From TV Royalty to Las Vegas Hotelier: Lisa Vanderpump’s Powerhouse Pivot

The property powerhouse, Lisa Vanderpump, takes over The Cromwell. - photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment.

Lisa Vanderpump has never been one to think small. From her early days as a London restaurateur to her reality TV reign in Vanderpump Rules and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she has turned lifestyle and design into both empire and entertainment. But her latest move signals something bigger than a new cocktail menu or celebrity cameo—it’s a deliberate step into the world of hospitality development.

Caesars Entertainment announced it will reimagine The Cromwell, the boutique property on the Las Vegas Strip, as The Vanderpump Hotel, with doors expected to reopen under the new identity in early 2026. While the hotel will remain in operation during the transition, its entire reception area, a signature lounge, and all 188 guest rooms—including 19 suites—will be redesigned to match Vanderpump’s signature flair.

The Birth of a Hotelier

Vanderpump has already proven her staying power on the Strip. Within the Caesars portfolio, her name now adorns three sought-after dining and nightlife concepts: Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars Palace, Vanderpump à Paris at Paris Las Vegas, and Pinky’s by Vanderpump inside the Flamingo. Each combines immersive design with whimsical menus that make them natural hotspots for both tourists and locals.

But transforming an entire hotel marks a different level of ambition. And Vanderpump is not merely lending her name. Her design house, Vanderpump Alain, a partnership with industrial designer Nick Alain, is directly leading the hotel project. Known for moody lighting, ornate finishes, and theatrical interiors, the duo has built a brand on “sexy elegance.” Now, they’ll bring that aesthetic into every guest touchpoint at the new Vanderpump Hotel - from check-in cocktails to the guest room designs.

The Cromwell in its current state as a boutique hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment.

Why Now, and Why Vegas

For Caesars, aligning with Vanderpump makes strategic sense. The Cromwell has long been one of the Strip’s smaller hotels, with fewer than 200 rooms. By tying it to a personality brand already resonant in the market, Caesars can reposition the property as a lifestyle destination, appealing to visitors who want more than just a place to sleep. In doing so their consumers will get a lifestyle experience. One that's also perfect for the (Insta)gram.

For Vanderpump, the timing is perfect. She’s already dipped into the hotel space outside Las Vegas with Wolf by Vanderpump, her restaurant anchoring the new Caesars Republic hotel in Lake Tahoe. Now, by expanding from television and restaurants into full-scale hotel design, she’s carving out a space in the growing trend of personality-driven boutique hospitality. If The Vanderpump Hotel lands with the same splash her cocktail gardens did, it could spark a wave of similar ventures where celebrities don’t just open restaurants inside hotels, they become the hotel.

Wolf by Vanderpump's second installation opens in Scottsdale, AZ at the end of 2025. Photo courtesy Caesars Entertainment

With construction beginning soon (in 2025), the rebranded property is set to debut early in 2026. The Cromwell will remain open while the reception area, a new lounge, and all guest rooms and suites get a top-to-bottom makeover. Lisa's hospitality playbook has always been design-as-theatre - creating highly produced environments built for social content, with storytelling menus and whimsical F&B. By elevating that ethos into a whole-property narrative, she’s essentially turning this hotel into a brand set.

This pivot cements Vanderpump’s status to powerhouse brand and mogul. And Las Vegas is the perfect city in which to make this happen.