Encore Las Vegas Opens to the Public

With the economy on shaky ground, it may seem like a crazy time to be opening a luxury resort in Las Vegas. But the $2.3 billion Encore did just that December 22, 2008, when it allowed the public inside for the first time.

Considered to be the sister boutique hotel to the Wynn Las Vegas, Encore had its soft opening with nearly 800 people waiting in line to get in for their first peek at Steve Wynn’s newest property on The Strip.

As with the Wynn, no expense was spared in installing a “wow!” factor to the Encore, with only the finest materials used in building and furnishing the property. But is it worth the expense, when even at the start, the property has had to drop prices to as low as $159 for a standard 700-sq-ft suite midweek?

“Better service, nicer rooms, better lighting,” Wynn told The Associated Press in an interview on the subject. “Themes that are corny get old quickly, but real and wonderful environments with great service are timeless.”

Public areas at Encore are dominated by skylights, allowing in plenty of natural light, and mosaics of butterflies, which seem to be the hotel’s signature icon. Wynn reportedly chose the butterfly both because it is a symbol of luck and because it symbolizes new beginnings in life.

The resort offers up five signature restaurants, including Sinatra, a modern Italian salute to the legendary singer who himself had a long history with Vegas. Also serving Encore’s hungry are Switch (French-inspired steak and seafood), Botero Steak, Society Cafe Encore and Wazuzu (Asian).

The Spa and The Salon at Encore are uber-luxe, featuring a vaulted glass-enclosed courtyard, 14-naturally lit garden rooms, four couples suites and 37 treatment rooms reached by traversing a gold-gilded Asian-inspired hallway full of over-sized vases capped by a large Buddha at the end. The fitness center not only features the latest machines, but two movement studios offering everything from spinning to yoga classes.

Those looking for a new place to party will definitely want to check out XS, the new nightclub from Victor Drai (he of the popular Drai’s, a short hop down the Strip). Living up to its phonetic name, the club’s design melds a sophisticated club atmosphere with a European outdoor pool environment, capped by a ten-foot rotating chandelier.

The pools themselves are inspired by the French Riviera, with many common areas of the resorts, from restaurants to XS, offering up views of the beautifully landscaped (and some topless) pool areas and surrounding gardens.

The grand opening is tentatively scheduled for January 24, though details have not been released. Over the coming month, I’ll profile the resort in depth, but in the meantime, please enjoy the photos the Wynn pr team was kind enough to share of Encore.

Have you been to Encore yet? Do you feel this newest addition to The Strip will survive in these shaky financial times? Let us know in the comments.

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If You Go…

Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: 702-770-7171
Web: www.encorelasvegas.com