Las Vegas is bidding farewell to two landmark hotels but at the same time preparing to put out the welcome mat for an upcoming property that will be very distinctive.

The long-running Mirage will close July 17, and a “massive” project will see a Hard Rock International hotel open on the site in 2026, which the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s Brea Williams says will mark the first time Hard Rock will have a presence on Las Vegas’ famed Strip. The upcoming hotel will be guitar-shaped, creating a particularly eye-catching structure.

Las Vegas has also this year seen the closing of The Tropicana, which Williams labels “another legendary property.” That structure will be levelled to make way for a Major League Baseball stadium that will see its team take to the field in 2028.

And Williams added during a Las Vegas promotional visit in Toronto developments like the addition of a baseball team underscore Las Vegas’ transformation, with a city once largely associated with partying and gambling having become what she labels the “entertainment and sports capital of the world.”

Newish entertainment options include The Sphere, which had Irish band U2 serve as a residency band there, a role The Eagles are now taking on.

The Sphere also features Postcard From Earth, which Williams reports features “amazing images of different parts of the world. It tells a really unique story.”

A flourishing sports scene means Las Vegas now has NHL and NFL teams, and hosted the last Super Bowl, which Williams says was hugely successful.

Formula 1 racing will return to the city this fall. 

Adult visitors can also now feel comfortable bringing their children, she said, pointing to the likes of outdoor activities that enable people to “ski and swim on the same day.

“Vegas is a one-stop shop for entertainment, sports and fine dining. You have a luxury experience or a value experience.”

Nearby Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers desert scenery, with one company using pink Jeeps to enable tourists to explore it. Hiking is another popular park activity.

Watersports are available on nearby Lake Las Vegas.

Williams is quick to add that Las Vegas remains a great destination for those who enjoy gambling, with visitors able to find “casinos everywhere.”

“There’s not just a reason to come,” Williams added of Las Vegas visits. “There’s a reason to continue to come because Vegas is continually changing.”