Thursday, June 27 marked the dawn of a new era in the evolution of Las Vegas as businessman Alex Meruelo unveiled the return of SAHARA to the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. In a city known for over-the-top spectacle, Meruelo upped the ante with a dramatic announcement event revealing the resort name in a bold display of modern engineering. In a first for Las Vegas, the custom-made production featured a dynamic Intel® Shooting Star ^™ drone light show, 3D projection mapping and dazzling pyrotechnics display – paving the way for the distinctive return of an icon.

Just prior to the reveal, Meruelo addressed a crowd of more than 700 special guests, which included local dignitaries, celebrities, hotel guests and team members. Meruelo shared his vision for the iconic resort, his love of Las Vegas and long-held desire to make his mark on The Strip.

“We are committed to delivering an intimate, unexpected and memorable visit for our guests. We want people who stay with us to say, ‘My God what an experience!’ because experience leads to memories. And, that’s what we want to create, memories and experiences you won’t forget.

“To do that, we had to find the right resort,” Meruelo continued. “And, this is the right resort. We can make a big impact here at this iconic location. Our property is just the right size to deliver the bold, yet personalized, experiences that made visitors first fall in love with Las Vegas.”

Meruelo, who is the founder of The Meruelo Group and owner of Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, acquired the property in April of last year and quickly embarked upon a more than $100 million transformation that, to date, has included upgrades to the casino floor, hotel rooms and corridors as well as additions to its award-winning culinary program. Meruelo’s debut comes at a time when there are few sole proprietors left along the Las Vegas Strip. As a life-long entrepreneur with a track record of business success, Meruelo expressed his commitment to continual improvement and investment in SAHARA Las Vegas ensuring the resort remains both timeless yet modern so that guests will want to return time and time again.

“The SAHARA played an important role in the evolution of the destination,” Meruelo said. “And, we are now responsible for shaping a new narrative. We are writing the next chapter in the city’s evolution, for the love of Vegas.”

Joining Meruelo in his quest is an experienced leadership team led by General Manager Paul Hobson. Hobson, who greeted the crowd and welcomed Meruelo to the stage, presided over the property’s re-branding and is responsible for bringing Meruelo’s vision to life.

“The team here knows that we’re part of something special,” said Hobson. “Every member of the team, from leadership to the front line, is excited to welcome SAHARA back to Las Vegas. And, we are excited for our guests to join us on this journey, experience the many changes taking place on property and offer them unparalleled service. Our design team has labored over every detail, bringing a style and sophistication that we believe our guests will immediately appreciate.”

The debut of the new name is part of a series of renovations for the boutique Strip resort that will continue well into 2020. Additional enhancements are scheduled to begin later this year including updates to the hotel lobby and guest check-in with additional improvements to be announced in the coming months.

“Our naming reveal is really just the beginning,” continued Hobson. “The announcement event is demonstrative of the unexpected experiences our guests will find at SAHARA. We are creating an inviting, modern resort experience brimming with surprising details that will leave our guests feeling wowed every time they set foot on property.”

The SAHARA Las Vegas reveal event featured 250 Intel® Shooting Star ^™ drones, which are designed for entertainment purposes and capable of creating more than four billion color combinations to light up the sky. The spectacle, which featured dynamic aerial imagery including spinning slot reels and winning black jack hands, included 3D projection mapping that paid homage to Las Vegas’ glamourous past as well as a choreographed dance lead-in led by a troupe of authentic Las Vegas showgirls and dancers. The grand finale, which revealed the new SAHARA name and logo, married the best of Intel® Shooting Star ^™ drone technology, 3D projection mapping and pyrotechnics.

SAHARA Las Vegas features 1,615 guest suites, more than 95,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and a collection of entertainment venues, lounges, three distinctive pools, a luxurious spa and acclaimed restaurants, including the award-winning BAZAAR Meat by Jose Andres. New additions to the resort also include a soon-to-be-revealed high limit gaming space and the newly debuted CASBAR lounge. To follow the transformation of SAHARA Las Vegas or to book your stay, visit ForTheLoveofVegas.com.

