Las Vegas is officially the epicenter of the nightclub universe. Seven of the 10 top-grossing clubs in Nightclub & Bar‘s 2014 survey are on the Las Vegas Strip. The honor roll is topped by 
XS Nightclub, followed by Hakkasan, Marquee and TAO Las Vegas (there is also a high-performing New York equivalent). In addition to the top four spots, Sin City also claims laurels for Surrender (#6), Hyde at Bellagio (#9) and Lavo (#10). Among the many also-rans are Chandelier Bar at Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (#17) and Tryst (#18). Further down were the likes of Chateau Nightclub (#28) and Ghostbar (#48) at the Palms.
XS grossed $103 million-plus, with Hakkasan close behind at $100 million-plus. Others in the top 10 ranged from Marquee‘s $85 million to Lavo‘s $25 million. TAO ($55 million), Surrender ($45 million) and Hyde ($30 million) rounded out the strongest performers. Only Miami Beach, with two clubs in the top 10, put up anywhere near as strong a showing.
* Sheldon Adelson isn’t known for his cuddly side, but he is aware of the need for diversification in Macao to draw in the mass-market players his business model is predicated 
upon. To this end, Sands China is partnering with Hong Kong‘s Planet J to develop the “world’s first player-centric live-action-role-play [LARP] theme park” at Sands Cotai Central. Reports Forbes, “Armed with their Magic Scroll – a smart phone loaded with Planet J apps and connected to a master computer – participants will adopt fantasy personae to act out a series of customized physical and intellectual challenges to drive evil from the mythical Stone Kingdom.” Sands and Planet J are tapping former Universal Studios and Disney theme park designers to make Stone Kingdom a reality.
Two hundred scenarios have been devised for game players, which should give them plenty of incentive to keep returning. Planet J’s master plan is for Macao to be the first foothold for a worldwide network of role-playing theme parks. Sands Cotai’s existing relationship with DreamWorks makes this a natural evolution for Adelson’s megaresort. Calling the idea “a noble experiment,” Forbes‘ Muhammad Cohen is nonetheless skeptical, writing that “resort operators say they’ve learned the vast majority of visitors are interested in gambling and little else.”
