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The JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa has done it again. For the tenth straight year this prodigious property has earned a coveted AAA 4-Diamond Award, further entrenching its position among an elite class of distinguished resorts and hotels that consistently earn top industry honors. In fact, out of more than 29,000 hotels, only a mere 5.3 percent qualify for the prestigious AAA 4-Diamond Award—a data point that underscores the significance and difficulty of this accomplishment. Every year since 2005, the JW Marriott Las Vegas has earned this admirable accolade due to its unfailingly high levels of guest service coupled with luxurious accommodations and top-tier amenities, among other noteworthy facets of high-end hospitality.

While a full decade’s worth of AAA 4-Diamond Awards is a preeminent crown jewel, it isn’t the only distinction JW Marriott Las Vegas has to its credit. Over recent years the property has amassed a litany of honors, including being named as one of the Top 5 Las Vegas Resorts by the readership of Conde Nast Traveler; ranking #7 for “Best JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts” in the world; achieving #9 standing for “Best Hotels in Nevada” by U.S. News & World Report; receiving the Gold Key Award from Meetings & Conventions magazine; and recognition as a Top-Performing Business on TripAdvisor ranked in the top 10% worldwide for traveler feedback…just to name a few. The JW Marriott Las Vegas’ on-site spa, restaurants, and wedding venues have also received numerous accolades all their own.

Having frequented the property, which is in a more residential part of town but only a 20-minute drive northwest from the famed Las Vegas Strip, I can tell you that the commitment to customer service excellence is apparent the moment guests pull into the valet. In my interview with Carmen Rubino, the Vice President of Hotel Operations at JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa, he reveals that he’s apt to welcome, mix and mingle with awe-struck guests, noting, “I just love standing in the lobby during a busy check in welcoming our guests–and asking them if they have been here before.  It’s amazing to greet our first time guests, who may not have known about our oasis in Summerlin.”

When asked about aspects of the JW Marriott Las Vegas that make it special, particularly given it’s off-strip locale within a seemingly parched desert valley region, Rubino commented, “[Some guests don’t] realize that we are on over 50 acres, with lush landscaping and grounds.  They love the oversized guest rooms that are standard, the spa and the laid back resort environment that transcends into Rampart Casino…Our guests are amazed at the numerous suites and guest room configurations we offer.  At 548 rooms, we feature over 70 suites, ranging from one bedroom to two bedrooms with balconies offering expansive views of the TPC Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon or the Las Vegas Strip. It’s always fun to hear the feedback from the unexpected upgrades we provide for our guests.”

Photo Ownership/Copyright Credit: JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort and Rampart Casino

True to Rubino’s word, the rooms at this resort do not disappoint. Luxury suites and guest rooms boast walk-in closets and in-room safes not to mention creature comforts like plush robes and the exclusive Marriott Revive bedding with down comforters, custom duvets and rich cotton linens. The lavish marble bathrooms in each suite feature a bathtub with whirlpool spray jets that is large enough to comfortably fit two adults. Luxury suites also feature spacious separate living areas while terrace rooms also boast expansive wrap-around balconies that proffer up to 500 square feet of outdoor space. Not only do the windows in these suites actually open, they also happen to be soundproof when closed—perfect for those times when peace and quiet are paramount. If, however, you’re pairing work with play, the two-bedroom suites offer table seating for six, eight telephones with two phone lines, voicemail and speaker phones as well as high speed Internet access. In-room media boasts not just one, but three televisions with the largest measuring 40 inches.

Dining options at the JW Marriott Las Vegas also abound with nine different choices, including tapas, Italian, American, Japanese and pub food, as well as the Rampart Buffet that dishes up an international selection of cuisine that includes delectable hand-carved meats.

Well-appointed rooms and sumptuous dining aren’t the only amenities this property has to offer. When it’s time to relax, the on-site Spa Aquae provides a tranquil setting to decompress in style. Adjacent to the spa, guests can also enjoy two state-of-the-art fitness centers, a sand-pit volleyball court, bocce ball and horseshoe pit.

For those who really want to “turn off” Las Vegas, head outside to the 11,000 square foot waterfall outdoor pool where you can sunbathe in a spacious cabana (available by reservation). Or, if you’re up for a round of golf, guests enjoy preferred status and tee times on eleven nearby courses, including TPC Las Vegas—an 18-hole championship course. The JW Marriott Las Vegas Executive Golf Desk, part of the resort’s Personal Planning Center, is available to help guests make necessary arrangements.

While every guest at this property is made to feel like an A-lister, the award-winning JW Marriott Las Vegas does draw its share of bona fide celebrities. While Rubino keeps mum about their identity, one staffer I spoke with did intimate that Jon Bon Jovi frequents the resort.

Although awards and honors continue to flow, the JW Marriott Las Vegas is not one to rest on its laurels. Instead, it is continuously seeking ways to improve its already outstanding portfolio of amenities, the quality and integrity of the rooms and suites, and the grounds overall. Rubino remarked, “With our guest room and lobby renovations in full swing as well as updating our Carmel Room, Buffett, JC’s Irish Pub and Promenade Café, we are poised to have a fresh new look for our resort and casino guests.  We like to say we’ll be the ‘newest’ with the most experience in the off-strip resort landscape!”

In all, the JW Marriott Las Vegas more than upholds the brand’s self-professed image as an “elegant hotel that caters to today’s sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense.” For those who seek to visit Las Vegas and enjoy casino gaming, but in a more relaxed and refined resort atmosphere removed from the hustle and bustle of a typical Strip property, the JW Marriott Las Vegas is your ace in the hole.

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost and/or arranged to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way as per the disclosure policy on our “Legal” page***