Doomed from the start: Marriott just pulled out of the Las Vegas Fontainebleau project
The north end of the Las Vegas Strip just got dealt another big blow — and so did Marriott Bonvoy members hoping to burn points in Sin City.
Marriott has decided to pull out of the seemingly neverending Fontainebleau project, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, meaning the Strip's first JW Marriott and the Las Vegas Edition won't see the light of day.
Since the project broke ground in 2007, the currently empty Fontainebleau tower (a behemoth building with more than 60 floors) has faced a series of setbacks, starting with the 2008 financial crisis. It's also had a handful of different owners over the years, including billionaire Carl Ichan who purchased the development from its original developer, Jeffrey Soffer of Florida-based Fontainebleau Development, for about $150 million.
In 2017, Ichan sold the building for a whopping $600 million to the Witkoff Group and New Valley LLC, the team that developed the West Hollywood and Times Square Editions, according to the Review-Journal. By 2018, Marriott signed on to open the Las Vegas Edition and JW Marriott as part of the project then called "The Drew" after developer Steve Witkoff's late son.
Earlier this year, Witkoff sold the still-unfinished resort back to Soffer (and the real estate division of Koch Industries) for an undisclosed amount.
As recently as July of this year, Marriott still had plans to move forward with the JW Marriott Las Vegas Blvd., reported the Review-Journal. With over 3,700 rooms, 500,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, plus everything else you'd expect from a massive luxury resort, Marriott's website said the resort would finally open in the fall of 2023.
But now, Marriott is out of the deal it made with the building's previous owners and was coy about the specific reasoning, only telling local news outlets that the decision was "amicable."
The fate of the resort is up in the air once again, which is unfortunate news for folks like me hoping to earn or redeem Bonvoy points in a swanky new Marriott property.
For now, it appears that Fontainebleau will operate the resort but there are no official plans for when it will actually open, what it'll house or if it'll even be called Fontainebleau.
"Having come full circle and taken ownership of the site in Las Vegas, we intend to fulfill our original vision and deliver the same extraordinary hospitality experience that our guests have come to expect from Fontainebleau Development," the company said in a statement to the Review-Journal.
While we wait for those specifics — maybe don't hold your breath — and mourn the loss of Bonvoy dreams tied to this project, don't forget that there are plenty of other Marriott properties to choose from in Las Vegas.
The Cosmopolitan, part of The Autograph Collection, is a hugely popular resort and casino you can book starting on average from 85,000 points per night. And if you were specifically looking for a JW Marriott, there's already one just a few miles from the Strip, complete with a casino, spa and golf course.
Back on the north side of the Strip there might not be too much Marriott presence, but there is the brand-new Resorts World, the massive Hilton project home to three hotels (the Las Vegas Hilton, the Conrad and Crockfords Las Vegas) all of which let you earn and redeem Hilton Honors points.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees