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| - There was little evidence of the LV slump here on opening night, with tastings abuzz with industry suits around the restaurants and a packed casino floor once the property opened to the general public. And with good reason: the Cosmopolitan is a beautiful, modern hotel, second only to Wynn/Encore as the nicest on the Strip.
The biggest feather is Cosmo's hat is Marquee Las Vegas, the most impressive nightclub I've seen and one that will give XS a run for its money. With 3 levels ranging from a house mega-floor to a attic library, the venue has only small echoes of the boutique feel of its sister property at 11th Ave & W. 27th St. If the 2nd and 3rd tier clubs around City Center are smart, they'll set their sights on the spillover crowd from Marquee. Besides building a beautiful indoor/outdoor day/night haven, the Tao team have done a nice job of dovetailing with the casual living room-esque whimsy that Cosmo as a whole -- with pool tables scattered around, for instance -- is aiming for.
If you come, ask for a room overlooking the Bellagio fountains.
Cosmo will be getting the wrinkles out over the next few weeks:
- Customer service lines that ring off the hook and reps who have no clue what they're doing
- Bathtub knobs that fall off
- TV remotes that don't work
- Dealers who have trouble cutting decks
- Showers that won't get hot
- A loyalty website that's broken
- Bartenders who push alcohol of people they know don't drink (unconscionable)
- Dealers who push gaming on people they know don't gamble (unconscionable)
- Front desk printers that don't, well, print
...but those fine points to be expected of a fresh-out-of-the-shrink-wrap property. All in all, Deutsche Bank's accidental foray into gaming is off to an auspicious start. Now let's see whether they can resist the temptation to go to channel partners for more than....a month? :)
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