the idea that the ultimate dining experience is one that’s shared with friends, family and those in their social networks. Prime examples include shareable menus like the Plats Pour Deux Menu at BARDOT Brasserie at ARIA; Italian social plates at Julian Serrano’s Lago, opening in Spring 2015 at Bellagio; and the shareable punch bowls served at Franklin at Delano Las Vegas.
2.Wellness Travel
Guests continue to seek out wellness travel options, and in 2015, Las Vegas spas will integrate new wellness services into their offerings. Yoga classes and farm-to-spa ingredients will be new offerings at BATHHOUSE, the new spa at Delano.
StayWell rooms – currently offered at MGM Grand – will incorporate more than a dozen healthy features including aromatherapy, wake-up light therapy and Vitamin C-infused showers – and will expand the signature experience to additional properties and spaces this year.
The second level of MGM Grand’s Conference Space was recently retrofitted with StayWell elements designed to appeal to health-minded business travelers. The upgraded spaces include furniture and features for stretching, improved air filtration and light quality, and Cleveland Clinic-approved menu items.
Healthy food and beverage options will become more accessible, including a new USDA-Certified Organic cold-pressed juice program at Bellagio and a continued focus on sustainable foods throughout Las Vegas restaurants. Organic and natural wines also are on the rise with guests who want to be mindful even when imbibing, says Bellagio’s Director of Wine Jason Smith.
Finally, in 2015, there will be spa services available outside of traditional settings. Expect to see spas debut innovative treatments like Spa Bellagio’s new Surf to Turf Massage, which will move from aquatic pool therapy to table massage. ARIA recently debuted in-pool massages, while outdoor yoga programs, like Monte Carlo’s Yoga on BLVD Plaza, will look to expand to new locations including Mandalay Bay Beach.
3. Innovative Indoor/Outdoor Social Spaces
Guests often prefer the casino floor and distinct venues for restaurant, theatre and nightclub experiences, but a growing demand for more casual and flexible social spaces is driving the redesign of common areas into new social hubs. This trend is evident in new lounge atmospheres including Franklin at Delano Las Vegas and Alibi at ARIA, where guests can enjoy conversation, drinks, small bites and live music, with the incorporation of living room-style seating, and couches.
Innovative outdoor spaces also are emerging, as evidenced by the recent opening of Monte Carlo’s BLVD Plaza and expansion of New York-New York’s Brooklyn Bridge; both are outdoor, Strip-side developments.
The fusion of these outdoor complexes will ultimately serve as the gateway to the 2016 opening of The Park, an interactive neighborhood featuring plentiful public seating, desert-sustainable landscaping and street entertainers, which will front the 20,000-seat Las Vegas Arena, currently under construction.
4. Expanding Technology And Wireless In-Room Integration
In 2015, guests will be able to book a room, make dinner reservations, purchase show tickets and even reserve pool lounge chairs from their mobile devices.
ARIA Sky Suites recently implemented Bluetooth Music Bridge, allowing guests to stream playlists wirelessly through in-room speakers, and other hotels will follow suit in the coming year.
Additionally, new high-tech amenities including iPads in high-end suites at MGM Grand will interface with hotel departments, allowing guests to order room service, send laundry and more, says Travis Lunn, vice president of hotel operations at MGM Grand.
5. Social And Digital Gaming, The InteractivePro Table
Table games with touch screen tops, like the InteractivePro tables recently introduced at MGM Grand and The Mirage, will be the next big gaming trend, according to Tom Mikulich, vice president of business development for MGM Resorts International. InteractivePro Tables are like giant smart phones, featuring a unique interface allowing four different users to operate interactive or individual gaming screens, watch sports, access social media and more.
6. More Festivals In 2015
“Interactive and social forms of entertainment, like music festivals and outdoor events, will be a major focus in Las Vegas,” says Chris Baldizan, senior vice president of entertainment for MGM Resorts International. From the Electric Daisy Carnival at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway to Life is Beautiful in Downtown Las Vegas, multi-day music festivals will continue to find homes in Las Vegas in 2015.
Notably, the May U.S. debut of Brazil’s iconic Rock in Rio – the world’s largest music festival – will deliver top acts like Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Metallica, John Legend and more.
Other events on the horizon for 2015 include the return of Wine Amplified, an alternative rock music and wine festival; and the Route 91 Harvest Festival, which features the best talent in the country music industry performing for fans in a colorful, outdoor environment.
