You can’t miss the neon-orange wire-frame Lamborghini Twin Turbo Countach “parked” in the main valet by British artist Benedict Radcliffe. The new Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas is anything, but ordinary and is making a BOLD statement with over $690 million renovation that touches virtually every aspect of the property. The completely reimagined resort with its unrivaled art from Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol amongst many, a slew of
top-quality restaurants from award-winning chefs such as Bobby Flay and Michael Symon, and the star-studded opening of its latest Day and Nightclub KAOS marks a new era for the Palms.
Photo by Ella Gagiano Studios
KAOS, which boasts a 73,000-square-foot dayclub and 29,000-square-foot nightclub, will be Palms’ grand re-entry into Las Vegas’ night and daylife scene with exclusive residencies with Marshmello, Kaskade, G-Eazy, Above & Beyond and Cardi B.
Owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta turned to industry veterans Ronn Nicolli to serve as Senior Vice President of Creative Strategy and Ryan Craig to serve as Senior Vice President of Nightlife, Daylife, and Events.
Nicolli and Craig, who bonded as friends while working at Wynn Las Vegas in 2005 bring a lot of experience to the Palms.
In our exclusive interview Nicolli and Craig give us insight into creating KAOS.
Q: What attracted you to get involved with the redevelopment of the Palms?
Nicolli: The Palms really needed to bring in a strong localized team that would play into that ideology that property comes first. When we met with Frank and Lorenzo in our initial meeting—we realized we had a shared vision which made it even more amazing.
Craig: The team and a great foundation that was already in place was a selling point. We had all worked together at some point. The collective vision was there from the start which made it very attractive. We knew we can build a great team off this foundation and be successful.
Q: How is it like working together?
Nicolli: I think we complement each other well. What I am not good at Ryan is amazing at. The pairing of us together came at a great time in both of our careers. Coming over here and building this culture together with thirty-years of combined experience really made sense.
Craig: We fit together well. Ronn and I met at the Wynn and worked there together for eight years. We both grew into executive roles and even when I went on to other properties, we stayed connected and remained best friends. It’s great to reunite again.
Q: What do you love most about the new Palms?
Nicolli: I think what I love the most is the culture and makeup of this company. They make you feel like you are a part of the family. The team is collectively supportive, and environment is positive.
It feels good to be here. Coming here every day is very inspiring.
Craig: They really accomplished a great
all-around experience here at the Palms. From the best dayclub and nightclub, to amazing dining like Scotch 80 Prime or Vetri Cucina. You can have elevated lounge experience at APEX Social Club or go enjoy a relaxing movie at the theater. There is something for everyone.
Q: What makes KAOS unique in comparison to other venues in Las Vegas?
Nicolli: I don’t think I’ve ever seen technology like this at any other club in the entire world. We can transform each night into a truly special experience.
Craig: It’s the first of its kind. It’s beyond festival quality. The technology is just amazing and extends beyond the club and up the side of the Ivory Tower in the form of an LED wall, which streams live shots of the dayclub and nightclub to the outside world. We’ve got multiple stages for inside and outside. It’s a very interactive space that can be customized based on the artist that we have on that day or night.
Q: Can you tell us a little about the impressive lineup?
Nicolli: We have the most diverse music lineup. The Marshmello residency, I think, was a huge one for us. He’s shaping up to be possibly the top EDM artist in the world. There’s an opportunity to experience so many different sounds on any given weekend.
Craig: We have performers, DJ’s, producers—it’s more of an experience that caters to everyone, rather than one musical genre from house,
hip-hop to Latin music. You get to see a global star like J Balvin, who would normally perform in arena in an intimate setting at KAOS.
Q: Any exciting or upcoming news you would like to share with us?
Nicolli: We have a pool side concert series that is going to come out in the summer. The space has so many identities that we have yet to unveil. We are going to see a lot of exciting things that come out of KAOS.
Craig: We have some big names in our lineup we have not announced yet. Thursday is our industry night. You can expect some great surprises.
