The Las Vegas Strip added its first major resort in nearly three years on January 24 when the $1.9 billion Palazzo, the second Italian-themed property from Las Vegas Sands Corp had its grand opening.

Despite economic fears buffeting the United States, casinos are betting that high rollers and vacationers will keep flooding into the gambling center, especially as a weak dollar draws foreign travelers and keeps Americans from leaving the country.

The Palazzo Las Vegas 50-story, with its two-story high waterfall, abuts the Venetian Casino Resort, also owned by the Las Vegas Sands. The company opened the Venetian in 1999 at a cost of $1.5 billion. With the Palazzo, it forms the world's largest hotel and convention complex.

To add flair to the giant carpeted hallways and ballrooms, the company included Canyon Ranch Spa, Davidoff Cigars as well as name-brand restaurants, clubs and shops, from Wolfgang Puck's CUT to Jay-Z's 40/40 nightclub; and a Barneys New York, the Manhattan institution's first store in Las Vegas.  Cigar lovers will enjoy the Davidoff kiosk with its supply of Fuente Fuente OpusX, Padron 1964 Anniversaries and Davidoff Millennium Blends.