Rio Las Vegas is having a redo, a remake, and a ricochet moment, presenting a good reason to return. You may even catch a glimpse of Rio Rita in this retro flash, but you won¡¯t be catching a strand of purple beads. That¡¯s because the Rio Carnaval-themed resort that went up in 1990 is getting a $340 million facelift and finding new ways to make a splash with guests ¨C and the advisors who manage them ¨C as Las Vegas continues to bring in the crowds.?

¡°First of all, Rio¡¯s got a great history. It's a 35 year old grand dame that was built at a special time. And I think there is still a moment for this nostalgia in Vegas,¡± says Patrick Miller, who became Rio¡¯s president and CEO last May.

While many of Rio¡¯s mainstays are now gone -- the famed seafood buffet that once doled out endless lobster tails and those leggy sequined acrobats throwing beads from trapeze bars as they inched along an elliptical ceiling track ¨C a few things have stayed pat and keep the guests coming.

Rio¡¯s Roomy Rooms

On top of that list are the rooms. Every room in this 2,500-room hotel is at least 580 square feet and contains a separate sleeper sofa in case each occupant needs additional space. Compare that with the fact that the average size of a standard room in Las Vegas is 350 square feet. The ample-sized sleeping quarters were built before many of the new mega properties along the Strip and gave the Rio plenty of reason to call each room a suite.

And those suites are getting sweeter. Phase One of Rio¡¯s massive renovation, now complete, brought the full redesign and modernization of the property¡¯s 1,500-room Ipanema Tower for a new look inspired by the vibrant spirit of Rio de Janeiro: bold, colorful, and unapologetically radiant. Phase Two will bring new flash and a fresh face to the Masquerade Tower this year. The property is also reimagining what was Masquerade Village, the party epicenter of the hotel set in an open area adorned with Carnaval-costumed dancers and actors amid restaurants, wine rooms, bars and notion shops.

As one who recently stayed in the Ipanema Tower and remembers the property in its original glory, the rooms were surprisingly comfortable. Large spaces were generous enough to spread out without getting in my partner¡¯s way. A soft L-shaped sectional divided the large room, allowing plenty of working and lounging space for two. The couch pulled out into a second bed but also acted as a relaxed sleeping space without using that bed. Blackout curtains opened to one of those iconic views of the Vegas skyline and a bird¡¯s eye view of the new pool complex: a redesigned deck newly opened with four pools themed in mid-century modern design, including one exclusively for adults.?

The room remained cool and responded to commands on the register (too often these systems are centrally controlled). A vanity area with sink, counter space, double closet and drawer space led to a separate commode room with its own shelf and sink and a walk-in shower. Privacy is not a problem in these suites. What could be improved? More outlets, perhaps, and a desk instead of a high-top table. However, most guests who come to Las Vegas do not set up shops in their hotel rooms.?

Rio Las Vegas Canteen Food Hall. (Photo Credit: Rio Las Vegas)

What¡¯s New Again is Also Accessible

As for other highlights, the iconic VooDoo Lounge, once famous for having one of the city¡¯s highest open sky terraces as well as some of the most colorful entertainment surroundings, including a bizarre cocktail bar cart and smokey punch bowls, reopened on the 51st floor of the resort earlier this year. It operates Fridays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. and still offers those stunning panoramic views. The property also renovated its 220,000 square feet of meeting and convention space (and more than double that for outdoor function space) for events accommodating 100 to 2000 attendees, who may also be using the lounge for private functions on off days or joining the weekend fun.?

¡°Well, this is also a smaller hotel, so everything is accessible, and you don¡¯t have to fight to get what you want,¡± says Miller.?

And while the seafood buffet disappeared, a new food hall emerged. An odd m¨¦lange of fast choices: Tokyo street-food sushi, Brooklyn fried chicken, Attaboy Burgers, Philly steak subs, all manner of ramen and, of course, Mexican faves, is now the no-hassle magnet for hungry guests. Those wanting a bit more can head to the Luckley Tavern & Grill at the mid-casino, which is a formal steak house with an unexpectedly smart wine list and an informal caf¨¦ with salads and casual fare. Service all around is excellent, whether dining formally, grabbing food hall take-out, needing directions or advice, or requesting extra towels. In Las Vegas, such experiences are not taken for granted.?

¡°There's a place for mid-market. And, while aspiration brands happen everywhere -- there's a lot of luxury property up and down the Strip -- I think Rio has an opportunity to attract mid-market guests who still want to access some of the finer things,¡± says Miller.

Easy VIP

In fact, that service element is now a cornerstone on which Hyatt has hung its hat. Rio Las Vegas is a full partner of Hyatt hotels, which means guests can use their World of Hyatt points or accrue them with their stay. It also means World of Hyatt members can access a VIP check-in room separate from the registration area, which is often a godsend. Registration lines in the afternoon tend to get long and start snaking in most Las Vegas resorts and Rio is no exception. The chance to skip the line and head to a VIP room where the wait is minimal, and some bottled water may even be available assures a smooth start to your stay.?

World of Hyatt participation also allows for waived resort fees on Free Night Awards. Elite members can use these benefits to secure room upgrades as well.?

While resort fees are often negotiable and, unfortunately, have become a fixture in Las Vegas, room rates at Rio are incredibly generous compared to most resorts in Las Vegas and thus, make up for those fees. (And yes, the WIFI here is fast and available for multiple devices). In fact, it is still possible to snag a suite at the Rio for less than $100, including fees. However, a stand-out benefit of staying at Rio is a perk rarely seen in Las Vegas these days: free parking. It is still possible to go in and out and find plenty of open or covered spaces without facing attendants or fighting with glitchy stanchion machines.?

Rio Las Vegas' refurbished pool area. (Photo Credit: Rio Las Vegas)

¡°I think there's an accessible affordability to Rio,¡± says Miller. ¡°The notion that if you go somewhere on a trip, you're in 40 bucks a day for parking, and then you're in another $30 or $40 for a cocktail and onward. After a while, that gets a little annoying for the traveler.

¡°So ease of getting in and out of the building, and accessibility and approachability, that is why you may actually want to stay at a place like Rio -- and yet, it is still fun and very energetic. People are trying to be just people, they want to come to Vegas to enjoy themselves. And so they can think of Rio, that the brand of Rio is the brand of fun. We throw a great party every day.¡±

Centrally located at 3700 W. Flamingo Road, Rio Hotel & Casino is just a short distance from the Las Vegas Strip and less than a 15-minute drive from Harry Reid International Airport. The Penn & Telle show, now the longest-running headlining act in Las Vegas history, remains at Rio where the comical and stunning magic show has been playing since 2001.

Passing the Past

While Rio rises again, recent years have not been as kind. The resort, originally built and operated by developer Anthony Marnell¡¯s MarCor corporation, struggled as an off-strip property for some of its years and was sold to Harrah¡¯s ¨C later Caesars Entertainment ¨C in 1999. It was not refurbed and marketed with the same vigor as sister Strip properties and sank under closures and the costs of repairs. Then, in 2019, just before COVID shut the entire city down, Dreamscape showed up. Dreamscape Companies, a New York-based real estate investment trust proving to be young and vigorous in its undertakings, has added Rio to its growing list of passion projects that include such critically acclaimed endeavors as Henry Hall in New York's Hudson Yards, The Pod Hotel in New York¡¯s Times Square, 5420 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and The Goodtime Hotel in South Beach, Miami.?

¡°I think that the world changes, right?¡± adds Miller. ¡°Whether it's buffets or food halls or whatever is out there it¡¯s going to be revitalized and that's part of the fun of being in Vegas. The city simply keeps reinventing itself.¡±

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