St. Regis … still stumped; Quid pro Qua

Last autumn, Las Vegas Sands COO Michael Leven floated the idea of capping its St. Regis failsino at its current five-story height, admitting that the skeleton was an “eyesore” along the Strip. The “Stump Regis” was the subject of a May 27 LVA “Question of the Day.” Scarcely had we published it when a sharp-eyed LVA subscriber espied workmen atop the St. Regis’ stump. Was Leven going to finally take action?

No, the laborers were up on the high steel in preparation for cloaking it in circus tent-like drapery intended to create the trompe l’oeil impression of a finished building. A well-read S&G regular suggests that Las Vegas Sands is taking its design cues from Disneyland (above). As for Leven’s mooted cap-and-finish of the Stump Regis, $2 Million Mike frittered away the cool-weather months, forcing him to resort to the Stump’s new Potemkin Village aesthetic. Then again, considering the hideous exterior he imposed on the Sands Bethlehem hotel in order to complete it, maybe we should be thankful Leven resisted the temptation to play architect again.

Congratulations to the staff of Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace, voted 53rd-best in the U.S. by readers of Condé Nast Traveler. Qua got 91 points out of a possible 100, which tells you how stiff the competition must have been. No wonder: Other spas in the top 100 included Mandalay Bay‘s Four Seasons (#4), Wynncore (#12 & 23), West Baden Springs Hotel (#42), home of French Lick Casino, Station Casinos‘ flagship Red Rock Resort (#66), Caesars Atlantic City (#67), Bellagio (#69), Mandalay Bay’s own spa (#96) and that at Green Valley Ranch (#99). Not a bad performance by the casino industry and especially by Las Vegas properties. But Qua blurbed the news to S&G first so it gets the kudos. Well done!