Hotel of the Week: Fontainebleau Unveils Glam Las Vegas Resort

While most Las Vegas resorts maintain extensive horizontal footprints, Fontainebleau Las Vegas is vertically integrated on 25 acres as the tallest occupied building in Nevada. Every tier is superbly positioned and well-balanced, with one its most exceptional attributes being the art collection curated by Fontainebleau Development President Brett Mufson.

“There’s art everywhere. Art is a tenet of our culture,” Mufson says, noting that multiple mediums are represented, including AI, kinetic sculpture, even cars. “A sophisticated city deserves sophisticated art and we will continue to build on our program.”

The epicenter of the collection is the installation of works by Urs Fischer, sited in the hotel’s South Lobby. On view is Lovers #3, a 46-foot sculpture crafted from aluminum, stainless steel, and gold leaf, depicting two forms meeting, one balanced on top of the other. Centered within a five-story atrium, it is viewable from multiple vantage points. Flanking the undulating form are two large-scale murals—The Touch and The Eye, part of the Swiss artist’s Problem Paintings series.

Mufson also acquired the five-panel Richard Prince painting Untitled (High Times) (2018-2019), five panels of multi-colored roughly sketched figures juxtaposed against the building’s modernist design, inspired by original Fontainebleau architect Morris Lapidus. “This is the largest painting that Richard Prince has done. This came directly from him,” Mufson says. “We want people to walk by and stop.”

The artwork faces a mosaic by David Collins Studio, who crafted the lobby and adjacent bar, incorporating the Fontainebleau’s signature circles, which are represented on the floors as well. The motif is a tribute to Lapidus, who never had any right angles in any of his designs, and in fact, there are nod to the originator everywhere. Guests can easily discover examples of the iconic Fontainebleau bow tie in marble inlays, parquet flooring, and door pools. There’s even a multistory bowtie chandelier at the epicenter of the casino.

Floral designer Jeff Leatham, who has been lauded for his creations at FS Hotel George V, Paris and collaborations with brands like Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and Bulgari, created the bold florals on display throughout the resort, including at the arrival moment which features hundreds of roses bursting out from golden bowtie vessels of varying heights.

At the resort’s Strip facing entrance, guests are greeted by History of Suspended Time by Gonzalo Lebrija, a 2,500-pound 1966 Ford Galaxie suspended mid dive into a glassy pool of water. The work is meant to symbolize a frozen frame of impossibility come to life, much in the same way that Fontainebleau Las Vegas has overcome its challenges to become reality. “This stands for the impossible, a symbol of how tough this has been to get to where we are today,” says Mufson.

Each one of the 3,644 hotel rooms and suites represents the latest and most advanced hospitality elements available. The pinnacle of luxury is the Fleur De Lis Suite Collection—spanning the top five floors of the tower, every part of the Fleur De Lis stay is personalized, complete with private arrival vestibule, bar,  spa, and butler service, as well as Leatham-designed floral arrangements and personalized welcome chocolates created by Executive Pastry Chef Patrice Caillot. Accommodations range from 1,000 square feet to the 10,000-square-foot penthouse, all designed by David Collins Studio. Amenities include Rivolta linens, alpaca throws, leather wrapped Nespresso machines from Giobagnara, Dyson hair tools, and bespoke sundries and face masks from Knesko. Fleur de Lis guests also have access to a private fleet of Rolls-Royces.

Being at the very top of the building also means close proximity to the David Rockwell-designed Poodle Room, a private members lounge with poodle sentinels on the crowning floor and the 12-seat ITO, an omakase led by Chef Masa Ito and Kevin Kim.

Lissoni & Partners created the 55,000-square-foot two-level Lapis Spa & Wellness, situated within the Fontainebleau Las Vegas Wellness Corridor. The concept is inspired by the deep blue crystal lapis lazuli, associated with strength, courage, power, wisdom, intuition, intellect, truth, and spiritual connection. Treatments encompass Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging facials, Ayurveda therapies, and chakra balancing, in addition to the Celestial Waters Passport, an experience with thermal waters, rejuvenating saunas, snow showers, and an atmospheric salt cave.

Jeffrey Beers International designed the pool district as well as its 550,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor meeting and convention space, which will be revealed as the season evolves to capture two of Las Vegas’ most important demographics, pool revelers and convention goers.