The Venetian

The Venetian Las Vegas is a luxury integrated resort on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The property combines hotel suites, casino gaming, convention facilities, retail, restaurants, entertainment venues and highly theatrical architecture modeled on Venice. Its signature features include reproductions of Venetian landmarks, an indoor and outdoor canal system, gondola rides, the Grand Canal Shoppes and a large convention campus connected with the Venetian Expo. The resort was developed by Sheldon Adelson through Las Vegas Sands as a replacement for the historic Sands Hotel and Casino. The Sands closed in 1996 and was demolished later that year, clearing the site for a much larger resort designed around Adelson’s belief that Las Vegas was under-serving convention attendees and business travelers. Construction began in April 1997, and the property opened to the public shortly after midnight on May 4, 1999. The opening took place while portions of the resort were still unfinished, and construction continued through the end of that year. The original complex opened with 3,036 suites in a 35-story tower and a casino of approximately 120,000 square feet. The Venezia tower, completed in 2003, expanded the hotel to 4,049 suites. The Palazzo, a related resort opened immediately north of The Venetian in 2007, created a combined complex of roughly 7,100 rooms and became one of the world’s largest hotel properties when the two resorts are considered together. The Venetian’s business model places less emphasis on traditional casino floors alone than many older Las Vegas resorts. Its convention space, shopping, dining and entertainment offerings are designed to generate visitor spending across multiple categories, while the resort’s suite-based accommodation and Italianate setting support a premium positioning. The property has hosted major shows and attractions, including Blue Man Group, Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular and Human Nature. The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum operated within the resort from 2001 to 2008. Sphere, a large spherical entertainment venue developed as part of the wider Las Vegas Sands site, opened near the resort complex in 2023. The resort’s early years were marked by construction disputes and a highly publicized conflict with the Culinary Workers Union after Adelson chose to open the property as non-union. Contractors filed more than $230 million in mechanics’ liens, leading to a lengthy court case involving the resort and general contractor Lehrer McGovern Bovis. The property also faced regulatory scrutiny over casino promotions and anti-money-laundering controls. In 2013, Las Vegas Sands entered a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and agreed to pay $47.4 million in connection with failures surrounding transactions involving a high-stakes gambler. The Venetian closed in March 2020 during Nevada’s COVID-19 restrictions and reopened on June 4, 2020, after announcing enhanced health and screening measures. Las Vegas Sands sold the Las Vegas assets in 2022 as it concentrated on Asian operations. Vici Properties acquired the underlying real estate for $4 billion, while Apollo Global Management acquired the operating business for $2.25 billion. The Venetian and Palazzo reached labor agreements with the Culinary Workers Union in 2024, ending the resort’s long period as a non-union property.

The Venetian was conceived as a replacement for the Sands Hotel and Casino, which had operated on the site since 1952. Sheldon Adelson’s company, Las Vegas Sands, acquired the Sands in 1989 and later concluded that the aging property could not compete effectively with newer resorts. The Sands closed in June 1996 and was demolished five months later. Construction of The Venetian began with a groundbreaking in April 1997. Adelson emphasized convention visitors and business travelers, a segment he believed was not receiving enough attention from Las Vegas resorts that traditionally centered their business models on casino gambling. Financing included a $523 million bond offering, while the completed project cost approximately $1.5 billion. The resort was designed by Stubbins Associates and Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, with a visual concept based on Venice. Its architecture incorporated replicas of Venetian landmarks, canals and gondola transportation to create an immersive destination rather than a conventional hotel tower. The project experienced construction delays, safety incidents and disputes with contractors. The planned opening dates in April 1999 were postponed, and the property eventually opened shortly after midnight on May 4. Several restaurants, retail areas and hotel floors were not initially available, and some convention guests had to be relocated. Work continued until December 1999, while the permanent certificate of occupancy was not obtained until 2001. Subcontractors and the general contractor filed mechanics’ liens exceeding $230 million. The resulting litigation culminated in a 2002–2003 trial in which jurors found both the resort and Bovis in breach of contract. The dispute was ultimately resolved after an appeal and further negotiations. The original resort opened with 3,036 suites and a roughly 120,000-square-foot casino. The Venezia tower added capacity in 2003, bringing the total to 4,049 suites. The property’s broader commercial ecosystem expanded through the Grand Canal Shoppes, convention facilities and entertainment venues. The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum operated at the resort from 2001 to 2008. The Palazzo, a sister resort with its own hotel and casino, opened directly north of The Venetian in 2007. Together, the two properties form a very large integrated complex with approximately 7,100 rooms. The resort’s operating history also includes regulatory and labor controversies. Las Vegas Sands opened The Venetian as a non-union property, provoking an extended dispute with the Culinary Workers Union. The conflict involved protests, litigation and disagreements over public access to the sidewalk in front of the resort. The property later paid a $1 million penalty in 2004 to settle a Nevada Gaming Control Board complaint that included an allegation involving a casino promotion. In 2013, Las Vegas Sands resolved a federal investigation into anti-money-laundering weaknesses through a non-prosecution agreement and a $47.4 million payment. The Venetian closed in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed operations on June 4 after announcing temperature-screening technology and access to emergency medical personnel. Las Vegas Sands subsequently decided to concentrate on Macau and other Asian operations. After Sheldon Adelson’s death in 2021, the company announced the sale of its Las Vegas properties. The transaction closed in February 2022: Vici Properties purchased the underlying land, while Apollo Global Management acquired the operating business and took responsibility for resort operations under a lease structure. The Venetian and Palazzo later reached union labor agreements in 2024. The complex remains an active luxury hospitality, gaming, convention and entertainment destination, with Sphere opening nearby in 2023.

• 2024

  Unionization agreements

  [1]The Venetian Las Vegasen.wikipedia.org

  The Venetian and Palazzo approved labor contracts with the Culinary Workers Union.

• 2023

  Sphere opens nearby

  [1]The Venetian Las Vegasen.wikipedia.org

  The spherical entertainment venue Sphere opened as part of the wider Las Vegas resort and entertainment district.

• 2022

  Ownership and operations transfer

  [5]Venetian Resort and Palazzo Resort Acquisition Completedapolloglobal.com

  Vici Properties acquired the real estate and Apollo Global Management acquired the operating business.

• 2020

  Pandemic closure and reopening

  [1]The Venetian Las Vegasen.wikipedia.org

  The resort closed during Nevada's COVID-19 restrictions and reopened in June with announced health and screening measures.

• 2007

  The Palazzo opens

  [1]The Venetian Las Vegasen.wikipedia.org

  The sister resort opened north of The Venetian, creating a large combined hotel and casino complex.

• 2003

  Venezia tower completed

  [1]The Venetian Las Vegasen.wikipedia.org

  The 12-story Venezia tower expanded the resort to 4,049 suites.

• 1999

  Public opening

  [1]The Venetian Las Vegasen.wikipedia.org

  The Venetian opened on May 4 as an Italian- and Venice-themed integrated resort with all-suite lodging, a casino, canals and gondola rides, dining, retail, and meeting facilities, although parts of the resort remained under construction.

• 1999

  The resort opens

  [4]Luxury Hotel in Las Vegas | The Venetian Resort Las Vegasvenetianlasvegas.com

  The Venetian Las Vegas opens on the Las Vegas Strip as an Italian- and Venice-themed integrated resort with hotel suites, casino gaming, canals, gondola rides, dining, retail, and meeting facilities.

• 1997

  Construction begins

  [1]The Venetian Las Vegasen.wikipedia.org

  Groundbreaking took place in April for the Venetian-themed resort.

• 1996

  Sands closes and is demolished

  [1]The Venetian Las Vegasen.wikipedia.org

  The historic Sands closed in June and was demolished later that year to make way for The Venetian.

• 1989

  Las Vegas Sands acquires the Sands

  [1]The Venetian Las Vegasen.wikipedia.org

  Sheldon Adelson's company acquired the Sands Hotel and Casino, the predecessor property on The Venetian's site.

An Italian-themed luxury integrated resort that combines all-suite accommodation, casino gaming, dining, shopping, entertainment, conventions, and destination attractions on the Las Vegas Strip.

• Integrated resort · 1999

  The Venetian Las Vegas

  The core property is a luxury suite hotel and casino themed around Venice. It offers thousands of suites, a large gaming floor, canals with gondola rides, restaurants, retail, nightlife and entertainment. The resort is designed as an immersive destination in which architecture and themed public spaces are central parts of the guest experience.

• Hotel accommodation · 2003

  The Venezia Tower

  Completed in 2003, the Venezia tower expanded The Venetian's accommodation inventory and operates as part of the wider resort. Its addition helped establish the property as a major suite-based hotel complex rather than a single opening tower.

• Retail and dining · 1999

  Grand Canal Shoppes

  The Grand Canal Shoppes is a themed retail and dining district integrated into the resort. It extends the Venetian setting through canals, bridges and Italianate streetscapes while housing shops, restaurants and leisure venues that complement the hotel and casino operations.

• Convention and exhibition venue

  Venetian Expo

  The Venetian Expo provides exhibition and meeting infrastructure serving conventions, trade shows and corporate events. Together with the resort's own meeting areas, it supports the convention-led business strategy that distinguished The Venetian from casino-first Las Vegas properties.

