Jewish-focused high-rise hotel proposed near Las Vegas Strip

New plans call for a high-rise hotel near the Las Vegas Strip that could provide a convenient worship option for Jewish tourists.

Plans have been submitted to Clark County to build the King David Hotel, which would have 46 floors and be built in a prime location between Interstate 15 and Treasure Island.

As proposed the hotel would have 486 rooms, a synagogue, kosher restaurants, bars, a banquet facility as well as retail and convention space, according to a justification letter submitted by the developer’s attorneys, Brown, Brown & Premsrirut, to Clark County. The hotel is proposed for a 0.6-acre site at 3601 Vegas Plaza Drive on the west side of the block between Spring Mountain Road and Flamingo Road. The Villa De Flores apartment complex is currently on the property. The block also is home to Treasure Island, Caesars Palace and the Mirage.

“The uses and amenities provided in the hotel will include the standard fare as well as kosher restaurants and amenities which are otherwise unavailable in the immediate area,” the justification letter stated. “The closest synagogue to the subject area is approximately four miles from the Las Vegas Strip and the resort corridor.”

The developer is RK Vegas Circle LLC, and the land owner is Ray Koroghli, who also owns the New Pioneer casino in Laughlin.

Koroghli declined to share specifics of the development plan before it receives approval from Clark County but did say they are working with neighboring hotels to be ensure this development is a good neighbor.

Filling a niche

The King David Hotel proposal can help fill the niche of Jewish tourists in Las Vegas who aren’t currently catered to by hotels in the area, said Amanda Belarmino, an assistant professor at UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality.

“We also know that Las Vegas has a lot of diversity in terms of places to worship but most of those places are not near the Strip and may not be readily accessible to visitors who do not have a car,” Belarmino said in an emailed statement. “The synagogue at the King David would provide this service to our visitors. This is an example of the transformation of the city from ‘Sin City’ to an entertainment capital where our visitors can feel welcome to worship while they are here.”

Approval process

The hotel proposal is on the agenda for the Clark County Zoning Commission’s meeting on Wednesday, but it’s likely the item won’t be considered and will be delayed to a June meeting, a representative of the developer said.

Reasons for the delay weren’t shared but Clark County staff have recommended denying some requested changes in development standards for the hotel. The developer has requested changes on parking requirements, street designs and landscaping.

The developer is asking for a reduction in the number of required parking spaces from 854 to 531. One justification for the parking reduction is that the synagogue on the property will allow for people to celebrate Jewish holidays entirely within the high-rise hotel.

“The parking provided is adequate for the site because there are specific Jewish holidays with specific requirements where vehicular access to the site is not allowed because of religious requirements,” the justification letter stated.

Clark County staff recommended denying a reduction in parking spaces because it may impact neighboring hotels.

Contact Sean Hemmersmeier at shemmersmeier@reviewjournal.com. Follow @seanhemmers34 on X.