The Las Vegas Strip’s top-rated hotel bans the usual vices | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Las Vegas wasn’t always synonymous with high-end luxury. Not so long ago, the city’s reputation was built on mass-market appeal — rooms so affordable they often doubled as a backdrop for budget travel or quick getaways.

The goal for hotel brands was to get “heads in beds” and then steer those heads to the blackjack tables and slots.

But that narrative is stale. Today, Las Vegas boasts an impressive lineup of world-class luxury properties, from ultra-luxury mega resorts to elegant, non-gaming retreats.

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In its heyday, Las Vegas may have thrived on attracting the masses: cheap rooms, massive buffets, big shows, and 24/7 gambling, but with the expansion of destination experiences beyond the casino floor, its hospitality model has evolved.

Newer developments such as Resorts World and Fontainebleau emphasize upscale retail, spa, and entertainment amenities over sheer room volume. Meanwhile, legacy brands are doubling down on luxury.

Most strikingly, a non-gaming, non-smoking hotel has clinched the top spot in Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards poll.

Las Vegas visitors come for sports, music, and gambling.

Image source&colon; Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Travel + Leisure names a quiet contender to the top spot, again

The Waldorf Astoria, part of the Hilton (HLT) family, was just named the best hotel in the city by the readers of Travel + Leisure for the second year in a row. This could be a milestone moment: it signals that the city’s identity has shifted from “cheap thrills” to “quiet luxury.”

According to Travel + Leisure’s July 8 announcement, Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas took the crown as the city’s No. 1 hotel — and it did so with no casino, no smoking. (And if your travel dates are flexible, you can find rooms for as little as $225, plus resort fees, of course.)

What it does have: a 27,000-sq-ft spa, a pool, and several restaurants.

The survey, which includes feedback from nearly 180,000 readers and evaluates hundreds of hotels on rooms, service, food, location, and value, reflects a shift in guest preferences.

While the winners in Las Vegas included massive gaming resorts and boutique casinos, the top-rated properties — Waldorf Astoria, Vdara, and Four Seasons — get accolades without needing the traditional Vegas features like gaming floors and smoking lounges.

Visitor trends: Las Vegas is a draw for more than gambling

Las Vegas is no longer just about hitting the tables. Today’s visitors come with diverse agendas: business, leisure — sometimes both in one visit, aka bleisure — sporting events, and headline entertainment.

Recent traveler surveys on the blending of business and leisure show Las Vegas ranks among the top U.S. destinations, popular for its mix of conference amenities, sports arenas, shows, and top-tier hotel complexes.

High-profile venues like Allegiant Stadium and T-Mobile Arena have made Vegas a destination for big game weekends and major concert residencies.

As a result, some hotels are compelled to offer more than a bed, a buffet, and a gaming pit.

The new model is multi-layered: a guest might attend a tech conference in the morning, unwind in a luxury spa by afternoon, catch a headline concert at night, and explore restaurants run by some of the world’s most acclaimed chefs — all before slipping into a smoke-free suite.

The model caters to athletes, business travelers, entertainment aficionados, and families. Those who choose to stay at the Waldorf Astoria and still want to gamble just need to walk next door to Aria.

Las Vegas has shed its budget-hotel skin and become a sanctuary of luxury experiences. The fact that a non-gaming, non-smoking hotel now tops the city’s rankings shows that visitors are seeking a different kind of Vegas experience.

Visitors can still indulge in classic Vegas thrills if they want, but they don’t have to.