A 'boutique-style resort' near Las Vegas' McCarran Airport is in the works -- here's what to expect

When you think of Las Vegas accommodations, the first thing that comes to mind likely isn’t a boutique-like property.

Sprawling megaresorts -- some with multiple casinos, dozens of restaurants and thousands of rooms -- dot the Strip from end to end. Many of the world’s largest hotel brands also have a flag property in the city, allowing guests a multitude of options using points.

But the Dream Hotel Group is doing something different. By Vegas standards, the Dream will be a much smaller property with “only” 527 rooms on a footprint of five acres near the south edge of the Strip.

After addressing concerns for its close proximity to McCarran International Airport (LAS), developers of the proposed Dream Las Vegas cleared a major hurdle to begin construction by mid-2022 with an opening by 2024.

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The 20-story hotel, slated to cost $500 million, had to undergo various design changes after pushback from federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Dream’s close proximity to parked military aircraft, commercial planes and runways at McCarran International Airport raised various safety concerns. But after major design changes, including scrapping guest room balconies, Las Vegas’ Clark County Commission voted 6-1 to approve plans to move forward with the Dream.

Developers think the closeness to the airport and its more boutique nature will draw in visitors who don’t want to stay in a sprawling hotel-casino. The luxury property will also feature seven dining and nightlife venues (including a rooftop pool deck), 12,000 square feet of private meeting and event space, a full-service spa, fitness center and on-site parking.

However, the smaller Dream Hotel Group will face stiff competition from larger brands, including many large Vegas hotels where you can easily redeem points.

Hilton now has Resorts World Las Vegas, the first new-build resort complex in Las Vegas in more than a decade. Hilton also welcomed the recently opened Virgin Hotels Las Vegas to its Curio Collection.

Related: TPG’s review of the first new casino in Vegas in a decade – and it accepts points

Hyatt has been a major player in Las Vegas for several years thanks to its partnership with M Life, the loyalty program of MGM resort properties. Those properties include the Bellagio, Aria, Park MGM Las Vegas, Delano Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, among others.

Marriott also has several properties in Vegas, including the massive Cosmopolitan, part of the Autograph Collection. Even IHG has some midrange hotels in the Las Vegas area and its crown jewels in Vegas, The Venetian and The Palazzo.

This begs the question: Will travelers opt to stay at a boutique hotel and casino near Las Vegas airport? We’ll find out in a couple of years.