Shell Vacations’ Vegas Resort Completes Renovation

Shell Vacations’ Las Vegas resort is nearing completion of a $17,000,000 renovation that saw its transformation from a budget suite motel into a high quality vacation ownership property, receiving an industry award for its design and high marks for customer service during the nearly four year construction process.

Known as the Hawthorne Suites when Shell Vacations – in partnership with Pat Nesbitt - acquired the hotel in 2004, the three-story property contained 284 hotel rooms in four buildings. In January 2005, Shell Vacations Hospitality took over the management and renovations to the first building were finished in June. Each of the succeeding three phases with about 72 units required six to seven months to complete. By September of this year, the fourth and final building is expected to be done resulting in 284 one- and two-bedroom luxury suites with full kitchens, plus  a total lobby renovation, the entire pool area with barbeque sections, and a new state-of-the-art fitness center. If Elvis were in the building, he’d surely be singing “Viva Desert Rose!”

No one could be happier than resort General Manager Chris Breed. “I am thrilled that it will soon be over,” she says. “It will be wonderful to have an entire property without construction going on somewhere. When you are running a hospitality property undergoing renovation, it is most challenging to maintain high occupancy levels and maximize revenues. When contractors are in the mix with guests and employees, there can be noise and continued challenges.  Fortunately, we had a great relationship with the construction team but we had to remain on top of things every day.”
With Shell Vacations Hospitality for 19 years, Chris previously served for five years as General Manager of the Holua Resort at Mauna Loa Village in Kauai. She says it was time for a change and now thoroughly enjoys her role in Las Vegas, which has a much different lifestyle and tourism client than Hawaii.

From a corporate standpoint, the transition was easy as other general managers lent their support and sent staff to assist Chris. But personnel initially in place at the acquisition were unable to maintain Shell Vacations Hospitality standards and it took some time until the resort was fully staffed. “When we initially purchased the property,” she explained,  “It was a low budget motel with a history of transient guests and not-so-hot neighboring businesses. Shell must have had a crystal ball, because there has been a complete transformation. Today the entire block has been leveled and brand new quality businesses are going up all around us. Also, we are right behind the famed MGM hotel. ”

While no crystal ball was utilized, company visionary and Shell Vacations CEO Shelly Ginsburg had always considered that area of the Strip as having a tremendous potential for redevelopment. “With so many hotels in Las Vegas the size of a city block, it is a long journey from your car to your hotel room and most inconvenient for guests,” said Ginsburg. “we knew that our location set us apart from major hotels on or near the Strip. With parking right outside the building, no major traffic lights to reach the Strip and just a short ride to the airport, people who know Vegas best say our location is what they most enjoy about the Desert Rose. These are just a few reasons I consider this resort the hidden gem of Las Vegas. ” 
A key staff member assisting Chris is Greg Torres, Assistant General Manager who joined the team mid-way during the renovation. “He has been my right arm and my left arm, keeping the operations and departments running while I was dealing with construction and other issues. Our controller Viki Van Guilder worked for the property for ten years when it was a hotel. Now that it is a first class vacation ownership resort, she too has made a smooth transition and is a most valuable team member. We would also like to recognize Denise Polsfut, our Director of Sales, Hospitality. She did an amazing job in building the client base and is a significant contributor to the success of Desert Rose.” 

 “It’s also important to understand that when we took over this property,” adds Michael Miller, Regional VP of Shell Vacations Hospitality, “the Hawthorn Suite customers appeared not really to be viable timeshare purchasers. We had to accept reservations from many groups in the beginning, gradually increasing rates. But initially, we accepted groups that took large blocks of rooms at a minimum rate. We tried to fill the rooms as best we could. Today, the resort has reached the high standard of other resorts within the Shell Vacations Club and members and guests continue to praise both the accommodations and service they receive. Throughout the renovation, our staff has made taking care of the guests their first priority.”

In 2005, the Desert Rose resort won an award from ARDA for its conversion work in transforming an existing hotel property to vacation ownership guest units.  In completing this project, the developer and design teams were sensitive to meeting time expectations of discriminating Shell Vacations Club members. They created a unique contemporary design using the sunset colors of the desert to create a relaxing environment.
Shell Vacations is one of the nation’s largest independent vacation ownership developers, with 23 resorts in seven states, Mexico and Canada.  The company has also developed the Orange Tree Resort in Scottsdale and Starr Pass Golf Suites in Tucson.

www.shellvacationshospitality.com
www.shellvacationsclub.com