These 10 Vegas Hotels Need a Makeover — ASAP!
These 10 Vegas Hotels Need a Makeover — ASAP!
Courtesy of Luxor Hotel & Casino
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/10-las-vegas-hotels-that-need-a-renovation
These hotels are in desperate need of renovations and reinvestment.
The city used to be renowned as a destination for cheap eats; now it is regarded as one of the best fine-dining destinations in the country. For years, local officials opposed mixing gambling and pro sports, but over the last decade, Las Vegas has added NHL, NFL, and WNBA teams, and an MLB team will start playing in a brand-new arena in 2028. Even entertainment in the Entertainment Capital of the World keeps leveling up: The Sphere, which opened in 2023, is widely considered the best place in the world to see a concert.
It stands to reason, then, that with all these high-level transformations afoot in the city, Las Vegas casino resorts would be constantly refreshing rooms and public areas to keep up with the times. Sadly, that is not always the case.
The truth is that several Las Vegas hotels are in desperate need of some tender love and care. Here, in no particular order, are 10 that can use a makeover.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF LUXOR HOTEL & CASINO
1 OF 10
Luxor Hotel & Casino
When it opened in 1993, the Pyramid Hotel at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip was an oddity that visitors to Vegas would go out of their way to behold. Since then, literally dozens of new casino resorts have sprouted, and Luxor Las Vegas has become (pardon the pun) a bit of a relic. About half of the property’s 4,400 rooms were renovated as recently as 2021—surprisingly recently considering how nondescript they are. Perhaps the resort’s biggest shortcomings are in the lifts; instead of elevators, the pyramid has “inclinators” that ride up the corners. These unique people movers are in desperate need of an upgrade; it’s not unusual for several of them to be slow or completely out-of-service at any given time. Two twin towers were added to the hotel in 1996; rooms here are called “premier” and are considered more modern and comfortable than their pyramid counterparts.
PHOTO: CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT
2 OF 10
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas
There was a time in the late 2010s when Planet Hollywood—the former Aladdin, for those of you scoring at home—was the hottest resort in Las Vegas. A comprehensive renovation that concluded in 2017 spruced up all 2,496 rooms and modernized public spaces in a way that seemed to celebrate the sophistication of old Hollywood. Most accommodations have not changed much in the last decade, except for a refresh to some of the largest suites. Perhaps the biggest disappointment at Planet Hollywood is in the Miracle Mile Shops, the mall attached to the resort. The mall spent big bucks modernizing the hallways closest to Las Vegas Boulevard, but many of the hallways toward the back still have the Moroccan motif from when the property was the Aladdin. If you didn’t know the hotel’s history, you’d be utterly confused.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF EXCALIBUR HOTEL & CASINO
3 OF 10
Excalibur Hotel & Casino
The good news: nearly 2,000 rooms in the castle’s Resort Tower at Excalibur were “refreshed” with hand-me-down furniture from MGM Grand in 2024 and 2025. The bad news: more than 2,000 rooms in the Royal Tower haven’t been refurbished since 2017, making them some of the oldest rooms on the entire Las Vegas Strip. This dichotomy means that guests are gambling even before they set foot onto the casino floor. The pool is another area of this resort that can use some attention; while the property is one of the few on the Strip with a water slide, the bulk of the pool deck is a barren wasteland of tan-painted concrete that gets scorching hot in the heat of the desert sun. (Our suggestion: Definitely bring flip-flops.) Excalibur’s medieval-themed “Tournament of Kings” dinner theater is still worth seeing; you might just want to consider staying somewhere else.
PHOTO: TOMÁS DEL CORO [CC BY-SA 2.0] / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
4 OF 10
Jockey Club
This iconic hotel is tucked between the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and Bellagio on the west side of Las Vegas Boulevard; technically, the Cosmopolitan was built around it. Locals call it the “JC,” and most of the hotel’s 348 one- and two-bedroom suites are in a timeshare program, which means there are rarely more than a few dozen available for independent nightly bookings. The rooms you can book feel as if they exist in this magical universe where time has stood still since the early 1980s. The rooms are huge, and all accommodations come standard with living areas and full kitchens. Most rooms also have dark wood furniture, pale-painted walls, and appliances like the ones you probably remember from your grandma’s house. What you gain in convenience by booking at the Jockey Club, you give up in style and amenities. Hey, at least there’s a rooftop pool.
