Question of the Day - 13 May 2025

[Editor's Note: This answer is penned by the inimitable David McKee.]

Better not plan on taking a dip at Wet Republic when you’re next at MGM Grand. Something "communistic" might rub off on you as you bathe. 

Seriously, Caesars Entertainment remains one of the most reliably capitalistic companies on the scene and the new moniker of Harveys Lake Tahoe is a nod to the Roman Republic (509-27 BCE).

The new brand name was trotted out in 2023 for a non-casino Hilton hotel in Scottsdale. It must have played well, as Caesars is retiring one of its oldest off-brands (Harveys, which dates back to 1944) in favor of the newcomer. Unlike the unlamented Gary Loveman, CEO Tom Reeg isn’t shy about using the Caesars name and its attendant brand equity, as witnessed by this and the reinvention of Harrah’s New Orleans as up-market Caesars New Orleans.

There’s nothing pinko about the transparent reinvention of Harveys as a high-roller hangout. A cool $160 million is being spent to make over the property in an upscale image. The telltale change is that the lobby bar Cleo’s Coffee & Cocktails pivots at night to a high-end lounge. Also, a high-limit gambling area is being added to the casino floor, along with 1,200 new slot machines and a World Series of Poker-branded card room.

The Mountain Tower of the hotel will be renamed the Remus Tower “and will introduce butler service for select suites in both of the destination’s hotel towers for an unmatched luxury stay.” Harveys’ Tahoe Tower will become the Romulus Tower, though it's not slated for a remodel, having received a renovation in 2020; it will be “refreshed,” according to Caesars. 

The hotel redo is already in progress and the reimagined casino floor will debut sometime this summer. The final touches will be in place sometime next year. Room reservations are already being taken under the Caesars Republic name and the property will stay open throughout construction.

The Hell’s Kitchen restaurant is being expanded and a Lisa Vanderpump eatery, Wolf, will be added, intended to “further establish Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe as a premier destination for upscale dining and luxury experiences.” The Vanderpumps may be tacky and nouveau-riche, but they’re hardly proletarian.

The rebranding parallels a renovation going on across the street at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. A craft beer-focus restaurant, Brew Brothers, recently opened there, and “technological advancements and property-wide improvements are underway and will further elevate the guest experience,” per Caesars’ PR.