Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
Encyclopedia
The Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino is located off the Las Vegas Strip
in the unincorporated area of Paradise
, Nevada
, USA. It is better known as The Rio and is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Inc. The Rio was the first all suite
resort in the Las Vegas
area. It was named after the city of Rio de Janeiro
, and is influenced by Brazilian culture
.
The hotel towers are covered in the signature purple and red glass. The Rio hotel's 2,522 suites range in size from 600 square foot and have floor to ceiling windows. There are several private villas on property for high-rollers.
The complex includes a wine cellar that has more than 50,000 bottles. The Rio Pavilion convention center has a total of 160000 sq ft (14,864.5 m²) of space. A Race and Sports Book
is also available.
; it had been constructed and was owned and operated by Marnell Corrao Associates
. The opening acts were the Brazilian Group Sérgio Mendes
'99 and Henrietta Alves of New Orleans, bringing the first two-piano act to Las Vegas, with various co-performers. A 20-story expansion tower was added to the current Ipanema Tower in 1993. Masquerade Village, a hotel tower and casino expansion including the Masquerade Show in the Sky, opened in 1997, at a cost of over $200 million. The Rio was purchased by Harrah's Entertainment
in 1999 for $888 million. After the purchase, the Culinary Workers Union
organized the Rio employees through card check
recognition by enforcing the neutrality clause of the existing Harrah's contract on the new acquisition.
Danny Gans
, after moving from the Stratosphere Las Vegas
, opened as the headliner in 1996. He later moved to The Mirage
in 2000. The Rio's Samba Theatre was the host venue of the 30th Anniversary Special for the hit CBS
game show The Price Is Right
. The hotel hosted the World Series of Poker
in 2005, the first time this event was not held at Binion's
. Binion's was used for the final three tables and the last two days of the competition as part of the celebration of Las Vegas' centennial. Since 2005, the Rio has been the home for the tournament.
: The daylight-hour, adults-only club surrounded one of the property's outdoor pools and featured dancers. It opened with a $30-per-male-customer admission price. The venture was highest-profile joint venture between a casino company and a topless business, notable because the possibility of bringing in the possible criminal activity associated with club had caused the Nevada Gaming Control Board to balk at previous collaborations; some in the media questioned whether the risk was worth the potential payoff for the hotel.
In late July 2009, the Rio hotel asked the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
to do a routine undercover investigation of the Sapphire Pool; as casino-resorts in Nevada are held responsible for the activities held on their premises, the request was a part of the resort's effort to show good faith to the Gaming Control Board. The July 25 visit resulted in eleven arrests. Upon finding out the results of the investigation, the Rio immediately shut down the pool indefinitely.
, and Mardi Gras
floats. The show has a stage with a dance and singing show while floats on guide rails hang from the ceiling and go throughout the Masquerade Village.
Throughout the casino floor, some cocktail waitresses perform a short stage dance every 30-60 minutes.
event to which international kart and car drivers are invited (Michael Schumacher
raced in 2009), takes place each year at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino, a circuit is set on the hotel parking lot.
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
in the unincorporated area of Paradise
Paradise, Nevada
Paradise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 223,167 at the 2010 census...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, USA. It is better known as The Rio and is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Inc. The Rio was the first all suite
Suite (hotel)
A suite in a hotel or other public accommodation, denotes a class of luxury accommodations, the key feature of which is multiple rooms. Many properties have one or more "honeymoon suites", and sometimes the best accommodation is called the "presidential suite".Suites offer multiple rooms, with more...
resort in the Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
area. It was named after the city of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, and is influenced by Brazilian culture
Culture of Brazil
The culture of Brazil presents a very diverse nature reflecting an ethnic and cultural mixing occurred in the colonial period involving mostly Native Americans, Portuguese and Africans...
.
The hotel towers are covered in the signature purple and red glass. The Rio hotel's 2,522 suites range in size from 600 square foot and have floor to ceiling windows. There are several private villas on property for high-rollers.
The complex includes a wine cellar that has more than 50,000 bottles. The Rio Pavilion convention center has a total of 160000 sq ft (14,864.5 m²) of space. A Race and Sports Book
Sportsbook
In the United States a sportsbook or a race and sports book is a place where a gambler can wager on various sports competitions, including golf, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, horse racing, boxing, and mixed martial arts. The method of betting varies with the sport and the type of...
is also available.
History
The Rio opened on January 15, 1990 as a locals casinoLocals casino
A locals casino is a casino designed primarily to attract residents of the area in which it was built rather than tourists or vacationers. The term is most commonly associated with casinos in Nevada, USA, to distinguish them from casinos that target mostly tourists in a central area.- Overview...
; it had been constructed and was owned and operated by Marnell Corrao Associates
Marnell Corrao Associates
Marnell Corrao Associates is an Architecture and General contracting services company based in Las Vegas, Nevada.The company specializes in large scale projects. They also concentrate their efforts in the casino arena.-History:...
