Would you believe that Las Vegas is going green? And that makes it even more fun than ever. Really.

There’s a new Las Vegas in town. Chic, sexy, sophisticated, and surprisingly sustainable. Now you can indulge in a luxurious weekend and skip the maddening crowds, cheap buffets, swarms of drunk frat boys, and smoky casinos.

There’s a better way to love Las Vegas — here are 5 ways to do it.

1. Stay at a Non-gaming Hotel

LEED gold-certified, Vdara is an all-suite, art-filled, smoke-free oasis of serenity in Las Vegas. With 57 stories, you’ll feel like you’re floating over the twinkling skyline. Its house wine is Bonterra Chardonnay made with organic grapes. And while smokers aren’t welcome, your dog certainly is with suites outfitted specifically for four-legged best friends. Vdara’s pool and lounge area are a haven away from the busy strip below with an interactive space, sweeping views, private cabanas, a semi-private plunge pool and double daybeds.

The Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas is another stunning non-gaming option.  With recently renovated luxurious rooms with views of Red Rock Canyon and a beautiful pool with top service, you can’t go wrong.

2. Treat Yourself to a Spa Day

Need to recover from a late night out? Treat yourself to a spa day. The Cosmopolitan’s Sahra Spa is home to a 1,200-square-foot stone Hammam that can be just for you – or up to four very lucky friends – to purify away last night with steam baths and cold water plunges. The Hamman’s signature treatment, the Sahra Journey, is 2.5 hours of detoxing bliss.

Vdara’s ESPA offers a 110-minute Desert Rose treatment that starts with a ritual foot cleansing then a salt scrub, body and scalp massage. After your baby-like soft skin is slathered with body butter. Covering two floors with rejuvenating therapies, when you book a treatment you can come and go in the spa throughout the day. Don’t miss the heated stone lounge chairs by the whirlpool. Bliss.

Aliante’s Spa is worth the 20-minute trip off strip  for their re:juvenate massage therapy with dōTERRA essential oils. Using a specific order, the oils are massaged up and down your spine and combined with a Swedish massage that will truly take you away.

And if you’d love a spa day but prefer to stay poolside, the perfect solution is the“Spaah-ify” cabana program at none other than the Trump International Hotel. The Mediterranean-style cabanas and daybeds feature an aromatherapy mister with refreshing scents like pink grapefruit, a chair massage, and Coola skincare products made with organic extracts.

3. Dine at Sustainable Luxe Restaurants

Encore’s Jardin is very ooh la la for several reasons. First, its garden chic atmosphere is inspired by the South of France and is truly magnificent. Second, Executive Chef Joseph Zanelli went to extraordinary lengths to include mouthwatering vegan and sustainable seasonal options on his menu. No vegan will go home hungry or unsatisfied. Overlooking Encore’s pool, the indoor/outdoor French garden makes you suddenly want to speak with an accent. And you can drink consciously with Wynn mixologist Damian Cross’s menu of artisanal favorites such as the Vanilla Rose with Tru Organic vanilla vodka.

Harvest by Roy Ellamar serves up sustainable and seasonal dishes at The Bellagio. The restaurant honors his culinary history “surrounded by farmers, foragers and fishermen, gaining a true appreciation for the provenance of ingredients and the relationship with the producers.” The decor is sexy and sleek. You won’t feel like your missing out on that nighttime Las Vegas vibe while staying healthy.

A retro classic, The Barrymore is a slice of the silver screen, where the sommelier is passionate about organic and biodynamic wine. Sit and sip outside on the patio and watch the lights glimmer over Las Vegas. It’s magical.

4. Take in a Show with Phenomenal Artist Residencies

No more looking at the jumbotron screen when at a live concert. Line up your Las Vegas trip when your favorite artist is in residence and you’ll feel like it’s (almost) a private show. Think not just Celine Dion, but also Jennifer Lopez, Elton John, and top DJs like Tiësto who take up residence for a unique experience that you won’t see anywhere else. Many charity events such as Cirque du Soleil’s One Night for One Drop offer bespoke events with phenomenal after-parties.

