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.

Strap in and ride the high as Vegas’ sexiest cast on the strip turns up the heat with their heart-thumping choreography to the hottest billboard hits paired with immersive multimedia visuals. Dance and scream with reckless abandon during the 75-minute display of pure energy and entertainment while watching The Men strip, sing, and swag their way into your *ahem* hearts. Grind with our cast on stage, in the audience, or simply enjoy the eye candy from the comfort of your VIP table—there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re there with your closest friends or a full-on crew, Chippendales is the perfect place to party it up for your bachelorette bash, birthday festivities, newly-single celebrations or an unforgettable night out in Vegas. Skip those FOMO feelings and grab your tickets to experience Vegas’ #1 voted male revue for 6 years in a row… you’ll never forget your first time. Let’s do this!

Named “the most-wanted men in Vegas!” by ET’s, The Insider, Chippendales is the go-to male revue in Las Vegas for girls looking to let loose and have a great night out. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, a bachelorette party, a divorce party or a dirty thirty… Chippendales promises to be the highlight of your trip. The show, a 75-minute interactive experience, combines the hottest guys with the hottest music to create the hottest party in Las Vegas. Some call them male strippers… some call them sexy men… some call them entertainers…. Call them whatever you want, this is the male revue millions of women around the world are talking about. Grab your girlfriends and head to Rio All-Suite, Chippendales guarantees you will leave with a smile!

Grab a cocktail at Flirt Lounge opening an hour before the show begins, watch the show, and enjoy the meet and greet with the famed hunks afterward. Want to keep the party going? All tickets include VIP admission to the Voodoo Lounge atop the Rio.

EXPERT TIPS
Voted 2017’s “Best Male Revue” by Las Vegas Review Journal Editor’s and Reader’s Pick!
Want to get on stage? Make sure the guys know it!
Pre-party before the show and get up close and personal with the guys after the show both in the Flirt Lounge
All tickets come with VIP admission to Voodoo Lounge atop the Rio, offering the best view in Vegas
Ticket Limits: For groups of 6 or more, please contact the Chippendales group sales department at 1-866-CHIP-999 or send an email.

PLEASE NOTE:
Must be 18 or older to attend
Men are welcome
No tipping
*Meet & Greet does not include celebrity hosts.