With $4 billion in financing already secured, developers of the $2.9 billion Fontainebleau resort on the Las Vegas Strip have no concerns about cash.

Developers locked in the money in 2007, long before credit markets dried up. It has allowed the project to move forward while others have stalled (Harrah’s Caesars Palace expansion), defaulted on loans (Cosmopolitan) or taken on partners (MGM Grand with Dubai World at CityCenter).

The property is expected to open in October with 28 restaurants and lounges, as well as a 60,000-square-foot spa. It will also have 3,815 rooms decked out with the hottest technology available.

Each room will have an iMac computer which guests can use to surf the web, order room service and set wake up calls.

“We are building the Fontainebleau brand around technology and the customer’s experience with the technology,” Tim Rod, Fontainebleau’s chief information officer, told the Las Vegas Sun.

Fontainebleau will also have an antenna system that not only delivers wireless internet throughout the property, but it will also promise significantly better cell phone reception throughout the property. Many casinos throughout Las Vegas have dead spots where calls get dropped. With the expanded coverage, Rod expects that will not happen at his property.

The company will not be putting any large-scale marketing effort behind getting the word out on its better cell phone and internet reception. Instead, it expects word of mouth to work for it.

“When we sell a convention, it will be a differentiator,” he said. “We’re investing many millions of dollars so that customers will have a better experience at the property. You can’t put a dollar amount on that.”

By Casino Connection Staff