Celebrity Gossip From Las Vegas With Robin Leach | Luxe Life Digest

 
Robin and George Maloof outside Palms Place, an upcoming addition to Maloof's Palms Casino Resort.

Before leaving on vacation, Robin sat down with local mogul George Maloof to discuss the innovative expansion going on at Maloof’s Palms Casino Resort, including the recently opened Fantasy Suites and the 40-story Fantasy Tower, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

RL: George, lets talk about where the idea for the Fantasy Suites came from.

GM: I think the genesis was the Real World suite. When we opened, the Elvis suite at the Hilton from the 70’s was popular. So taking that, and the success of that suite, we wanted to do more and create the Fantasy Tower with all of these crazy, outrageous suits that hadn’t been done before. Still luxurious, and having fun.

RL: Would you say these are the most unique hotel rooms anywhere in the world?

GM: I would challenge anyone to show me something that would indicate that they were not. They are outrageously crazy, but they are comfortable and high end. We’ve taken the idea and elevated it to a new level.

RL: So, some guests obviously welcome it and say, “this is fantastic.” How do you explain this to a banker?

GM: We would take him up there to see it. It is hard to explain what we’ve done. You have to really feel it and experience it. It is a really unique tower. There are things in there that haven’t been done before, from a recording studio, to the villas with pools itis just crazy.

RL: We all love Cindy Margolis. Was she the perfect choice as the guide to these rooms??

GM: Cindy has been great; she has been a big fan of the Palms.

RL: I remember this great moment where the two of you are sitting on the airbed and it is going up and down and the expression on both of your faces was, “I don’t believe this exists.” This is the theme isn’t it?

GM: Each suite has its little things that make it unique. In the Crib Suite we have a bed that is on hydraulics that rises up and down. It is all about having fun; the idea of fantasy and using Las Vegas. It’s all about using the imagination and doing things that haven’t been done before and creating something special.

RL: You know you will go down in history for a lot of things; a visionary, a new Steve Wynn, all of these hopefully. You will also be known as the man who introduced the stripper pole to hotel suites.

GM: We had that happen a few years ago, and we took it to another level with these Fantasy Suites. We are having fun.

RL: Give me your three highlight suites.

GM: Well we have the Erotica Suite, which has deep reds, leathers, and a rotating bed.. You have the G-suite, which is actually a replica of the Ghost Bar equipped with a glass floor that has a live feed from the view. It is pretty incredible. We have the Hardwood Suite, the only suite with an indoor basketball court. And of course the Kingpin Suite, which has two, full regulation size bowling lanes.

RL: So, you first opened the erotic, the unique Fantasy Suites, then you decided to go one step further and top what couldn’t be topped, with this. How do you describe these seven, over-the-edge pool suites?

GM: First of all they are luxurious; so all the finishes are high end. We paid a lot of attention to the details and the furniture. The detail in the restroom, the master bedroom is incredible. We have a pantry, dining room, living room, fireplaces, high ceilings, and then we have these pools, that are oversized Jacuzzi pools that hang over the edge with glass walls. This is our version ofthe Infinite Pool; it has never been done before with the backdrop of The Strip. The response has been great; it has never been taken to this level. We rival any suites in Las Vegas and in the world. I truly believe they are the greatest suites in the world.

RL: So what did the architect and the engineer say when you said, “I want a swimming pool to go over the edge of the building?”

GM: It was an unbelievable challenge, and it took a lot of thought, engineering and work, but we pulled it off.. It was very costly, but well worth it because people just love it.

RL: When you set out five-years-ago to launch the Palms, and to start the brand of the Palms, was this all a part of a long term plan; the celebrity branding first and then the unique luxury building?

GM: Well, initially, we created hybrid property. We wanted a convenient, intimate setting. That was the initial idea. Then we brought in the celebrity focus, which hadn’t been done before in the extent that we took it. That whole original concept hasn’t changed. When we are done with our expansion, we will have taken everything to the next level and created great places, great venues. We are going to start building an entertainment venue at the top of the Fantasy Towers, and of course the Playboy Club, it will have in the first time within the state of Nevada, it will have gaming in a nightclub setting, which is unique. Then we will finish our expansion in February with a concert theater where we will have different shows.

RL: As part of the family that owns the Sacramento Kings, with the NBA All-star games coming in February, this is going to be game headquarters isn’t it?

GM: Right, we will have the All-star game, which will be great for Vegas. It is a historic moment for the NBA and for this town. We are pumped up about it.

RL: But you can only put 12, 7-foot players in the Hardwood Suite so what do you do with the rest of them?

GM: Well, the Palms has the first NBA-sized beds. They are two-feet longer than a regular bed. The players will stay in those rooms. So, that’s a start.

RL: Do you think the players themselves will challenge each other to a game in their own room?

GM: We have gotten a lot of requests for that suite. We opened it at the beginning of the season, so the suite has had interest from NBA players in the off-season.

RL: In terms of your hotel, and what Vegas was like in November 2001 when you opened, have you seen Vegas change even more than what you thought it would change?

GM: Well, I think Las Vegas is always changing from what I can remember 20-years-ago when I was in school. It has just intensified in the past five years. There is so much demand, and interest in this city and for the creativity. I’ve always considered it “Planet Vegas” because there is no place like it on earth. So, when you have creativity ad capital it makes things happen. It is a great spot to be.

RL: So, you’ve pushed the envelope perhaps more than anyone else with hotel property in town, and people follow your cutting edge. Where do you stop? Or where do you get the ideas to keep pushing even further forward?

