Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino

History

Marnell ownership (1990–99)

The Rio was originally owned by Anthony Marnell, the chairman of MarCor. The company purchased the vacant property in 1988, at a cost of $11 million. At the end of the year, it announced plans to build the Rio, which would be Las Vegas' first all-suite hotel-casino. MarCor broke ground on the $80 million project on February 9, 1989. The groundbreaking ceremony included a 15-foot by 30-foot sand sculpture replica of the 21-story hotel. The resort was designed and built by Marnell Corrao Associates.

The Rio opened on January 15, 1990. It featured a Brazilian theme based on Rio Carnival, and Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes performed at the resort a few weeks later. The property included a 44,000 sq ft (4,100 m2) casino, with 900 slot machines and 42 table games. It also had 424 suites, five restaurants, five bars, and a pool with a waterfall. It employed 1,500 workers, including cocktail waitresses known as Ipanema Girls. The resort's target demographic would consist primarily of local residents and motorists from southern California. Resort officials believed that the property's location, just west of Interstate 15 and the Las Vegas Strip, would be appealing to tourists.

The Rio was the first casino opened by MarCor, which had largely focused on business parks and shopping centers. Marnell took over operations at the Rio 10 months after its opening, as he had found the early results dissatisfying. The resort struggled during its first two years, due to its location away from the Strip. By 1992, MarCor had sold all of its other properties to focus solely on the Rio.

The hotel was soon successful, prompting a 437-unit addition, which broke ground on January 4, 1993. A $25 million expansion was announced later that year which would include more casino space. The new hotel tower opened during Labor Day weekend, bringing the room count to 861. The casino expansion opened at the end of 1993. A few months later, the resort announced a $75 million addition which would further expand the casino, and would increase the hotel with 549 rooms, for a total of 1,410. A dance and supper club, known as Club Rio, was opened in 1994, and was subsequently turned into a showroom.

The Rio had a $250,000 laser system for nighttime displays. The system had to be adjusted in 1994, to avoid temporarily blinding commercial pilots. In 1995, Zagat named the Rio number one in the categories of Best Overall, Best Dining, Best Rooms and Best Service. A $20 million expansion began that year, adding 144 suites, more meeting room space, and a new health club and salon facility. The original hotel structure and its extensions make up the Ipanema Tower, which consists of three wings, built out in a "Y" shape.

Harrah's/Caesars ownership (1999–2019)

In August 1998, Harrah's Entertainment (later Caesars Entertainment Corporation) agreed to purchase the Rio from Marnell. The sale was finalized five months later, at a cost of $766 million. Harrah's considered the Rio to be among its top resorts. Later in 1999, Harrah's and Rio began operating the short-lived National Airlines service. New villas were built for high rollers, and the casino's private baccarat area was redesigned. The resort also increased its convention center space from 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2) to 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m2).

In 2000, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint against the Rio, suspecting it of firing or harassing employees who sought unionization with the Culinary Workers Union. Later that year, the union filed a lawsuit against the Rio, seeking to represent its 3,000 employees. The Rio was unionized in January 2001, after a majority of employees voiced their support.

Undeveloped acreage near the Rio was a significant reason for Harrah's purchase, and the company considered using the site for additional hotel rooms. However, profits were hurt in 2000 due to table game losses. The departure of entertainer Danny Gans was another factor for the property's poor performance, along with competition from new resorts, including the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, the Venetian, Paris, and the Aladdin. The Rio laid off nearly 200 employees as a cost-saving measure.

The property saw financial improvement in 2001, and Harrah's announced that it was in the early stages of planning for a new hotel tower at the Rio. However, the property's revenue declined again later in the year, which Harrah's blamed on table game losses. The Rio's younger clientele had since moved on to newer resorts, and the property partnered with the men's magazine Maxim in an effort to recapture the demographic. Through the partnership, the Rio would be advertised in the magazine, and parties – known as Maxim Lounge – would be held at the Rio. Cash flow subsequently improved, and Harrah's submitted plans to the county in 2002, for a new hotel and casino on the undeveloped acreage. Marnell had previously planned to build another resort on the same property.

In December 2003, Harrah's announced a partnership with Voyager Entertainment to build what would have been the world's tallest observation wheel, rising 600 feet. It would be part of an $86 million complex that would include three floors of retail, restaurants, and a nightclub. The project would be built on the Rio parking lot's southeast side. Construction was scheduled to begin within three months, with the opening in July 2005. Another hotel tower was also a possibility, although there were no immediate plans to build one. Despite a lack of financing, Voyager stated that it would have no issues in raising the necessary funds. Negotiations between Voyager and Harrah's eventually derailed, and the project was canceled in April 2004.