• Entertainment venue · 2023

  Sphere

  Sphere is a large spherical entertainment venue located within the broader Venetian and former Sands development area. It opened in 2023 and adds immersive concerts and audiovisual events to the district's entertainment offer.

• Hospitality · 1999

  All-suite hotel accommodation

  The resort's lodging proposition is built around spacious suites rather than conventional standard hotel rooms. Accommodation is marketed as part of an Italian-inspired luxury resort experience and serves leisure travelers, business visitors, convention delegates, and guests attending Las Vegas entertainment and events.

• Gaming · 1999

  Casino

  The Venetian includes a large casino as a central component of its integrated-resort model. Gaming operates alongside lodging, restaurants, retail, entertainment, and conventions, allowing the property to attract both casino customers and visitors whose primary purpose is leisure, dining, shopping, or business travel.

• Attractions · 1999

  Gondola rides and themed canals

  Canals, gondola rides, and Venetian-inspired public spaces are signature attractions of the resort. They extend the brand beyond hotel and casino functions by providing a distinctive sightseeing and leisure experience within the property and reinforcing its Venice-based visual identity.

• Food and beverage · 1999

  Dining and nightlife

  The resort offers a broad collection of restaurants, bars, lounges, and other food-and-beverage venues. Dining is an important part of the destination proposition, helping the complex serve hotel guests, convention visitors, local customers, tourists, and entertainment-focused travelers.

• Business travel · 1999

  Convention and meeting facilities

  Convention and meeting facilities support conferences, corporate gatherings, trade events, and group travel. This business gives the resort a substantial meetings-oriented role in addition to leisure tourism and casino gaming, and connects the property to Las Vegas's broader convention economy.

• 2013

  Anti-money-laundering investigation

  Las Vegas Sands entered a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice after investigators examined transactions involving Zhenli Ye Gon and found shortcomings in the company's response to suspicious activity.

  Source

• 2004

  Gaming promotion complaint

  The resort agreed to pay a $1 million penalty to resolve a Nevada Gaming Control Board complaint that included an allegation that a Mercedes-Benz drawing was arranged to benefit a high roller.

  Source

Read more

• 1999Venice-themed resort launch

  United States

  The launch positioned the property as an immersive luxury destination by foregrounding Venetian architecture, canals, gondola rides and suite-based accommodation. It established The Venetian as a distinctive integrated resort and a major convention-oriented property.

  Outcome. Established The Venetian as a distinctive integrated resort and a major convention-oriented property.

  Source

• 2022

  Separate sale of real estate and operationsM&A

  Background

  Las Vegas Sands chose to focus its portfolio on Macau and other Asian operations.

  Action taken

  Vici Properties acquired the underlying land, while Apollo Global Management acquired the operating business of The Venetian, The Palazzo and the Venetian Expo.

  Aftermath

  Apollo became the operator and Vici became the real-estate owner under a lease arrangement.

  Transaction consideration. $4 billion for the real estate and $2.25 billion for the operating business (2022)

  Source

• 1999

  Open as a non-union resortStrategy

  Background

  Las Vegas Sands sought to operate the new property outside the union structure associated with the former Sands.

  Action taken

  The Venetian opened without a Culinary Workers Union agreement.

  Aftermath

  The decision produced years of protests, litigation and labor tension before union contracts were approved in 2024.

  Source

• 1999

  Launch of the Venetian-themed integrated resortProduct launch

  Background

  The property entered the Las Vegas Strip market with a strategy centered on a highly recognizable Venice theme and a broad combination of accommodation, gaming, attractions, dining, retail, and meetings.

  Action taken

  The resort opened with all-suite lodging, a casino, canals and gondola experiences, themed public areas, restaurants, shopping, and convention facilities.

  Aftermath

  The launch established The Venetian as a destination resort whose identity depends on immersive theming and an integrated hospitality offer.

  Source

• 1997

  Build around convention travelersStrategy

  Background

  Sheldon Adelson considered business travelers and convention attendees an under-served Las Vegas segment.

  Action taken

  The development included substantial meeting and exhibition infrastructure alongside hotel, casino, retail and dining facilities.

  Aftermath

  The resort became a major convention-oriented integrated property and later operated alongside the Venetian Expo.

  Source

1. 1The Venetian Las Vegasen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Las Vegas Sands Corp. Agrees to Pay $47.4 Million to Resolve Investigationjustice.gov
3. 3Venetian Resort and Palazzo Resort Acquisition Completedapolloglobal.com
4. 4Luxury Hotel in Las Vegas | The Venetian Resort Las Vegasvenetianlasvegas.com
5. 5Venetian Resort and Palazzo Resort Acquisition Completedapolloglobal.com