GM: The creativity is key, and being involved, and having people help you. It is good to have great product. We are different; we aren’t a corporation with thousands and thousands of rentals. We are a family hotel/casino company.

RL: The opening bash for the brand new 150-million dollar Fantasy Tower, you are throwing a block party. Now, I envision a block party running from on end of the block to the other. Are you literally closing down the city?

GM: It is a concept, it hasn’t been done before. There are two floors and seven themed suites. It is like a fraternity party where you can go from room to room, instead now you can go from suite to suite. It is going to be sexy, fun and everything is for sale. So, if someone wants to rent one of our suites it is available. We are introducing the commercial and show it off in a unique thematic story way, which I think, will be interesting.

RL: Do you think this has all turned out better than you envisioned it?

GM: Absolutely. We built a brand, people recognize it, so, yeah I just wanted to give the guests the best experience possible and that is how I envisioned it.

RL: The opening of the Fantasy Towers coincides with the groundbreaking of the Palms Place construction. What can you tell me about Palms Place?

GM: It is our third tower so Palms Place is separate building connected to the Palms by a moving sky bridge and it’s a condo-hotel, something that I am very proud of. We have set sales records as far as it sold out instantly. There is nothing left, which is great for a tricky market.

RL: Is it true that on the roof there is an open-air basketball court and an open-air swimming pool?

GM: There was a basketball court but we took it out. We thought it may be too noisy and that the ball would sail over the top. So that is gone, and my brother Phil bought the top one, but there will be no basketball court, just a swimming pool.

RL: And does Sky Bridge really mean it is in the sky?

GM: Yeah, it is about 20-feet in the air, from Palms Place to the Palms. It is a moving walkway, and fully secured. A resident can get back and forth very easily. We created this tower with all the amenities that you could expect to find in any hotel in the world. So, it is a condo hotel.

RL: Are you happy with the hotel yet?

GM: I will be a lot happier once we get this construction done.

RL: And next up is the addition of two incredible swimming pools?

GM: Yeah, we have this incredible 40-acre pool with 2-story cabanas and a pool that sits on the center bar with a glass bottom. We’ve taken all the tricks and designed it as one incredible space. We will be done with this by summer.

RL: So, by the end of 2006, you will be looking at a hotel that is no longer what it was in 2001.

GM: The identity has changed. The size of the rooms, we’ve created more venues, more restaurants. We are putting in an Italian restaurant that will be operated by the Nine Group and it is going to be fantastic. We are taking it to a new level and still keeping it intimate. The build out on this property is about 1,400 rooms, including the condo hotel. That is still pretty intimate in comparison to the other hotels.

RL: So, you are not a guy that rests. So what do you do when this is completed?

GM: I want to grow in Vegas and in other places.

RL: Talk to me about the Palms and the Playboy group and Christie Hefner and the original Morton being at the power of Hefner in the beginning. Did the conversation start as, “Let’s re-introduce the Playboy club and use Vegas as the way to do it?”

GM: Playboy always wanted something on a permanent basis in Vegas, and it just so happened that we were working on Playboy parties and we had their anniversary parties. So we created a relationship. I found out that they were talkingseriously to other people in town and I contacted Christie and I told her that we were interested in doing something on a permanent basis here in Vegas, and that is how it got started. In Sept we are re-inventing this club, modernizing it, but still keeping some of the things from the past that are important to showcase. I think it is important for Playboy to be in Las Vegas.

RL: The club itself, which is a nightclub and a casino, is also connected to a suite.

GM: There are four components. There is our version of the mansion, which is a 9,000-square-foot Hefner suite that is available for parties and to rent that Hef helped design. It is just incredible, there will be the Playboy Club, with a band and a lounge, there will be the nightclub component, which will be on another level, and then there is a Playboy store, which will be located in our lobby. So, it is a four-component deal and it will be here before we know it.

RL: And the Playboy bunnies will be there but with a new twist on the traditional costume?

GM: Yeah Roberto Cavalli helped us design a new outfit so it will be fun.

RL: If you were to describe the ingredients of a cocktail that makes Las Vegas what it is today, what would you say are the three or four elements that make the cocktail called success?

GM: I don’t think the concept of Las Vegas has changed. It is still the adult playground that it was a long time ago. Celebrities come here on a constant basis and want to get away and play, and with that comes exposure, Las Vegas doesn’t need to spend money on self-promotion, and it promotes itself. Robin, you have had a huge effect on the promotion of this city. You have been at it since day one. People are fascinated with reality TV, we brought in Real World and that helped promote Las Vegas. Since then there has been tons of shows based in Vegas. People are fascinated with this town and the celebrities and what happens in this town is intensified. There is so much to do here that it is hard to compete with this city. Everyone wants to come here. There is a huge generation that comes here and doesn’t want to gamble; they enjoy good food and music. Weare giving them something a little different. It is cutting edge.

RL: Talk about fine dining and what is coming with Nove and Luna and the pop-up retractable roof.

GM: This is at the top of the towers. We have a retractable roof over the club and Nove is a brand new Italian restaurant that will be operated by Nine, and the Playboy Club. All of this will be connected at the top of our tower.

RL: Can we say that it will be the first nightclub with a retractable roof?

GM: The Roof is a nightclub that will be the first nightclub with a retractable roof.


One of the in-suite pools that levitate out of the new Fantasy Tower at The Palms.

WHERE IS ROBIN?
Robin is on a well-deserved vacation and while he is away, a few of his friends are pitching in on writing duties. Here is the full schedule of guest columnists: 

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