Dreamscape ownership (2019–present)

In December 2019, Caesars sold the Rio for $516 million to New York-based real estate developer Eric Birnbaum. Under the deal, Caesars would continue to operate the Rio under lease for at least two years, paying $45 million a year in rent. The Rio is owned through Birnbaum's company, Dreamscape Companies LLC. His plans for a significant renovation were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada, which resulted in the state-ordered closure of casinos in March 2020. The Rio partially reopened on December 22, 2020, but with hotel operations limited mostly to weekends. Full operations resumed four months later. It was the last Caesars property nationwide to reopen. Because of the pandemic, Caesars and Dreamscape extended their lease arrangement, allowing Caesars to continue operating the property for several years. Dreamscape took over operations on October 1, 2023.

In March 2021, Dreamscape announced a partnership with Hyatt, which would rebrand one of the hotel towers as a Hyatt Regency. The hotel was originally scheduled to open in 2023, with 1,501 rooms. The remaining rooms are also expected to be affiliated with Hyatt. The resort has 2,520 rooms, including the Palazzo Suites. Aside from the hotel portion, the property will maintain the Rio name and its theme.

Because of his prior experience with the property, Marnell was hired as architect for the renovations, which were originally expected to begin in 2022. The project was rescheduled, eventually beginning in August 2023. The Rio will remain open throughout the multi-year renovation, which will update the entire resort. The two-phase renovation project will cost $350 million, and is intended to restore the Rio's early popularity.

Renovations began with the Ipanema Tower, and continued with renovations to the restaurant space, the pool, and the exterior lighting. On the hotel's exterior, the original red and blue neon lighting was replaced with new LED displays that are capable of producing various colors. The LEDs were programmed by Chris Kuroda, the lighting director for the band Phish. The renovation project also added 400 new slot machines. The Hyatt partnership took effect on March 1, 2024.

Phase one of the remodel completed on September 30, 2024. Phase two, which would include the Masquerade Tower, may begin some time in 2025. Rio secured a $176 million loan for these renovations in August 2025. As of January 2026, phase two of the renovations have not started.

Features

Restaurants

The Rio was particularly well known for its restaurants, five of which were listed in a top-40 list by Zagat in the 1990s. Six new restaurants were added in 1997. Among them was Napa, which was overseen by chef Jean-Louis Palladin. The top of the Masquerade Tower featured a restaurant and lounge known as VooDoo, which remains as of 2025. An Italian restaurant, Mama Marie's Cucina, was named after Rio founder Tony Marnell's mother. The resort also featured the new Seafood Village Buffet, a separate eatery from the Carnival World Buffet. As of 1999, the Rio's 15 restaurants served an average of 20,000 people each day. Its busiest eatery was the Carnival World Buffet, averaging 7,000 diners daily. The Rio hosted the annual James Beard Foundation benefit dinner for several years during the 1990s. The resort also hosted an annual Italian food festival.

The property added four new restaurants beginning in 2002. Among them was Rosemary's, which replaced Napa after Palladin's death in 2001. Another addition was the Gaylord Indian restaurant, part of a worldwide chain. In 2006, musician Prince opened an Asian restaurant known as 3121 Jazz Cuisine, named after his recent album 3121.

In 2011, the Rio added a Burger King Whopper Bar. It seated 58 people, and was one of five Whopper Bars in the U.S. Unlike typical Burger King locations, it offered beer and included a hamburger bar with 30 toppings and sauces. It was replaced by a Smashburger in 2016.

KJ Dim Sum, a 4,600 sq ft (430 m2) dim sum restaurant, was added in 2012, with seating for 350 people. Gaylord, a longtime Indian restaurant, was renovated and renamed as Royal India in 2013. Hash House a go go opened a location in 2014. Guy Fieri opened a Mexican restaurant, El Burro Borracho, at the Rio in 2016, replacing a seafood restaurant known as Buzio's.

The Carnival World Buffet was frequently considered among the best in Las Vegas, and was the city's largest buffet as of 2011, with seating for 733 people. The Seafood Village Buffet was merged into the Carnival World Buffet in 2015. The buffet closed during the pandemic and never reopened. As part of Dreamscape's renovations, the buffet was replaced by the Canteen Food Hall, which opened in January 2024. Dreamscape stated that the buffet did not make economic sense, especially in light of the pandemic. The food hall concept was inspired by one already present at the nearby Cosmopolitan resort.

Sapphire Pool

On May 30, 2008, the Rio opened the Sapphire Pool in conjunction with Sapphire Gentlemen's Club. 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 a high-profile joint venture between a casino company and a topless business, and was notable because the possibility of bringing in criminal activity at the 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 (LVMPD) 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 11 arrests. Upon finding out the results of the investigation, the Rio immediately shut down the pool.

