It’s the end of an era for a famed Las Vegas hotel. The Mirage Hotel & Casino will officially close its doors on July 17. The 65-acre property will then undergo an extensive construction and re-open in 2027 as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas. The Mirage’s transition to become the Hard Rock will visibly change the Las Vegas skyline, as a new 700-foot guitar will be built on the property, in a similar style as the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, FL. «While we pause for the incredible transformation of this iconic property, I'd like to thank all team members at The Mirage for their incredible commitment and helping us provide memorable experiences for our guests,» The Mirage’s President Joe Lupo said in a press release on Wednesday. For travelers looking to stay at the Mirage one last time before it closes, rates vary from $399 to $99 throughout the final months.
How To Enjoy The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards In Las Vegas
02.05.2024 - 13:39 / forbes.com / El Bulli
Launched in London more than 20 years ago, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards has become one of the most important ratings in the rarefied world of top tier fine dining (though not without some criticism and controversy). But regardless what people think of the process behind selection, there’s no doubt that some of the big winners over the years have in fact been some of the world’s very best, places like Spain’s El Bulli, England’s The Fate Duck, Italy’s Osteria Francescana, Denmark’s Noma and in the U.S. notables have included Napa Valley’s French Laundry and New York City’s Eleven Madison Park.
Also, despite the name, the World’s Best List actually goes up to 100, and is split into the first 50 and second 50. There are also many sub-lists, including best by region (Asia, Latin America, North America, etc.) and other genres such as best bars and hotels.
The winners are announced once each year, and the actual awards ceremony has become a big thing in the food and travel industry, full of pomp and circumstance, and for 2024, the show is coming to Las Vegas. The actual awards are at Wynn Las Vegas on June 5, and there’s not much for the public, as the organizers have described the audience as “the world’s leading chefs, gastronomic media and renowned culinary VIPs.”
But for everyone else, there is an impressive slate of public events surrounding the awards, especially at two big hitters in the city’s culinary scene, Wynn Las Vegas and Resorts World Las Vegas. More ancillary foodie actvities are expected to be added at other properties and independent restaurants on and off The Strip as it gets closer.
Wynn has the most Forbes Stars (hotels, spas, and restaurants) under one roof of any resort in the country, and you can read my detailed resort profile here at Forbes. Wynn is rolling out a new weeklong culinary festival called Revelry (ticket info and related info at this site) to go with its role as the awards’ host. Highlights include:
Monday, June 3: 50 Best Signature Sessions (Casa Playa). Things kick off with a five-course South of the Broder dinner by Wynn’s Casa Playa Chef Sarah Thompson and Elena Reygadas of Mexico City’s Rosetta (World’s Best Female Chef 2023). 50 Best Signature Sessions are collaborative dinners between chefs from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list and Wynn’s top restaurants. (All Signature Series Reservations here).
50 Best Signature Sessions (Mizumi): Another special seated collaboration, Japan meets Thailand, with Bangkok Chef Thitid Tassanakajohn of Le Du (15th Best in World 2023) and Pichaya Soontornyanakij of Bangkok’s Potong (Best Female Chef Asia 2024) joining Chef Jeff Ramsey of Wynn’s Mizumi.
Tuesday, June 4: 50 Best Signature Sessions (Sinatra). Italian food
Copy My Trip: Soak in Tampere, Finland, the sauna capital of the world
Lonely Planet Destination Editor Amy Lynch traveled to Tampere, Finland – the sauna capital of the world – to discover what lies behind the Finnish passion for saunas. Here, she shares some tips and insights for anyone planning a similar trip.
I've been to Vegas over 50 times. Here are the 8 best restaurants on The Strip.
Some people go to Vegas to gamble; I go to eat.
Trunk Bay in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Named the #1 Beach by The World’s 50 Best Beaches™
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is excited to announce that Trunk Bay, located on St. John, has been ranked number 1 on the prestigious list of The World’s 50 Best Beaches™ 2024. Presented by Banana Boat, this annual list, curated by a panel of travel experts, influencers, and enthusiasts, showcases the most breathtaking and sought-after beaches around the globe. Trunk Bay’s inclusion in this renowned ranking is a testament to its exceptional natural beauty and the unforgettable experiences it offers visitors.
How I used 75K Chase points to book a last-minute getaway to Mexico for 2
Two of the best travel rewards cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, both currently have sign-up bonuses of 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. There are many ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points, but you'll usually get the most value when you transfer your rewards to one or more Chase transfer partners.
Wynn Las Vegas Lures Foodies With New Culinary Festival, Revelry
If you’re seeking a few days of live entertainment, drinks by the pool, luxury shopping and highly innovative culinary experiences courtesy of the world’s most sought-after chefs, you’re in luck. Wynn Las Vegas, the opulent, 4,748 room property that elevated Sin City’s hospitality scene when it opened its doors in 2005, is launching its first-ever culinary festival, Revelry, from June 5 to June 8.
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas unveils $1.5 billion renovation
One of the most popular Las Vegas casino resorts is turning 25, so what better time to reveal a $1.5 billion face-lift?
Las Vegas Tourism: Investing in Sports, What's New at The Sphere
The Sphere in Las Vegas is going to host its first sports event: the NHL Draft. That’s just one of the expanding uses of the immersive experiences venue, said Steve Hill, CEO and president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
The World’s 15 Safest Cities (2 U.S. Cities Made The List), Ranked In A New Report
Searching for the safest places to travel? Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) recently unveiled its annual State of Travel Insurance Safest Destinations report, which ranks the world’s 15 safest cities to travel. This year, two U.S. cities made the list, with Honolulu named the safest city in the world.
The Best New Restaurants In Las Vegas
While some might argue that the best way to get to know a place as sensory saturated as Las Vegas is to get out and explore, to truly experience this city, from the Strip to downtown and from the westside to Boulder City, is to taste it.
Abracadabra: The Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas gets a transformation
The red-and-blue neon lighting at the Rio Hotel & Casino had been a landmark just west of the Las Vegas Strip since the property opened in 1990. Guests were drawn by the excitement of the World Series of Poker (at the Rio for 17 years), an ambitious buffet, a free regularly scheduled show above the Mardi Gras-themed Masquerade Village and the jazz-tinged, comedic magic of Penn & Teller.
How To Enjoy The Venice Biennale 2024
It’s a Biennale time in Venice, aka the Art Olympics, an every-two-year event where La Serenissima’s 118 islands are almost entirely dedicated to contemporary art from countries and artists around the world. What started out as small art fair in the Giardini, Venice’s public park, has turned into a six-month, all-island, non-stop blockbuster art fest of exhibitions in palaces, galleries, public spaces, and, of course, the Giardini and Arsenale. This year’s 60th Venice Biennale Stranieri Ovunque - Foreigners Everywhere brings it on strong with 331 artists, 88 national pavilions and 30 collateral events, not to mention other pop ups. That’s a lot of art to take in, and a lot of ground to cover. After years of visiting the Biennale as press and also including time working at the US Pavilion, I’ve finally figured out the best way to navigatee Venice Biennale.