PHOTO: CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT
5 OF 10
Horseshoe Las Vegas
From Las Vegas Boulevard, the hotel formerly known as Bally’s Las Vegas looks as if it comprises two towers—one overlooking the Fountains at Bellagio and the other set back to the east. In 2024, the structure closer to the Strip was renovated, rebranded as the Versailles Tower, and officially subsumed by Paris Las Vegas next door. The other tower, the Resort Tower, is still waiting for its moment to shine. Records indicate the last renovation of rooms in this tower was in 2018, which explains why the accommodations are in desperate need of some love (think worn furniture, nicked baseboards and corners, and bathrooms that show their age). Perhaps the only positives of Resort Tower rooms are the spaciousness and the kitsch factor; both conspire to evoke the city’s glory days of yesteryear.
PHOTO: CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT
6 OF 10
The LINQ Hotel & Casino
Smack dab in the center of the Las Vegas Strip, in the shadow of the High Roller observation wheel, the LINQ has some of the best real estate in town. Sadly, however, room renovations have been a relative afterthought, and accommodations haven’t received any serious attention since the property transitioned from The Quad and the Imperial Palace in 2015. Paint is chipping in many bathrooms. Walls are stained in spots. Window curtains are falling apart. The pool area is not much better; on busy summer days, the no-frills pool deck is packed, and the pool itself can look like a human stew. These outdated living spaces are a stark counterpoint to the casino floor, which continues to look brand new. Other exceptions: New concepts such as rooms with bunk beds and rooms with patios overlooking the pool.
7 OF 10
Best Western Plus Casino Royale
This Center Strip hotel was acquired by Best Western in 2013, and the national chain put millions into upgrading the entire property over the two years that followed. This meant bringing hotel rooms up to Best Western standards with plush bedding, reliable HVAC units, and televisions capable of streaming. If you’ve stayed in a Best Western lately, you know that’s not saying much. Adding insult to injury, the 152 rooms at Casino Royale haven’t had any other major improvements since the transition. While the property remains one of the only hotels on the Las Vegas Strip with free parking and no resort fees, the hotel has become notorious among travelers for its mediocrity. Unfortunately, changes in the casino have also gotten negative attention: the “Royale” used to offer 100x on craps, but now there are no live-dealer games on site at all.
8 OF 10
Treasure Island — T.I. Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, Handwritten Collection
The resort formerly known simply as Treasure Island has been moving away from its longtime pirate theme since owner Phil Ruffin bought it from MGM Resorts back in 2009. The biggest blow: The cancellation of the live-action pirate show out front. Ruffin has tried several times to boost the image of the property, first aligning with Radisson and more recently signing a franchise partnership with Accor (hence the Handwritten Collection moniker). The most recent renovation, which spanned 2024 to 2026, included new beds and upgraded marble finishes for all 2,885 rooms. While this means accommodations at T.I. are arguably nicer than ever, they are now completely devoid of the personality that made this resort one of the campiest properties in town. A little Jack Sparrow never hurt anybody, right?
9 OF 10
Circus Circus Hotel & Casino
Everybody loves to hate on Circus Circus. The clown-themed, pink-and-white North Strip resort is one of the most ramshackle on Las Vegas Boulevard, and at one point in the recent past, a standard Google search for the hotel auto-populated the question, “When will Circus Circus be demolished?” The shade is deserved. Carpeting in certain areas is worn thin. Entire sections of the resort feel like ghost towns, with closed shops and dim lighting. Living spaces are ascetic at best, and despite a recent endeavor to “refresh” accommodations with fresh paint and new furniture, most of the 3,700 rooms are no better than what you’d find at the nearest Motel 6. ICYW, the on-site circus (hence the name, people) is still going strong, though it pales in comparison to the Cirque du Soleil shows around town.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAHARA LAS VEGAS
10 OF 10
SAHARA Las Vegas
The original Sahara Las Vegas opened in 1952. Like many Las Vegas hotels, the new SAHARA has renovated each of its three towers at different times over the last decade, meaning some rooms are newer and nicer than others. The best of the bunch can be found in the Marra Tower, with high ceilings, marble accents, and automated blackout drapes; and the Alexandria Tower, the hotel’s Philippe Starck-designed AAA Four Diamond wing. The most depressing options are in the Blanca Tower, which hasn’t changed much since a pre-pandemic push for bright and minimalist vibes. The complaint here isn’t a lack of options, but instead a lack of consistency—depending on where you booked, you’ll either have a fancy room or a middling one. What SAHARA can use more than anything is a makeover that unifies the experience across the board.
