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Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business Insider
I've been to every hotel on the Las Vegas Strip — but there are just 5 that I'll always revisit.
Mandalay Bay has some of the best pools in Las Vegas. Mandalay Bay may be a bit south on The Strip, but it's still worth a visit. I love that it offers plenty of activities, like the on-site Shark Reef Aquarium. This hotel's 11-acre "aquatic playground" is also one of the coolest pool complexes in the entire city. You'll find a lazy river, wave pool, and more — but my favorite is the Moorea Beach Club, an adults-only, tops-optional pool complex with cabanas and daybeds for rental. The real draw for me, though, is that even the most basic-level rooms feel big and bright, with 550 square feet of space and floor-to-ceiling windows. I love that NoMad has a sleek aesthetic and a quiet, private pool. A luxurious "hotel within a hotel," NoMad spans the top four floors of Park MGM. Compared to Park MGM's cheery and bright decor, NoMad has a darker, moodier aesthetic. The rooms include original artwork, hardwood floors, and beautiful small touches throughout. Whenever I stay here, I feel like I'm in a luxe, big-city apartment instead of a hotel room. One of my favorite amenities is the quiet pool reserved for NoMad guests, who can enjoy all of Park MGM's pools and cabanas even when the pool is closed. Vdara is a great casino-free pick for families. Vdara is a rare Vegas resort without any casinos, making this a great option for non-gamblers, families, and business travelers. (Still, if you're looking to visit a blackjack table, you can easily visit the nearby casinos at the Aria, the Bellagio, and Cosmopolitan.) The modern suites with full kitchens provide an apartment-style experience. Plus, Vdara offers large windows with the best views of the Bellagio fountains and bright Vegas sunsets. My favorite budget hotel is the Flamingo. This is the best of the budget options on The Strip — and it's located right in the middle of all the action. Whenever I'm here, I can easily walk to the monorail, High Roller Ferris wheel, and shopping hubs, like the LINQ Promenade. When it comes to the hotel itself, I love the Flamingo's outdoor garden and Wildlife Habitat (which, yes, features real Chilean flamingoes). I also enjoy visiting the adults-only GO Pool. Offering the atmosphere of a day club, pool enthusiasts line up well before it opens to claim chairs and daybeds. Music blasts all day and there are waterfalls, small lounging islands, and even outdoor craps tables. Finally, the Flamingo has several stellar restaurant options. One of my favorites is Bugsy & Meyer's, a steakhouse with vintage decor and a facade that resembles an old general store. Out of all the hotels I've visited, the Wynn is my favorite. The Wynn Las Vegas (and its sister hotel, Encore) is my absolute favorite hotel complex in all of Las Vegas. The rooms are modern, spacious, and comfortable. Plus, I love that they include thoughtful touches like nice stemware and tablets for room controls, room service, and more. I'm also consistently impressed by the Wynn's food options. You'll find tons of high-quality restaurants here, including one of the few buffets on The Strip. Personally, I always look forward to having a sumptuous dinner at SW Steakhouse — and then, visiting the lakeside patio for a quirky light show.
Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
The luxury market is poised for a big slowdown, but there are some areas where people are still willing to splurge
It's been a rough year for luxury retailers, as economic headwinds have reduced consumer demand, but there are still a few places where people are willing to spend money. Luxury brands could be facing their biggest setback in 15 years, according to a report published by Bain & Company and Italian luxury goods industry association Altagamma on Thursday. In addition to a global trade war, the industry is struggling to adapt to social and cultural changes. Demand in the US and China, the two biggest markets for luxury products, has been slowing. Some legacy companies are facing financial difficulties with debt and restructuring. Another challenge for the luxury market is Gen Z, a demographic with growing skepticism toward luxury goods, according to Bain. This younger generation of consumers prioritizes self-expression and creativity, and the luxury industry will need to successfully adapt its messaging if it wants to woo more Gen Z customers. Bain estimates that spending on personal luxury goods could be on track for a "continued slip." In a worst-case scenario, Bain estimates the market for personal luxury goods could shrink by 5% to 9%. Consumers are still splurging selectively However, that doesn't mean consumers are pulling back everywhere. Luxury experiences outperformed personal goods in the first quarter of 2025, and companies are leaning hard into "beyond product" experiences such as vacations and gourmet restaurants. Luxury hospitality — think White Lotus -esque resorts — is taking off, with this year seeing rising hotel occupancy rates and longer stays. While traditional luxury markets in the US, China, and Europe are stagnating, the Middle East, Latin America, and other parts of Asia are seeing increased demand from consumers seeking high-end tourism experiences. The UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are leading the charge in this new trend, according to Bain. Consumers are also eager for luxury cruises. Following the trend of increased personalization, they prefer slower, more immersive trips on smaller ships. Yachts and private jets are experiencing a backlog of demand. Fine dining and gourmet food rank high on consumers' radars, and they chase highly curated experiences. Some areas of personal luxury goods are also thriving. Demand for jewelry, apparel, and eyewear has been robust this year for both uber-luxury and aspirational offerings. Fragrances are a top-performing category due to their popularity with Gen Z and "premiumization." Luxury brands are elevating their perfume offerings by making them more exclusive, expensive, and experiential. Bain also identified some categories that haven't been doing so well: watches, leather goods, and footwear. Unless there's more innovation in these products, it's likely they'll continue to see declining demand. As luxury brands adapt to changing consumer preferences, Bain predicts the gap between the industry leaders and laggards will only become more pronounced. Luxury's winners will be the brands that offer the kind of personalization and novelty that convinces even cautious consumers to spend.
Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Jamie Lee Curtis explains the bold career pivot she took, even though she had a thriving acting career
Jamie Lee Curtis shifted to starring in commercials to spend more time with her children. Curtis faced skepticism from her team but proved them wrong as her career still thrived afterward. This article is part of " CMO Insider," a series on marketing leadership and innovation. When Jamie Lee Curtis became a mom, she knew her acting career had to change. After having a storied career as an actor, Curtis decided to transition to selling stuff in commercials — from Hertz rental cars, her first advertising gig, to becoming the spokesperson for Activia in the 2010s. "My agents and lawyers and many friends questioned why I would do such a thing when I was still acting in things and pretending to be other people," she told an engaged crowd Monday at the Amazon Port during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. "I was trying to stay home with my kid," she explained. Curtis and her husband, Christopher Guest, adopted two children after dealing with infertility issues. Doing advertisements for brands such as L'eggs pantyhose, Hitachi, and a regional phone carrier, Voice Stream Wireless, which eventually became T-Mobile, meant Curtis spent less time on movie sets and more time raising her girls, Annie and Ruby, who are now adults. The actor noted that despite hesitations from her team about what starring in commercials would do to her film career, she'd still go on to star in blockbuster films such as 2018's " Halloween," 2019's " Knives Out," and 2022's " Everything Everywhere All at Once," for which she earned a supporting actress Oscar award for playing IRS auditor, Deirdre Beaubeirdre. "I sold yogurt that makes you shit for six years and I won an Oscar," she told moderator, Sue Kroll, the head of global marketing at Amazon MGM Studios. "I believe that that crossover has now happened. We can advertise and pretend simultaneously. There has been a paradigm shift in the way we as consumers take on our content, and there is no stigma anymore." Curtis's next project is an adaptation of Patricia Cornwell's novels for a Prime Video series titled "Scarpetta." The show stars Nicole Kidman as a medical examiner. Both Curtis and Kidman are executive producers.
Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Burkina Faso and Russia sign the final document of their electronuclear program
Burkina Faso has officially signed the final administrative document of a historic intergovernmental nuclear deal with Russia, taking a significant step forward in its quest for nuclear energy. Burkina Faso finalized a significant intergovernmental nuclear agreement with Russia. The deal involves collaboration with Russia's Rosatom to develop nuclear infrastructure for peaceful purposes. Burkina Faso seeks to enhance energy capacity and security through nuclear technology. The agreement, managed by Russia's state-owned atomic energy business Rosatom, paves the way for broad collaboration between the two nations in the construction of nuclear infrastructure for peaceful reasons. Burkina Faso's Minister of Energy, Yacouba Zabré Gouba, made the news during an interview with the Russian media source Sputnik. "Many steps have already been taken, not only through the signing of a roadmap with Rosatom, but also through the conclusion of the four memoranda of understanding that we were able to finalize in 2024," the minister stated. SEE ALSO: Despite Burkina Faso's headstrong stance, some African countries still want to remain friends The agreement underscores Burkina Faso's wider objective of diversifying its energy sources and meeting the country's rising electricity demand. Burkina Faso, one of the world's least electrified countries, sees nuclear energy as a revolutionary chance to increase energy capacity and improve energy security. 'The signing opens new prospects for Burkina Faso and marks the end of several steps that had to be followed,' Gouba stated. 'So from now on, the way is open in terms of cooperation and the electronuclear program with the Russian Federation.' This agreement is the final administrative stage in a larger framework of nuclear cooperation between Russia and the West African country. It follows Russia's approval last week of nuclear deals with Burkina Faso and Mali. Burkina Faso and Mali's nuclear deal with Russia According to the provisions of the agreement, Russia authorized on the 12th of June, Rosatom will play an important role in supporting Burkina Faso and Mali with the building of nuclear power plants and research reactors. The Russian nuclear agency will also offer critical services connected to the nuclear fuel cycle, such as nuclear fuel supply and waste management, putting Russia at the forefront of both country's nuclear goals. DON'T MISS THIS: Ukraine's gamble in Africa seems shaky as Mali takes a harsh decision 'As I said earlier, this is a very important step forward, because these two countries have joined forces, and demonstrated their willingness to work together on collaboration, on cooperation, so that the electronuclear program becomes a reality in Burkina Faso,' Gouba said during his interview with Sputnik. 'We are waiting for the technical and financial offer from Rosatom, and this will later allow us to see whether we should continue with the electronuclear program,' he added. For Russia, the agreement strengthens its position in Africa, particularly in francophone countries that are more aligned with Moscow.
Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Meet Mark Walter, the man poised to buy the LA Lakers in a record-setting $10 billion deal
Billionaire Mark Walter, CEO of asset manager and brokerage firm Guggenheim Partners and a major investor in pro sports, has signed on to buy the LA Lakers for a record-high $10 billion, according to ESPN. Walter has been a stakeholder in the franchise since 2021, when he bought a 26% share and received the right of first refusal for the majority share, ESPN reported. In addition to his role with Guggenheim, which manages more than $345 billion in assets globally, Walter is chairman and founder of the holding company TWG Global. Walter's estimated net worth is around $6.1 billion, according to Forbes, and at one point was up to $12.5 billion, according to Bloomberg. He is purchasing the Lakers from the Buss family, who have owned the franchise since 1979, the longest-running ownership of a current NBA franchise. During that time period, the team won 11 championships. The Lakers' sale was approved by members of the Buss family through a majority vote, per ESPN. The team's current governor, Jeanie Buss, will continue in that role and run the team going forward as a stipulation of the deal. The Buss family will also retain a 15% stake. The NBA franchise will add to Walter's collection of sports investments, including his primary ownership of the MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers and part ownership of the WNBA's Sparks. His investment helped found the Professional Women's Hockey League, whose championship trophy, the Walter Cup, bears his name. Walter is also the owner of the Cadillac Formula 1 racing team and has a partial stake in Premier League's Chelsea FC. During the California wildfires earlier this year, Walter helped lead a recovery initiative called LA Rises, pledging $100 million toward rebuilding efforts. Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the former Lakers star and basketball Hall-of-Famer turned businessman, has previously worked with Walter on LA Rises and as part-owner of the Dodgers and the Sparks. Johnson shared his support for the deal on X, writing that Walter is the "best choice" for the role and "fans should be ecstatic." The Lakers rank second-highest in overall NBA championship wins, second to the Boston Celtics, a franchise that in March was slated to be purchased by private equity exec Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion, which was then the most expensive deal for any North American sports team.
