Warner Hospitality has been approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission to continue, at least for now, as the casino operator for Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Las Vegas-based Warner which operates casinos in Nevada and four other states, has managed the Hard Rock’s gaming for seven years and has a two-year contract. But the property is slated to become the Virgin Hotel Las Vegas in two years, and Richard Bosworth, president and CEO of JC Hospitality, which oversees management, said negotiations are under way with a potential tenant to take over the casino and invest $40 million in it.
“Were not in control of renovation plan, but we will we will maintain the casino floor and its aesthetics, and we’ll upgrade the gaming assets as time goes on,” Warner principal Bill Warner told the commission.
The 1,504-room off-Strip resort was acquired in March by an investment group that includes Bosworth, Juniper Capital Partners, Fengate Real Asset Investments and Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotels.
Bosworth said the transition to Virgin should be complete by 2020 and will feature a complete renovation, new restaurants, a rebranded casino, remodeled hotel rooms and fresh attractions.
