Just 30 days after its May debut, The Cromwell wiggled its way into the Top 20 Las Vegas hotels on TripAdvisor. The driving force behind the 188-room boutique hotel’s overnight success is an all-female, powerhouse executive team.
Together, President Eileen Moore, Director of Luxury Hotel Operations Melissa Fielding, and Vice President and General Manager Karie Hall are leading the trend away from male-dominated Vegas megaresorts.
After a slowdown in new construction during the economic downturn, Las Vegas is a hot market for hotel development once again. Caesars Entertainment invested $1 billion into one block of the famous Strip to attract travelers interested in a full entertainment experience. The Cromwell, a $185 million overhaul of the former Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall, is the city’s first boutique hotel. The Linq, an open-air retail, dining, and entertainment district next to the hotel, featuring the world’s largest observation wheel, marks another first for the Strip.
To helm The Cromwell, Caesars scouted the best of the best in Las Vegas hospitality, including Moore, Hall, and Fielding, who, before joining forces, held top-level executive positions at some of the nation’s largest hotel companies. The three women decided early on to work in the hospitality field, and they’ve been on each other’s radars for some time.
Years ago, Hall mentored Fielding when they worked at Caesars Palace, where Hall was director of the hotel and Fielding was a front desk agent. Moore and Hall, both working mothers, participated in a Lean In Circle at Harrah’s. (Lean In is an organization that supports women through community, education, and monthly group meetings called circles.) When Hall recently introduced Moore and Fielding, everything fell into line.
“We take it one day at a time,” Fielding says, adding that teamwork and support keep them at the top of their game. “When I need help, I’m not afraid to ask for it. I’m not afraid to fail. And I know if I fail, I have Eileen and Karie to pick me up.” To up the ante on its female touch, The Cromwell partnered with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, who opened her first restaurant, Giada, on the hotel’s second floor. The 260-seat restaurant features an open kitchen, Italian cuisine with Californian influences, and an antipasto station.
Inside, The Cromwell has an intimate, Parisian-inspired atmosphere that, according to Fielding, is reminiscent of old-style Vegas glitz and glamour. Amenities include steam showers, vanities with lighted mirrors, Muk bath products, full mini-bars, free hallway coffee and tea service, and complimentary champagne tasting Thursday to Saturday. Guests also can relax in The Abbey, The Cromwell’s 40,000-square-foot casino, and order cocktails at Bound, the hotel’s lobby bar. “It’s a social environment that’s casual but classy,” Fielding says.
Just two months after opening, The Cromwell ranks as Caesars’ No. 1 property, according to Moore, who says the accomplishment is highly fulfilling. The hotel also is receiving high satisfaction scores among guests and employees, and Giada has earned a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Yelp. “We are data junkies here,” Moore says. “We’ve done thousands of surveys, we read online surveys, and we surveyed the majority of employees to see their feedback about what they need in terms of resources and tools. Over the next six to 12 months, we want to sustain our competitive edge beyond the excitement of opening up [The Cromwell].” As each day passes, the women are proving they and The Cromwell are a sure bet. “No day is like any other day,” Moore says. “It’s always exhilarating.”