Other attractions

From 1998 to 1999, the Rio hosted Treasures of Russia, an extensive collection of historic Russian memorabilia totaling 1,150 items, most of them loaned from the Peterhof Palace. The resort subsequently hosted Titanic: The Exhibition, in partnership with RMS Titanic Inc.

VooDoo Skyline was a 70-second zip line ride which opened in 2014 and closed in mid-2022. Riders started at the VooDoo Lounge atop the Masquerade Tower, and traveled a distance of 845 feet, stopping on the roof of the Ipanema Tower. Riders were then pulled back to the Masquerade Tower with the use of a pulley system.

Kiss by Monster Mini Golf is a franchise of the Monster Mini Golf chain. It is based on the rock band Kiss and includes an 18-hole miniature golf course, a rock and roll themed wedding chapel, the world's largest Kiss gift shop, and a museum featuring memorabilia from the band's career. It also hosts regular appearances by band members, both past and present. It opened in May 2016, in a 13,000 sq ft (1,200 m2) space formerly occupied by the Seafood Village Buffet.

In 2018, the Rio opened the first phase of an esports venue known as Wall Gaming Lounge. It closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and never re-opened.

Shows and entertainers

From 1991 to 1992, the Rio hosted Tropical Heat, about a plane-crashed pilot who encounters Amazonian women. It briefly starred Dana Plato prior to ending. In 1992, entertainment producers Eunice and Blair Farrington opened the Brazilia revue in a small lounge. It received a positive reception. Farrington Productions subsequently produced a Latin-themed dinner show, Conga!, which opened in the Club Rio in 1994. Conga! was renamed Copacabana in 1995, and the Club Rio space was subsequently used solely as a showroom, undergoing a number of name changes through the years.

Impressionist Danny Gans began entertaining at the Rio in January 1997, in the 730-seat Copacabana Showroom. During his three-year run, the Rio raised ticket prices several times against his wishes, prompting him to sue the resort. He ultimately lost the legal battle. Other notable performers during the Rio's early years included The Beach Boys, Donna Summer, Tony Bennett, and Earl Turner.

The 1,470-seat Pavilion Theater was built at a cost of $35 million, and was opened in April 2000. The three-floor theater was designed to accommodate a rotation of Broadway-style musicals, each on a short-term basis. The venue was renamed the Samba Theatre shortly after opening. It opened with a tap-dancing show titled Tap Dogs, by Dein Perry. A musical, based on the movie Footloose (1984), also ran for 13 weeks in the new venue, closing in August 2000. Another showroom was built near the hotel's pool area and opened later in 2000, hosting the show De La Guarda, which included aerial performers and flashing lights. At the Copa, starring David Cassidy and Sheena Easton as nightclub singers, ran in the Copacabana Showroom from 2000 to 2001.

Magicians Penn & Teller began performing at the Rio in January 2001, and have continued to entertain there ever since. In the mid-2010s, they broke the record for longest-running Las Vegas headliner at a single venue. Their television series, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, is filmed in the same theater.

The Scintas also started performing at the Rio in 2001, as did ventriloquist Ronn Lucas. The following year, the theater launched Showgirls, which chronicled the history of such performers. The Rio also debuted Tony n' Tina's Wedding, replacing the unsuccessful De La Guarda. Tony n' Tina's Wedding continued its run there for seven years.

Masquerade Show

Masquerade Show in the Sky opened in February 1997, and ran in the resort's Masquerade Village. The $25 million show featured costumed performers and took place on floats which traveled along a 950-foot track, located 13 feet above the casino floor. The floats represented showboats and gondolas. Each float weighed between 13,000 and 17,000 pounds. They traveled at a speed of three feet per second. Masquerade Show in the Sky consisted of three distinct shows, and a fourth was added in 1998. The show was free to spectators, and visitors could also pay to ride in the floats.

The show was originally produced by Farrington Productions. The company's contract expired in 2001, and Dick Foster Productions was brought on to redo Masquerade Show in the Sky. The company sought to make the show more adult-oriented, adding sexier costumes and dances. The show was scaled back in 2008, and remained largely the same during its final five years. It closed in March 2013.

In media

Regis Philbin filmed several episodes of his talk show, Live with Regis, at the Rio's Samba Theatre in 2001. A year later, The Price Is Right filmed a special episode in the theater, marking the first time in the show's 30-year history that it was shot outside of Los Angeles.

An episode for the second season of Raising Hope was filmed throughout the Rio in 2011. During the resort's closure in 2020, it was used as a secondary filming location for the second season of the American reality television series Love Island.