Robert De Niro discusses hotelier role with Vegas paper
The Las Vegas Review-Journallanded an interview with acting legend Robert De Niro on Sunday at Caesars Palace about his latest role — luxury hotelier.
If you're a De Niro fan and/or love Vegas, I encourage you to read the Review-Journal's full piece, but here are a few nuggets to hold you over.
But first, some background: De Niro is a part owner in Nobu Hospitality, an offshoot of the high-end sushi chain that he helped create years ago. Nobu Hospitality's in the final stages of creating its first Nobu Hotel in one of Caesars Palace's older towers on the Vegas Strip. The renovation will cost $30 million, the article says.
"There were many people asking us to do a restaurant in their hotels because Nobu gave them a certain cachet," De Niro, 69, told the Review-Journal. "We thought, 'Why not do our own hotel?' We formed a company and said, 'Let's do this.'"
How hands on is he? He, along with chef Nobu Matsuhisa and another Nobu shareholder Meir Teper, have helped review furnishing choices for the hotel, for instance.
De Niro also is a bit of a design geek.
"If I see anything that doesn't feel right or is working against what it should be, I tell everyone we have to rethink that," De Niro told the Review-Journal. "If it's going OK, I don't say anything."
Expect the rooms to start at around $300 a night, which will make Nobu the priciest lodging choice at Caesars, the article says.
The Review-Journal says the Nobu Hotel is expected to open in January. Caesars, however, is taking reservations starting Feb. 4, 2013.
De Niro's been in Vegas to film a new movie — "Las Vegas" — with Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline and Mary Steenburgen. The Hollywood Reporter says the movie's expected to be out in theaters for Christmas 2013.
New breed of luxury in Vegas
The hotel is one of several newfangled, high-end hotels underway in older structures currently underway in Vegas.
Boutique hotel operator Morgans Hotel Group, for instance, is creating a Delano hotel with a South Beach vibe in a Mandalay Bay tower. The Delano is expected to open in late 2013.
Also, Los Angeles hotelier Sam Nazarian is creating a sexy SLS hotel with various nightclub options in the old Sahara.
Readers: Think you'll check into the Nobu Hotel when it opens, or would you rather spend the money on known luxury hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons or Bellagio?