It´s Game Day at the Splashy New Landmark in Downtown Las Vegas!

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But I love this colorful and vibrant city for a variety of different reasons. Its excellent golf and culinary offerings provide some of the most unique experiences in the world. Where else can you enjoy breakfast on the Canal Grande of Venice, have lunch at the Pyramid of Giza and indulge in fine dining on the Eiffel Tower, all served with spectaculars views of the Bellagio Fountains?
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Las Vegas is also home to over 50 diverse golf courses. They all showcase the magic of a desert transformed into a golfer’s oasis but impress with its own character and specialties. The price tags at Shadow Creek and Wynn Golf Club may not be for everybody, but there are very decent options as well. Have you ever played the lit-up par-3 course at Angel Park?

I typically stay at one of the luxury hotels on the strip, I have experienced pretty much all of them over the past 10 years. I believe that no other destination in the USA provides the same bang for your buck, especially on weekdays. These luxury hotels that would sell for $800/night in New York or San Francisco can often be booked in Las Vegas for as little as $100/night. Awesome!
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The new landmark in downtown Las Vegas!
At my last visit I was introduced to a brand-new luxury hotel – the Circa Resort & Casino. This ultra-modern hotel and casino property opened in October 2020 and is the first US$1 billion-plus casino to open in the city since the financial crisis a decade ago. It is one of the few adults only resorts and located right in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, just a few steps from The Freemont Street. No new hotel had been built here for 40 years.

Downtown Las Vegas, however, has recently been in a revival due to renewed developments. The Fremont Street Experience unveiled a $32 million renovation of the 25-year-old canopy, the central feature and attraction of downtown Las Vegas’ open-air promenade for the past quarter-century. The Circa hotel, which is independently owned by magnate Derek Stevens, is a tribute to all the fun of Downtown Las Vegas and has quickly evolved as its landmark.

Smart gamblers and locals do their wagering at the casinos on iconic Fremont Street, colloquially also known as “Glitter Gulch.” There, you get bigger benefits for loyalty card holders, including dining and entertainment comps I was told by my friend Billy, a Las Vegas native. I ventured out to Fremont Street one night to experience the funky dive bars.
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Advanced sports betting technology meets ‘good old Vegas hospitality!
I spent most of my time in the Circa Resort though as the resort´s amenities are so impressive. Notably, the chic hotel has a 2-floor casino that boasts a 3-story sports-book as its crown jewel. It´s the world largest one, and demand is high.
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I tried my luck at one of the 55 gaming tables on the Casino floor. It was the first time that I had seen a dancing dealer. These girls take shifts dealing, and then they dance in front of the people in the casino with the goal to enhance the player ´s experience — whether they’re winning or losing. It was a lot of fun, simply priceless!
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As Vegas is a city of superlatives, it didn ´t surprise me that the Circa also boasts Nevada’s longest indoor bar. The Mega Bar spans a mammoth 165 feet (50 meters) and features 120 beer taps, 46 double-stacked TVs and 53 spaces for bar-top gaming. I could watch the talented bartenders display their skills as they juggle bottles and glasses in a high-energy atmosphere for hours. Cheers!

But it was the sports-themed pool area that blew my mind!
There is most likely no better place to watch a sporting event than in the 39 degrees Celsius (103 degrees Fahrenheit) heated Stadium Swim rooftop pool amphitheater with a 143-foot-wide TV screen, 2 swim-up bars, and poolside gaming. No doubt, Derek Stevens has been rethinking the Las Vegas pool party concept which had been dominated by clubs such as Drai’s with celebrity DJs, thumping electronic music and steep cover charges. Stadium Swim is more of an aqua sports bar than a nightclub and if you stay at the hotel, there are no admission charges. The experience of watching the US Open on this gigantic screen while soaking in the heated pool is hard to top!
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Did you know that Las Vegas is also home to some of the world’s most prestigious museums? The Mob Museum celebrates the city’s Mafia traditions and reveals an insider’s look at the events and characters of the continuing battle between the Mob and the law. The museum has accumulated awards and accolades from around the globe for its provocative, contemporary look through high-tech theater presentations, and interactive exhibits. This museum was highly recommended to me but sadly my time in Vegas was limited. This, however, is one more reason to head back to one of my favorite cities in America, isn ´t it?
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Thank you Cherie for introducing me to the Circa Resort & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas, it was a highly unique experience!

Have you experienced Las Vegas? What is a “Must Do and Must See Attraction” for you in this unique city? What´s your preferred lodging option, what are your favorite golf courses? Let me know!

For more info on this epic new Resort & Casino visit https://www.circalasvegas.com/

TOPICS: Courses and Travel Tags: , , ,

ABOUT: Evelyn Gruber

Evelyn has passionately dedicated her life to serve the global golf tourism industry. She has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and built an amazing global network within this vertical in the past 26 years. The Austrian native founded her first golf travel business in the mid 90's. By implementing an innovative shop-in-shop concept with Europe´s leading golf store, Evelyn was able to grow her business into Austria´s largest golf tour operator before selling it in 2008. Since then, this passionate visionary has continued to work in golf tourism, albeit more on the consulting and coaching side to assist public and private tourism sectors succeed in the lucrative golf niche. This niche is the most profitable one as golfers spend 2.5. times as much as leisure tourists. In addition, it trumps with strong ancillary benefits and has proven to be the most resilient and sustainable vertical in crisis. On top of everything else, numbers of golfers - including youth golf - have been increasing significantly during the current pandemic. As a truly global citizen, Evelyn calls Europe, the US and Asia her home, as she has been commuting between these three continents for the past 15 years. This has helped her tremendously to develop a unique global understanding of the geopolitical business dynamics as well as the macro and micro-environment in the various markets, which she applies effectively when boosting international tourist arrivals & tourism spending for destinations. The Austrian is most likely one of the best traveled living golfers in Europe, having played more than 2000 courses in 89 countries in Europe, Australia, North America, Africa and Asia, including most of Golf Digest´s Top 100 Ballot Courses outside the US and Rolex 1000 Ballot Courses worldwide. Considered a leading expert in her field, Evelyn has also stayed in 1000s of hotels, and worked successfully with both private & public sector in global golf tourism. She understands the USP and value propositions of destinations and knows how to smartly communicate those to the most valuable target audiences in select key markets. Evelyn has a Masters degree in Sports Management, English & Business Administration and holds two diplomas for International Marketing from Harvard Business School. She still dedicates 3 hours a day to grow her skill-set and raise her standards. A strong background combined with expertise & connectivity is fundamental for success. It is, however, Evelyn´s dedication & passion that make her approach unrivaled. You will quickly notice that Golf Tourism is in her blood!

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