5. Do Brunch

Las Vegas knows brunch and brings it to an entirely new level. STK’s Brunch Club in The Cosmopolitan Hotel serves up fresh pressed juice or the hair of the dog – if you prefer – in a fully stacked bloody mary cart. Add in a band and day becomes just as fun as night. While you might be elbow-to-elbow with meat-loving folks, STK’s healthy options like the ubiquitous kale salad and fresh farm egg omelets will make the meat eaters ask what you’re having.

Off strip is Hearthstone Kitchen and Cellar boasting “simple, sustainable, and seasonal ingredients.” Do not leave Las Vegas without trying their Coconut Cream and Seasonal Fruit Parfait. The food is just as fresh as the vibe. And it’s the perfect stop after an early morning hike at Red Rocky Canyon, which is just minutes away.

While Las Vegas is still on its journey to green (as most cities are), restaurant groups and hotels have made incredible strides expanding our options to enjoy the vibrancy, creativity, and fun of Las Vegas while still feeling good about our choices.

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Image of Welcome To Las Vegas neon sign on sunset sky via Shutterstock 

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Is it humanly possible to stay healthy and fit during a Vegas Vacation?

My name is Sarah and I’m a fit mom. That’s what I call myself for work, This Fit Mom. I’m a group exercise instructor, personal trainer, fitness blogger, and fitness writer. So I basically eat, sleep, and breathe fitness. All day, every day. Also, like I said, I’m a mom. And I have two little boys. They’re busy. All day, every day. Also, I have a husband. And he has some parents. Those are my in-laws. And this past weekend we all went to Vegas. Together.

I’ve only been to Vegas once before, when I was younger. I didn’t like it much because my husband (he was just my b-friend then) and I were poor and liked Radiohead a lot, if you know what I mean. So, we mocked stuff and sat around sadly, like only 22 year-olds can. My memories of it were mostly just being really hot and dirty. And not in a sexy way.

So when my in-laws suggested we drive up from Los Angeles with our two boys, I wasn’t super psyched on the idea at first. But my MIL (they were in town for a business convention) thoughtfully arranged a beautiful suite for us in a swanky hotel (The Cosmopolitan), and planned several fun kid activities (visit to a shark reef and seeing some dolphins and stuff). Plus, the pool was gorgeous and there was the promise of a lot of free babysitting. So, slowly but surely, I got very on board.

Now, when I plan on traveling anywhere I have a fair amount of anxiety due to my lifestyle. I exercise for 1-2 hours almost every day. This requires space, equipment, time, and child care. When you’re on the road, these things can be hard to come by. Additionally, I eat in a somewhat restrictive and particular manner. I do my best not to eat any grains, dairy, or processed food. I care about where my meat comes from and I prefer my fruit and veggies to be organic. (Are you annoyed with me yet?) Last, but not least, I eat one blended meal a day. That means if I don’t have my Vitamix, I feel somewhat…bereft. So, traveling poses some difficulties there for me as well.

But in a an attempt to be less Type A than I usually am and show my husband and his family how fun and flexible I could be, I told myself that it was going to be fine. FINE. Firstly, there would be a gym at the hotel. A very nice and well stocked one, if the pics on the website were any indication. And there would be three adults around who could watch the kids while I “got ma sweat on.” It might even be like a treat!

Secondly, we were going to be eating out for every meal during our entire Vegas vacation. I could always just order a plain salad with a protein. NBD! For breakfast there would be eggs. Greens, veggies, and protein. Maybe not the most varied or satisfying menu, but totally acceptable for four days. And just for extra back up, I would bring six Quest Bars. You can always depend on a Quest Bar in a food emergency.

