Dive Brief:
- The only dual-branded hotel in Las Vegas opened this week under Marriott International flags AC Hotel and Element by Westin, property manager Crescent Hotels & Resorts announced Wednesday.
- AC Hotel by Marriott Symphony Park and Element by Westin Symphony Park, offering a combined 441 guest rooms, also represents the first non-gaming property in the Symphony Park district, on the north side of the city. Texas-based Jackson-Shaw developed the hotel.
- The property is “poised to be a catalyst for Symphony Park’s continued growth,” according to Crescent. Las Vegas overall, however, saw a stark decline in tourism this summer, which has had a downward impact on the area’s hospitality landscape.
Dive Insight:
The dual-branded AC and Element hotel “offers unmatched access to Las Vegas’ vibrant culture and entertainment,” according to Crescent.
This summer, though, Las Vegas tourism seemed less vibrant than in years past, based on second-quarter earnings reports.
MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment reported that revenues were down 4% and 3.7% year over year, respectively, in Q2 following tourism declines, particularly from Canadian leisure travelers, the companies’ CEOs shared.
The operators’ reported drop in visitors seemingly carried over into July, during which visitor volume to Las Vegas was down 12% year over year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Despite the declines, MGM Resorts and Caesars leaders remained optimistic about group booking pace into 2026.
The new AC-Element hotel offers 18,000 square feet of event space, including the largest unobstructed ballroom in the Las Vegas Arts District, according to Crescent. The dual-branded hotel also includes a piano lounge and a saltwater pool.
Elsewhere in Las Vegas, Marriott is expanding through a licensing partnership with MGM Resorts, formed in 2023. Since then, Marriott has converted more than 30,000 rooms at MGM properties across the city under its brands, including Delano Las Vegas, which last year became W Las Vegas.
As of July, the partnership was on track to book 900,000 room nights in 2025, Hornbuckle shared during a Q2 earnings call.
