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Inside Damien Hirst's $100,000 a night Las Vegas suite

Featuring formaldehyde sharks and medicine cabinets

Cathy Adams
Tuesday 05 March 2019 14:56 GMT
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Damien Hirst's Empathy Suite includes two bull sharks set in formaldehyde
Damien Hirst's Empathy Suite includes two bull sharks set in formaldehyde (Clint Jenkins on behalf of Palms Casinos Resort)

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There are some lavish hotel suites in Las Vegas – and then there’s the Damien Hirst-designed hotel suite.

The Palms Casino Resort in the Nevada city has just launched the Empathy Suite, featuring the British artist’s signature artwork and furniture.

The two-storey, 9,000-square-feet “sky villa” claims to be “the first and only” hotel suite with this level of contemporary artwork.

Inside the two-bedroom villa are lounges, a theatre, massage rooms and a bespoke butterfly motif mosaic cantilevered pool overlooking the Las Vegas Strip.

The suite also includes some of Hirst’s most recognisable artworks including Winner/Loser, two bull sharks suspended in formaldehyde; and Casino Royal, a collection of his butterfly motifs.

Other additions are a 13-seater curved bar filled with medical waste.

The Empathy Suite costs $200,000 for a two-night stay, which makes it likely the most expensive hotel suite in the world. It eclipses the penthouse suite at The Mark hotel in New York, which costs $75,000 a night. Million-dollar casino players at the resort are also granted access.

Guests who stump up the $100,000 a night will enjoy 24-hour butler service, “over the top” welcome amenities, a private tour of the suite, a chauffeur and VIP access to the hotel’s amenities, as well as $10,000 in hotel credit.

“I love what [hoteliers] Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta have done with the Palms,” said Damien Hirst.

“It’s amazing being able to work with them because they are great collectors and totally understand art. They have allowed me to create a suite in the hotel and design everything and completely fill it with my art.”

Jon Gray, general manager of Palms Casino Resort, added: “The Empathy Suite designed by Damien Hirst is the pinnacle of luxury combining museum-worthy art and a truly legendary hospitality experience for the discerning hotel aficionado and casino guest looking for a once-in-a-lifetime Las Vegas stay.”

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Alongside Hirst, the Palms Resort and Casino also holds artwork by contemporary artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol.

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