. The opening acts were the Brazilian Group Sérgio Mendes
Sergio Mendes
Sérgio Santos Mendes is a Brazilian musician. He has released over thirty-five albums, and plays bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk....
'99 and Henrietta Alves of New Orleans, bringing the first two-piano act to Las Vegas, with various co-performers. A 20-story expansion tower was added to the current Ipanema Tower in 1993. Masquerade Village, a hotel tower and casino expansion including the Masquerade Show in the Sky, opened in 1997, at a cost of over $200 million. The Rio was purchased by Harrah's Entertainment
Harrah's Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates over 50 casinos, hotels, and seven golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues $8.9 billion...
in 1999 for $888 million. After the purchase, the Culinary Workers Union
Culinary Workers Union
Culinary Workers Union or UNITE HERE local 226 is a private sector local union in Nevada, USA, affiliated with UNITE HERE, a national labor union. With 60,000 members, the Culinary Workers Union represents more members than any other union in Nevada, is the largest union local in a right-to-work...
organized the Rio employees through card check
Card check
Card check is a method for American employees to organize into a labor union in which a majority of employees in a bargaining unit sign authorization forms, or "cards," stating they wish to be represented by the union...
recognition by enforcing the neutrality clause of the existing Harrah's contract on the new acquisition.
Danny Gans
Danny Gans
Daniel Davies Gans was an American singer and comedian who found regional success as a vocal impressionist.-Career:...
, after moving from the Stratosphere Las Vegas
Stratosphere Las Vegas
Stratosphere Las Vegas is a tower, hotel, and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Its tower is also the tallest observation tower, and the 5th-tallest structure, in the United States, as well as being the tallest structure in Las Vegas.It is owned by Whitehall...
, opened as the headliner in 1996. He later moved to The Mirage
The Mirage
The Mirage is a 3,044 room hotel and casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States.The Mirage is connected by a free tram to Treasure Island. The marquee in front of the Mirage is the largest free standing marquee in the world.-History:The Mirage was built by...
in 2000. The Rio's Samba Theatre was the host venue of the 30th Anniversary Special for the hit CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
game show The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)
The Price Is Right is an American game show which was created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Contestants compete to identify the pricing of merchandise to win cash and prizes. The show is well-known for its signature line of "Come on down!" when the announcer directs newly selected contestants to...
. The hotel hosted the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
in 2005, the first time this event was not held at Binion's
Binion's Horseshoe
Binion's Horseshoe, also known as the Horseshoe Casino or simply The Horseshoe, was a hotel and casino located in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada on what is now the Fremont Street Experience. The casino was named for its founder, Benny Binion and had 366 rooms, three restaurants and a rooftop pool.The...
. Binion's was used for the final three tables and the last two days of the competition as part of the celebration of Las Vegas' centennial. Since 2005, the Rio has been the home for the tournament.
Sapphire Pool
On May 30, 2008, the Rio opened the Sapphire Pool in conjunction with a local clubClub
A club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists for voluntary or charitable activities; there are clubs devoted to hobbies and sports, social activities clubs, political and religious clubs, and so forth.- History...
: The daylight-hour, adults-only club surrounded one of the property's outdoor pools and featured dancers. It opened with a $30-per-male-customer admission price. The venture was highest-profile joint venture between a casino company and a topless business, notable because the possibility of bringing in the possible criminal activity associated with club had caused the Nevada Gaming Control Board to balk at previous collaborations; some in the media questioned whether the risk was worth the potential payoff for the hotel.
In late July 2009, the Rio hotel asked the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is a joint city-county police force for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada. It is run by the Sheriff of Clark County, elected every four years. The current Sheriff of Clark County is Douglas C...
to do a routine undercover investigation of the Sapphire Pool; as casino-resorts in Nevada are held responsible for the activities held on their premises, the request was a part of the resort's effort to show good faith to the Gaming Control Board. The July 25 visit resulted in eleven arrests. Upon finding out the results of the investigation, the Rio immediately shut down the pool indefinitely.
Masquerade Village
Masquerade Village is a section of the hotel that includes Show in the Sky. The show is a free show that features dance and style from Brazilian CarnivalBrazilian Carnival
The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held forty-six days before Easter. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term "carnival," from carnelevare, "to remove meat." Carnival celebrations...
, and Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
floats. The show has a stage with a dance and singing show while floats on guide rails hang from the ceiling and go throughout the Masquerade Village.
Throughout the casino floor, some cocktail waitresses perform a short stage dance every 30-60 minutes.
Total Rewards Player's Card
The player's card is free, and offers discounts on some restaurants in the casino. As of August 2011, signing up may also get you $5.00 of free playing credit.Events
The SKUSA SuperNationals, a kart racingKart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
event to which international kart and car drivers are invited (Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher is a German Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes GP team. Famous for his eleven-year spell with Ferrari, Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion and is widely regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time...
raced in 2009), takes place each year at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino, a circuit is set on the hotel parking lot.