The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas: A Hotel in the Autograph Collection

The sleek driveway greets guests to the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.
(photo: Isaac Brekken/Associated Press)

The two towers of the Cosmopolitan.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opened in December 2010 at a cost of $3.9 billion after five years in the making as part of the Autograph Collection of hotels.  For a while it appeared the property would be one of three unfinished projects on the strip. The other two, Echelon Place and the Fontainebleau, remained unfinished at the north end of the strip.

The Autograph Collection, one of Marriott's brands of hotels, was launched in January 2010 with seven locations featuring independent hotels and resorts from around the world representing upper-upscale and luxury properties with distinctive personalities. Unlike other Marriott brands, the hotels of the Autograph Collection maintain their independent identity and lack any obvious signs on the property with the Autograph name. Each each hotel also may maintain their own booking website but reservation systems are linked.

Occupying a narrow 8.7 acres along Las Vegas Boulevard, the Cosmopolitan holds 2,995 rooms in two high-rise towers, a 100,000 square-foot casino and 14 restaurants and eateries. For comparison purposes neighbor properties City Center is 76 acres and the Paris Las Vegas is 24 acres. Just the lake at the Bellagio is 8.5 acres.

The original developer broke ground on the project in October 2005 with an expected cost of $1.8 billion and was planned to have 2,200 condos and 800 hotel rooms. When the company defaulted on a $760 million construction loan in January 2008, Deutsche Bank eventually foreclosed on the property in August of the same year leaving its two 50-story towers to house only hotel rooms.

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The Cosmopolitan driveway.
(photo: StaceyHuggins/flickr)

Utilizing a new more modern standard of luxury in its design in lieu of the theme hotels that dots the Las Vegas Strip, the Cosmopolitan's appeal is geared to "the curious class" that the hotel defines as a group of travelers who are creative, enjoy foreign foods, the arts and new experiences.

Employing the talents of Digital Kitchen and David Rockwell Studio, the Cosmopolitan's unique commitment to design meets guests from the moment they step on to the property. Witness the giant silver and backlit letters spelling the hotel's name greeting customers as they pull on to the polished floors of the driveway.

The visual delight continues to the video pillars at reception to the Chandelier Bar that rises three levels from the casino floor. About 2,220 of the Cosmopolitan's rooms boast a unique feature: 6-foot-deep terraces that span the length of the room. The original condo plan gives some of the suites a residential feel with kitchenettes, dining and sitting areas and a washer/dryer. The hotel's vertical design masks the actual square footage on the property that holds an underground garage, 100,000 square foot casino, eclectic retailers, Sahra Spa & Hammam, three pool experiences, multi-level nightclub called Marquee and 150,000 square feet of convention and meeting space.

Starting tonight, or rather this morning since it's already passed midnight, this hotel is my residence until Friday. Upcoming are posts highlighting various aspects of the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.

The Cosmopolitan's West Side Tower rises of the City Center monorail.
(photo: greg1701/hdrcreme)

Various renderings of the Cosmopolitan were developed. This one
most closely resembles the completed project.
(Photo: VegasChatter)

The Cosmopolitan construction site being prepared in tandem with
the City Center project.
(photo: cole800/nowpublic)