Rio: Bringing sexy back

The Rio, to me, is one of the undiscovered gems of Vegas.

Of course, undiscovered is a relative thing, and in this case I am thinking of the Palms that sits nearby. But the Rio is even closer to the Strip than the Palms. Yet this former home of Prince and the current home of the World Series of Poker is not one of those resorts known for celebrity sightings and hot nightclubs (though Rio had one of the first nightclubs in Vegas).

I have never spoken to anyone visiting Vegas who named the Rio as their first resort of choice for vacation here. Yet, I have never known anyone staying at the Rio who wasn't totally satisfied with their room, the cleanliness of the property or the service they received.

The Rio is owned by Harrah's and offers far nicer accommodations than some of that company's Strip holdings, such as Imperial Palace or Harrah's. And the Rio long has been home to the Penn & Teller show, which remains one of the most entertaining and original productions in Vegas. The shopping and restaurants at Rio are not at the level of the top resorts in town, but there are plenty of options in every price range.

The Rio has always been a favorite among locals, but for some reason the property has never caught the public imagination outside Vegas, again, like its neighbor the Palms. On the other hand, rather than accept its status as a favored party spot for locals and a budget vacation for tourists, the Rio instead has been attempting a series of changes that ranges from the obvious to the challenging and, in one case, Sapphire Pool, even envelope pushing.

The Sapphire Pool is a partnership between Rio and the topless bar Sapphire. And, as Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith noted today, this sort of deal pushes the resorts closer to the lap-dance business than gaming authorities in past years would have tolerated.

Smith writes: "The adults-only outdoor club opened last month. Other resorts have topless pools, but ... this is the highest-profile joint venture between a casino company and a topless business. It's a move that wouldn't have gone over well with the Gaming Control Board when Bobby Siller was on duty, but obviously times have changed." Still, Smith sees this move as risky even in 2008, noting of the Rio's choice to open Sapphire Pool: "They are obviously willing to test the limits of their gaming license in an era of casino marketing in which just about anything goes."

Less controversial but just as telling is that the Rio recently revamped its "Show in the Sky" to make it far more sexy. In this, the Rio follows Treasure Island, which years ago changed its family-friendly pirate battle to "Sirens of TI."

But the most intriguing change at the Rio comes from a partnership between Harrah's and Microsoft at the oddly named (considering we are talking about Microsoft technology) iBar. The iBar is not a hipster ultra lounge or a nightclub that's impossible to get into unless you are famous and rich. Rather, the iBar is a standard open circle bar near the main entrance of Rio, the sort of place anyone can enter, sit down and actually order (without having to wait in a long line or bribe doormen to then be charged to sit down for bottle service).

One person I know does not like Vegas because no matter how much he enjoys any concert or activity, he is embittered by the thought that someone else has a higher status as VIP and that the real top-level fun is hidden from his access. On some level, there is truth to that theory. There are enough gradations and levels of VIP treatment in Vegas to fill a sociological study in nuance. Yet, iBar seating is available to everyone; you need no Vegas juice to get a table beyond being a tourist who wants to buy a beer.

What the iBar offers that is new to Vegas is that the 30-inch tables in the bar have been converted into interactive screens with applications that allow people to search and watch YouTube, play games and order drinks from the bar. But what will really be noticed is what is being called the "Flirt" technology. Cameras placed around the bar allow you, on your table, a view of people at other tables. And, Surface also allows you to send messages to those strangers at other tables and thus flirt with Flirt.

So, what does this all add up to for the Rio?  Innovation (iBar), yes, enhancements (Show in the Sky), of course, and even some risk (Sapphire Pool). But all of these changes really seem to go in one direction, the least original upgrade in Vegas: making the property more blatantly sexy. And, there is a reason for that: It works. Now, by turning up the sexy, the Rio may finally get the attention the resort has long deserved.

Photo: (top) Microsoft's Surface touch screen game at the Rio Hotel and Casino. AP/Isaac Brekken; (below) Surface interactive game in action. Photo by Sarah Gerke. (right) Sapphire Pool advertisement via official website.