There’s a hidden treasure less than a 30 minute drive from the bustling Las Vegas strip. Ravella at Lake Las Vegas celebrated its grand opening on February 11, 2011. It is owned and managed by Dolce Hotels and Resorts, a company which specializes in hosting meetings and events and providing upscale accommodations for the leisure traveler. Dolce was founded in 1981, has 4,000 associates and owns 27 upper-upscale resorts worldwide.

The hotel, housed in the former Ritz Carlton, includes 349 guest rooms and suites, 39,000 square feet of meeting space and a 30,000 square foot spa. It features Mediterranean architecture with clay tile roofs and arched doorways, reminiscent of Europe’s colorful waterside villages as well as a white sandy beach, heated lakeside pool year-round, kayaking, boating, fly fishing, hiking and jogging trails. The Lake Las Vegas community includes stunning vistas, miles of green, two marinas and a nearby Jack Nicklaus golf course.

Photo by Dianne R. Davis

The facility includes beautiful panoramic views of the area and a sense of serenity that makes it seem an ideal location for meetings, destination weddings, or get-a-ways from the hustle bustle of Las Vegas.

Ravella’s name is based on the picturesque Southern Italy coastal town of Ravello and is inspired by the word “revel”, meaning to take great pleasure or delight. The name fits the Tuscan architecture styling of the hotel and the surrounding Village at Lake Las Vegas.

Photo by Burt Davis

Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen, Ravella General Manager Mario Mazzini, and President of Dolce Hotels and Resorts, Richard Maxwell toasted the opening. Maxwell pledged to , “bring Lake Las Vegas back to life. He shared his belief that the core of business is service and was pleased to announce that one half the associates hired were Ritz Carlton associates. He also shared the news that Dolce has forged a partnership with the Village and that as a guest at Ravella, visitors will have the ability to visit restaurants in the village and charge their meals to their room.

The restaurants, in easy walking distance of the resort range from fresh seafood and wood-fired pizzas to spicy tacos, savory tapas and more .Customers from Ravella will also receive preferential reservation treatment. This innovative partnership should provide a boost to some of the struggling business in the village and enhance the Ravella’s lure to businesses and tourists alike. The Village at Lake Las Vegas features an eclectic collection of boutiques featuring contemporary art, handcrafted jewelry, hand-blown glass figurines, books, fine cigars, furnishings, kites and wind chimes.

Photo by Dianne R. Davis

Dolce remodeled the lobby and some of the meeting space to better conform to their business model of a hotel designed for meetings and events. The Firenz lobby lounge is open from 6 AM until 100AM .Guests can purchase light cuisine and cocktails throughout the day. The Medici café and terrace on the first floor features market dining geared for meeting attendees. Nourishing food is prepared by the kitchen.

Ravella’s facilities provide wedding options including the choice the La Capella di Amore, lakeside and beach venues, the Florentine Gardens or the climate controlled pavilion. A Capella di Amore is an over the water chapel with numerous old world touches. Members of the bridal party can utilize the upgraded 30,000 foot spa house in its own separate building. Exquisite ballrooms are also available for indoor affairs.

Ravella’s guests are offered access to the SouthShore Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas. The award-winning club is the first private jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Nevada and has been named by Golf Digest as one of the “Top 10 New Private Gold Courses in America.”

Ravella is currently offering locals discounts for accommodations Contact reservations at 1-888-0440 or call (702) 567 4700. The hotels features can be seen at www.ravellavegas.com By Dianne R. Davis

Dianne R. Davis is a columnist/photographer for Judy Thorburn’s www.lasvegasroundtheclock.com and for the Vegas Voice newspaper. Dianne is a reporter on Anthem Alive on Sun City Anthem’s own Channel 99, specializing in entertainment. She can be contacted at DianneRD@aol.com.