Westin Las Vegas To Dump the Casino and Add a Restaurant

The Westin Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa on Flamingo Road is seeking permission to lose its role as an off-Strip "resort" and just be known as a hotel, following a renovation of the entire property. First to go, the compact 14,000-square-foot Max Casino, which operates 24 hours a day and features six table games and just over 150 slot machines.

Owned by the Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide group, the hotel cites "lack of revenue" for the future casino closure. However, they will keep a version of their Sports Book, currently operated by William Hill and a handful of slots will be available on the bar-top. Part of the gaming area will be given over to a new "'three meal' restaurant." The hotel's current dining options are the breakfast, lunch and dinner seatings at the Savona Bistro, serving Italian- and French-inspired choices, a casual American menu at the Lobby Bar and a Starbucks.

Also on the agenda, all guestrooms will be upgraded to a "Starwood" standard, the "suites" floor will be reconfigured, the salon, fitness center and gift shop will be relocated, the pool deck expanded, the Hibiscus Spa downsized and the exterior of the tower freshly painted.

Losing the casino will help the hotel focus on its core strengths and attempt to lure more conventions. The hotel's other amenities include a 2,000-square-foot, 175-seat theater that has been dormant for many months.

Starwood is already hard at work converting a 289-room tower at the SLS Las Vegas into the W Las Vegas, adding its own pool and nightlife scene. No timetable for the start or completion of the Westin's makeover has been announced.

The building dates back to 1977, when it was known as the Maxim Hotel and Casino until a 2001 shutter and a 2003 rebirth as the 825-room Westin Casuarina. The Maxim has retained some infamy as the closest landmark to the site of rapper Tupac Shakur's murder in 1996.