Resort at Summerlin likened to Scottsdale, Palm Springs

Friday, April 30, 1999 | 10:57 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Resort at Summerlin, which will cater to high-end gamblers and golfers that visit Las Vegas, was licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission Thursday.

The $279 million, 541-room project, to open June 29, was called "the first true luxury Scottsdale-Palm Springs golf resort," in Las Vegas by lawyer Greg Giordano, representing owner Swiss Casinos of America Inc.

Located about 10 miles west of the Strip on the way to Red Rock Canyon, the casino will have 1,270 slot machines and 40 table games, nine restaurants, an 11-acre garden, a 40,000-square-foot spa and shops. It is located near five golf courses and free shuttle service will be provided.

Average room rates will be $206 a night. Brian McMullan, president of the resort, said that is high for Las Vegas but not high compared with luxury rooms across the nation. The resort is tied to the Regent brand, which has about nine hotels worldwide and is considered a Five Star company, McMullan said.

The 56 acres was purchased from Howard Hughes Corp., for $16 million in 1996. McMullan said, "Las Vegas has a lot of the wild factor. When they (the guests) come back to us, we want them to relax."

For instance, McMullan said the spa will be "more a pampering place than an exercise place," with different types of treatment. The resort will take its guests hiking, bike riding and horseback riding in the Red Rock Canyon.

John Assis-Fonseca, senior vice president and chief operating officer, said the organization has identified about 3.4 million visitors who are gamblers and golfers who visit Las Vegas. And about 980,000 of them spend more than $3,000 each trip.

He said personal contacts will be made with 72,000 households who earn in excess of $100,000 and are known to be gamblers and golfers.

The project will be known as the Resort at Summerlin but the two hotel towers will be named Regent Grand Spa and Regent Grand Palms. McMullan said affiliation with Regent International will allow the Las Vegas hotel to take advantage of Regent's international reservation system.

Rooms will range in size from 546 square feet to one 6,300-square-foot suite.

No major entertainment is planned but there is a 1,000 seat grand ballroom, McMullan said.