Seeing is believing
David Copperfield is a legendary showman who’s been hailed by audiences and critics alike as the “greatest illusionist of our time.” In addition to decades of television events, worldwide tours and a critically acclaimed Broadway show, Copperfield continues to confound and delight audiences with his unbelievable illusions and charming stories. Experiencing a Copperfield show is proof that “magic is as vast as the imagination.”

Elevate the Magic
The David Copperfield Meet & Greet experience includes front row seats, a meet & greet with David himself, a photo with you and David (wallet size, additional photo sizes are available for purchase) an autographed 8×10 headshot and an extra magical experience just for you!

Venue -Walking Directions
FROM THE MGM GRAND FRONT DESK
From the front desk, start walking through the casino floor and take a left toward Whiskey Down. Continue walking left past the M life Desk and the Theater will be on your left.

FROM THE STRIP
From the Las Vegas Strip, walk toward Hakkasan and TAP Sports Bar. Continue walking straight through the casino floor past the Poker Room and Cashier. The theater will be on your right.

After two successful limited engagements in 2017, modern-day mime and comedian, Tape Face returns to Las Vegas. The “America’s Got Talent” alumnus announced a multi-year residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas, beginning Friday, March 16 at 7 p.m. PST. Tickets on-sale on Friday, February 2 at 10 a.m. PST.

“Performing in Vegas last year was a dream, but to be able to return and perform in my very own custom venue in Vegas is beyond words,” said Sam Wills, Tape Face creator and actor. “House of Tape is definitely a tick off my bucket list!”

Although his show contains no dialogue, his return to Sin City will be louder than ever. In conjunction with his new show, Harrah’s Las Vegas will premiere a uniquely customized theater for Tape Face’s return called “House of Tape.” An intimate, 200-seat venue, the brand-new showroom will be easily accessible from Harrah’s main gaming floor.

“House of Tape will be an immersive experience that transports audiences into the world of Tape Face,” said Damian Costa, Caesars Entertainment vice president of entertainment operations. “This uniquely, curated venue will usher in a new form of entertainment to our world-class entertainment lineup at Harrah’s Las Vegas.”

Tickets begin at $63, plus applicable tax and fees. VIP seats include a meet and greet, $99, plus applicable tax and fees. Purchase tickets at any Las Vegas Caesars Entertainment Box Office, by phone at (702) 777-2782 or ticketmaster.com.

About Tape Face
From the world-famous Las Vegas Strip to London’s West End at the historic Garrick Theatre, this eccentric, modern silent stand-up is an award-winning show that audiences all over the world can’t stop talking about. Connect at tapeface.tv, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.

About Harrah’s Las Vegas
With more than 2,500 hotel rooms and suites, Harrah’s Las Vegas is an affordable, welcoming resort where guests can break away from their daily routine in a playful atmosphere. The newly renovated Valley Tower features 672 modern rooms with warm tones of gray and purple accents, as well as dark wood furnishings. Harrah’s Las Vegas features 87,000 square-feet of casino space, a modern Race & Sports Book offering both live gaming and sports betting, and more than 25,000 square-feet of meeting and convention space. Six restaurants encompass everything from Toby Keith’s ‘I Love This Bar & Grill,’ which offers an all-American menu and live music nightly, to the chef-driven Fulton Street Food Hall, to the upscale setting of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, a romantic venue with breathtaking views of the Strip. Harrah’s outdoor bar, Carnaval Court, brings high energy to the Las Vegas Strip with live music and some of the world’s top flair bartenders who juggle and pour to perfection. A wide variety of entertainment options include rock and roll headliners The Righteous Brothers featuring Bill Medley with Bucky Heard, Tenors of Rock featuring the best male rock voices in the UK, and the comedy-magic of Mac King. For more information, please visit harrahslasvegas.com or the Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas media room. Find Harrah’s Las Vegas on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram.