Growing up in Las Vegas in the 1960s, Lorenzo Doumani got boxing lessons from Muhammed Ali, sat awestruck as Elvis read from the Bible to a gaggle of kids, and caddied for Sammy Davis Jr., who sprayed 40-yard drives everywhere but straight. Young Lorenzo moved among a star-studded cast at legendary, side-by-side motels owned by his family that boasted surreal design—and no gaming—and hence offered just the high-style but quiet, off-the-strip atmosphere craved by sundry icons of Hollywood and titans of business. Now Doumani wants to create a new haven, on a giant scale, for the elites flocking to Sin City not for craps and poker, but fun and profit. And the vibe he's seeking to summon is the super-loose élan that ruled in the heyday of Frank, Dean, and Sammy.
In early 2020, Doumani had just received the approvals needed to bring a new product to Sin City hospitality: gigantic, super-luxurious suites that he planned to sell to corporations. “Companies of all kinds want a big, permanent presence in Vegas, and this is a condo-style solution for them,” he told Fortune. “The suites could serve as corporate headquarters, or as a venue where the NFL holds meetings for team owners, or as display space for clothing companies that spend many millions every year on displays during Las Vegas Fashion Week that they tear down after four or five days.” Expected price on the penthouse that would occupy the entire top floor and cover the square footage of a pro football field to the 50-yard line: $100 million, or $12 million for the 6,500-square-foot, four-to-a-floor versions below. We’re talking Manhattan prices.
