Opened in May 1999 at a cost of $1.5 billion, the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino is a little bit of Venice -- gondolas and all -- in the middle of the desert. Whether ogling over a faux St. Marks Square, walking along the half-million-gallon reproduction of Venice's Grand Canal or catching a ride across the Rialto Bridge people mover, you'll get a feel for Venice that only Vegas can pull off.

But there's more. A $250 million expansion of a hotel tower and expanded convention space provides The Venetian with 1,013 additional hotel suites, making the Venice-themed luxury resort the 3rd largest hotel in the world with 4,049 suites. The additional 150,000 square feet of meeting space brings the grand total to nearly 1.9 million square feet of meeting, convention and exhibition space at The Venetian and Sands Expo Center.

Up for some self-indulgence? Try the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, 65,000 square feet of pure pampering, plus plenty of opportunity to whip your body back into shape. And lest your mind feel left out, there's 2 museums, the Guggenheim Las Vegas and the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum. Who ever said Vegas doesn't have culture?

Main Attractions: Reproductions of Venice's most famous landmarks, including Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Square and the Grand Canal
Ideal for: Anyone who has dreamed of Venice but hasn't yet made it
Dining Options: 16 restaurants, from Italian to French to Asian
Accommodations: Luxury suites feature Italian-marble bathrooms and sunken living rooms with full-size sofa sleepers. The hotel's standard suites have been awarded "largest standard hotel rooms" by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Fascinating Fact: The Venetian is the largest all-suite hotel in the world.
Claim to Fame: The Venetian stands on the site of the famous Sands hotel, which was imploded in November 1996.
Entertainment Options: The Venus Lounge celebrates all that Las Vegas is: bright lights and wild nights; and Madame Tussaud's has been entertaining and educating millions of people with its uncannily realistic wax figures of world leaders, movie stars and sports heroes for more than 200 years.
Activities: Take a gondola ride, relax in the Canyon Ranch Spa or shop your heart out in the Grand Canal Shoppes.
Casino Stats: The 120,000-square-foot casino features reproductions of famous frescoes gracing the 65-foot domed ceiling.

Visit the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for more information on The Venetian.