UAE's Select Group acquires three UK golf hotels
Trio part of 33-hotel portfolio acquired by KKR, Baupost in 2024
Select Group has acquired three golf-course hotels in the United Kingdom, including the 112-room Delta Hotels Breadsall Prior Country Club. (CoStar)
https://www.costar.com/article/1775732871/uaes-select-group-acquires-three-uk-golf-hotels?
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and joint-venture partner The Baupost Group have sold three Delta by Marriott hotels in the United Kingdom for an undisclosed price to Select Group, which is based in the United Arab Emirates.
Insider Media reports the deal involves the 112-room Delta Hotels Breadsall Prior Country Club in Ilkeston, Derbyshire; the 120-room Delta Hotels Tudor Park Country Club in Maidstone, Kent; and the 148-room Delta Hotels St. Pierre Country Club in Chepstow, Wales.
The trio of Marriott International-operated hotels all feature golf courses. Insider Media added that Select Group now has five golf hotels in the U.K. with a total of more than 530 rooms. The UAE company also owns The Mere Golf Resort & Spa in Knutsford, Cheshire, and Old Thorns Hotel & Resort in Liphook, Hampshire.
All three Delta hotels were part of the 33 U.K. hotels KKR and The Baupost Group acquired in November 2024 for £869.2 million ($1.03 billion) from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. All told, the three properties were in non-UAE hands for 18 months. CoStar sales data from the 2024 deal states the Delta Hotels Breadsall Prior Country Club sold at the time for £9.8 million, the Delta Hotels Tudor Park Country Club sold for £10.9 million, and the Delta Hotels St. Pierre Country Club sold for £18.2 million.
This isn't the first time KKR and The Baupost Group have sold off hotels from the 33-hotel U.K. deal in 2024. In December, the partners sold the 382-room Delta Hotels by Marriott Heathrow Windsor to London-based GCH Slough Hotels for an undisclosed price. And in February, KKR and The Baupost Group sold the 106-room Delta Hotels by Marriott Birmingham to an undisclosed buyer, also for an undisclosed price.
At the time of the Delta Birmingham sale, broker Christie & Co. said a further two hotels from the 33-hotel group were being marketed, too: the 150-room Delta Hotels by Marriott Newcastle Gateshead and the 149-room Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston in Preston, Lancashire. As of today, both hotels remain with KKR and The Baupost Group.
A Major Change Could Be Coming to Airport Security — and Critics Are Alarmed
Shutterstock/Jim Lampert
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/a-major-change-could-be-coming-to-airport-security-and-critics-are-alarmed
What does it mean for travelers?
Airport security is changing. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is planning to deploy private contractors at U.S. airports to screen passengers and replace federal workers. This comes as the agency is also experimenting with a remote screening facility at Boston Logan International Airport to reduce wait times.
‘The Future of Aviation Security’
TSA Gold+ is an expansion of the existing Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which allows private companies to run screening operations with TSA oversight. Airports can opt for this program, and currently, 20 airports—including San Francisco International Airport and Orlando Sanford International Airport—are part of it. Under this scheme, TSA controls all equipment at airports but delegates physical screening to private contractors. Airports with SPP use the same machinery as TSA-run airports and apply the same policies for screening passengers, but the screeners are paid by a private company.
TSA Gold+, however, will also empower private companies to introduce new technology, including AI, and maintain it, bringing innovation without waiting for federal budget cycles. It could also address problems arising from staff shortages; the new plan will keep machinery functioning during federal shutdowns.
“TSA Gold+ will unlock innovation, expand screening capacity, and achieve world-class security and customer experience,” it says. To travelers, the agency promises a seamless, secure, and efficient screening experience. There is not much shared about how it would be funded, but TSA clarifies that airports won’t have to pay anything additional to get this service.
On the other hand, privatization may result in job loss, weaken worker protections, and reduce pay. For-profit companies might also try to cut corners and compromise safety, experts warn.
