Malaysian casino operator Genting Group has opened Resorts World Las Vegas, a $4.3bn (£3bn) resort on the Las Vegas Strip, marking the most expensive resort ever developed in the city. The 88-acre property features 3,500 hotel rooms, a 5,000-seat theatre, and one of the world's largest LED screens.
The resort is a joint venture with US hospitality firm Hilton Worldwide, which operates three hotels within the complex. It is the largest new property on the Strip in over a decade, replacing the iconic Stardust Resort and Casino, which was demolished in 2007.
Las Vegas saw visitor numbers plummet by over 50% last year due to coronavirus restrictions, but numbers have begun to recover. Between March and April 2021, visitor numbers rose by over 15%, though they remain more than 27% lower than the same period in 2019, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Genting originally planned the resort to attract Asian gamblers, with a Chinese-themed design featuring a live panda habitat and a replica of the Great Wall. However, those plans were scrapped in favour of a less themed luxury approach. Some Asian elements remain, such as the absence of fourth floors in hotels, as four is considered unlucky in many Asian cultures.
Genting, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, operates globally, including in China, the US, India, and the UK. The company is also pursuing a major resort development in Yokohama, Japan, led by its Singapore unit.
