Paul Steelman, who has designed casinos and resorts worldwide for over four decades, says Las Vegas's future depends on creating distinctive experiences, embracing the outdoors, and preserving the city's unique magic. He emphasizes that Las Vegas is a series of diversified experiences based on freedom, where visitors are free to do anything they want.
While gaming remains central, Steelman says competing properties are now designed around a broader collection of experiences including pools, restaurants, sports, entertainment, digital attractions, and outdoor spaces. His firm, Steelman Partners, has designed over 4,000 projects worldwide, including the Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Casino de Monte-Carlo, Resorts World Las Vegas, and Circa.
Suzanne Steelman Taylor, vice president of strategy at the firm and a third-generation architect, notes the shift reflects changing consumer expectations, especially among younger visitors who game less. She says casinos are evolving to be more than just gaming, with attractions needing to become part of a resort's identity—or what Steelman calls the 'shiny object'.
At Circa, Stadium Swim was designed as more than a hotel pool and now attracts 3 to 4 million visitors annually, comparable to a major theme park. The sportsbook was also intentionally designed to be featured, not hidden, with Steelman recalling owner Derek Stevens saying its energy equates to having a 'Beyoncé concert, 84 nights a year'.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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