Union leader Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said that the union is against privatization. With this new model, the government “would be ceding direct operational control of the most sensitive technology in the aviation security enterprise to private vendors.” He also said that the federal model was built after lessons learned in blood. “We cannot go back to contracted-out aviation security and expect the lessons to hold.”
Before 9/11, airport security was maintained by private companies, and the TSA replaced it with a robust system of federal workers. One main difference is that the TSA oversees the private firms enrolled in SPP, and the federal government will continue to have oversight in Gold+, which wasn’t the case pre-9/11.
Calls to privatize aviation are not new. During the federal government shutdown last year and the partial shutdown this year, TSA-run airports reported long, hours-long queues due to staff shortages. Meanwhile, airports with privatized screenings ran much more smoothly because they were still being paid.
Chris Sununu, president and CEO of Airlines for America, reminded that during shutdowns, morale was highest at privatized airports.
There is no official timeline for the deployment of this program yet, but The New York Times reported that a memo estimates it could take seven to 11 months to transition. Airports will be able to opt for the program, “to a tailored security screening service unique to each airport’s needs and space configuration.”
Americans are thinking twice about summer travel this year: Deloitte survey
https://hotelsmag.com/news/americans-are-thinking-twice-about-summer-travel-this-year-deloitte-survey/
Forty-five percent of Americans plan to take a summer vacation with a stay in paid lodging this year, the lowest figure in six years, according to Deloitte’s “2026 Summer Travel Survey.” Rising costs are the primary driver keeping non-travelers home, with 32% citing travel as too expensive and 35% saying they cannot afford it.
Despite lower overall travel intent, those planning trips expect to spend significantly more. Travelers surveyed anticipate spending an average of $4,049 on their longest summer trip, up 17% from 2025. About one in four travelers plan to significantly raise trip budgets, up five percentage points from last year, driven largely by higher airline and lodging prices.
Travel incidence is down across all income levels but is most pronounced among households earning less than $100,000 per year, falling eight percentage points year-over-year, compared to a four-point decline each for middle- and high-income earners. Most Americans—82%— report some impact from everyday expenses on their ability to spend on travel.
Lodging and Air Travel
Hotel intent remains steady, with 81% of travelers surveyed planning to stay in a hotel at least once during the summer, up slightly from 80% in 2025. Private rentals are expected to see a slight uptick, rising from 25% to 29%. Slightly fewer travelers plan to stay with friends and family this year—37%, down from 39% in 2025.
Among travelers planning to fly, 61% plan to take a domestic flight, up from 58% in 2025, and 32% plan to fly internationally, up from 27%. Price declined in importance when selecting an airline, falling from 65% in 2025 to 60%, while reliability rose from 44% to 51%. Price sensitivity in lodging choices also eased slightly, from 55% to 52%.
Higher-income travelers are showing increased interest in full-service hotels—59% in 2026 versus 54% in 2025—and destination resorts, up to 23% from 14%.
“Amid pricing pressures, those who are packing their bags this summer intend to spend, indicating that many are putting a premium on experiences,” said Kate Ferrara, vice chairman and U.S. transportation, hospitality, and services sector leader for Deloitte. “Providers can capitalize on this opportunity by focusing on enhancing the travel experience through upgrades and partner offerings. Those who are traveling have already decided it’s worth the investment, so leaning into the emotional connection to enhance the vacation’s value could be a differentiator this summer.”
Younger Travelers and Technology
Millennials represent nearly a third of all travelers surveyed—31%, up from 29% in 2025. Overall adoption of generative AI for travel planning rose to 25% in 2026 from 15% in 2025, with millennials leading usage at 36%. Gen Z is the largest generation leveraging short-form video platforms for trip planning, at 42% versus 23% overall.
One-third of travelers 34% plan to work during their longest summer trip, up from 23% in 2025. Millennials are the most likely to work while traveling, with 57% planning to do so.
“New generations are shifting the leisure travel landscape. Whether it’s turning to tech for itinerary planning or leaning into luxury bookings, these are trends the industry can tap into as they look to capture and build loyalty with younger travelers,” said Eileen Crowley, U.S. transportation, hospitality, and services leader for Deloitte. “Brands looking to capture these younger travelers’ attention should consider what’s driving these up-and-coming travelers to return year after year.”
The Deloitte “2026 Summer Travel Survey” is based on responses from 4,003 Americans surveyed between April 2 and April 9.
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