Branson wants to visit Virgin LV ASAP
RICHARD “BOZ” BOSWORTH resorted to shouting Thursday night during a VIP party at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The president and CEO of resort ownership group JC Hospitality competed with something we hadn’t heard for months in Vegasville.
A din.
“I haven’t worked a room in 416 days!” Bosworth called out over live entertainment on a nearby stage during the Mohegan Sun welcome party. “Now, there are more people in the room!”
“The room” was actually the old Rehab pool deck, which has been filled to host live events. Thursday’s was the first, a party hosted by Mohegan Tribe officials to mark the opening of Virgin’s Mohegan Casino. The casino floor is among many business partnerships between the hotel’s investment team and independent operators.
Despite murmurs that he would make a surprise appearance, we did not see the hotel’s international brand ambassador, Sir Richard Branson, herald the new resort. But we will.
“As long as everyone is healthy and safe, I know that Sir Richard wants to get here as soon as possible,” Bosworth said of Virgin’s founder. “I think you will see him here as soon as he can travel. Unfortunately, he is not able to do that now, of course, but I think as soon as a couple of months, you will see Sir Richard here. This is very, very important to him.”
Branson posted a message on Twitter welcoming visitors: “I’m sure you will create everlasting memories in this hotel, filled with magical surprises and delightful moments.”
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the 70-year-old Branson was wary of spreading germs. We met in March 2018 at the formal announcement of the hotel’s sale and Virgin rebranding. Rather than grab my hand, the entrepreneur prophetically said, “Sorry, I’ve gotta knock,” and offered a forearm bump. “I’ve been sick and don’t want you to catch anything.”
During that event Branson recalled some of his previous stunts in Vegas, including the 2007 event when he rappelled down the side of the Palms to promote the inaugural Virgin America flight from San Francisco to Las Vegas. He surveyed the surroundings on the corner of Paradise Road and Harmon Avenue and said, “Virgin Atlantic flies here. There are some flat roofs up there. We’ll have a massive sign. It’s the first thing people flying in will see … Anyway, we’ll come up with some ideas.”
But Bosworth says he’s not privy to those ideas, at least not yet.
“I have not had any conversations with him or his team about that,” Bosworth said. “Everyone has been taking such a cautious approach with COVID.” Would Bosworth consider climbing down the side of the building himself? The exec laughed and said, “I don’t think anybody would be interested in seeing that.”
Around the horn
Bosworth was clearly happy that the former Hard Rock Hotel was bubbling on its return to action. Guests filed into such revamped venues as One Steakhouse, Nobu, Hakkasan Group’s Casa Calavera, The Kitchen at Commons Club and the hideaway The Shag Room.
Ample opening opportunities are on the horizon, too, with Kassi Beach House coming in two weeks, followed in order by Afters Ice Cream, Todd English’s Olives and the vaunted outdoor dayclub.
I especially enjoyed my visit to The Shag Room, decked out in plush burgundy with a series of curtained-off VIP booths around the perimeter. This hideaway is off to the right from the main entrance through an artificial portal.
A tip: If you spot a phone booth inside a Las Vegas resort, it’s not really a phone booth.
Who was here
“Extra” host Mario Lopez conducted the ceremonial first dice toss at the hotel. He was also spotted later with UFC President Dana White at One Steakhouse’s inaugural dinner seating.
Others who waded into Michael and David Morton’s new restaurant included Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden, “Real Housewives of New Jersey’” co-star Melissa Gorga, Resorts World Las Vegas President Scott Sibella, and members of hospitality hierarchy Linda and Beverly Hilton of Curio Collection by Hilton.
The restaurant exuded a sense of family with Michael Morton’s wife, Jenna Morton, arriving with the couple’s three kids. David and Michael’s mom, Zorine Morton, chatted up visitors in the Morton tradition made famous by her late husband and family patriarch, Arnie Morton.
Spotted elsewhere in the casino and at the Mohegan Sun event were Chrisell Stause of “Selling Sunset” and “Dancing With the Stars”; and The Toms of “Vanderpump Rules,” Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz.
I had a chance meeting with four-time Mr. Olympia titlist Jay Cutler at Nobu. As we chatted, guitar great DJ Ashba (Sixx: A.M., Guns N’ Roses) showed up. Different careers, but rock stars both.