Maybe I would even come away from this Vegas vacation more fit than I already was! Maybe it was like a gorgeous chance to step away from all of my usual duties and responsibilities so I could get some monster workouts in while relaxing and not rushing around like a maniac. Also, my husband and I would finally have some well deserved time alone. We could even go on a date! FYI, the last time we went somewhere alone together it was a different calendar year.

Day 1

The drive through the desert was hot but beautiful and fast and when we got to The Cosmopolitan I was knocked out by how nice it was. The in-laws had stocked our bar with ingredients for Negronis and Rye Whiskey and we mixed up drinks while the kids climbed over all the furniture like wired cats and the grandparents plied them with gifts. Heaven. It was kind of late and the kids were hungry, so we headed right out to the Rainforest Cafe.

My kids are insane for animals so they were beyond wowed by the animatronic beasts, festive decor, and extensive kids menu at the RC. But perusing the chef’s offerings, I could see that right away my salad plan wasn’t going to hold water. All of the salads sounded dismal and I could just picture the watery iceberg and wilted spinach. My wonderful husband, sensing my distress, whispered that we could just get a small appetizer and have something better later-BY OURSELVES. Eating without children is a pleasure as rare to us as a nun playing craps.

So, we ordered nachos. No one had really eaten anything substantial since breakfast and we were all famished. And although I meant to just have a chip or two, this is what happened to the nacho plate.

After that, the kids headed to Grandma and Grandpa’s room for a slumber party and we were left to our own devices. We both felt full from the grody nachos and tired from the travel day, so we stupidly decided to stay in to relax and enjoy the view. To our credit, this was our unbelievable view.

Day 2

To combat the effect of the nachos, I got up early the next morning and hit the gym pretty hardcore. It was a great gym. Tons of equipment, mostly empty, and a killer view. I ended up hanging around for almost two hours and and doing cardio, glutes, squats, shoulders, and some core work. Here’s my Instagram selfie:

Then we all hit the pool. Because there was no time for breakfast I housed two Quest Bars to keep from fainting in the heat. Have I mentioned there was a heat wave while we were there? The temps soared up past the 100s erry damn day. It was as hot as a sack o’ nuts.

We did some lunch before we ventured out into the baking oven of the filthy metropolis. This time we went to a proper restaurant, Holsteins, and I was able to snag a super salad with ahi tuna. It was delicious and filling. Things were looking up for sure. It’s possible at this point I felt a little smug, like what’s the big deal? Anyone can do this healthy-in-Vegas thing.

During most people’s stories, it’s always at the smug point that things turn to shit. And my story is no different.

After the kid friendly activities (Shark Reef, they went bonkers), my husband and I had some free time before bedtime. So we decided to go on an early-evening date to get some sushi in the casino. And get sushi we did! We went to Blue Ribbon Sushi, and it was incredible. Here’s my dinner. JUST MINE. Not to share or anything. And it might be that I had some, or a lot, of sake. But here’s the most beautiful damn dinner you’ve ever seen.

uhhhhhhhh. It was so good.

After that, things went downhill. My younger son, who is 3, got sad and wanted to sleep with us. So, I ended up in bed at 7:30 with a cranky toddler who kept kicking me in my very full belly and poking my face with his meaty little fingers and calling me a, “poo poo ghost face” and then giggling like someone on Molly. Needless to say, I wasn’t able to get up early and do the gym the next day.

Day 3

After a responsible breakfast of eggs, we headed back to the extremely fabulous pool. While squatting down to give my older son something, I stood up wrong and my hip twanged like a freaking banjo. After that, it was all I could do to keep the screams inside while I limped around and felt cursed. It might be that felt very sorry for myself and had a few too many frozen margaritas (the waitress brings them to you while you’re floating in the pool!!!), skipped lunch altogether, and took a lot of selfies while my lovely MIL and husband watched the kiddos.

After more fun kid activities (the Secret Garden, they loved it) everyone wanted pizza for dinner and I said what the fuck. I ate some damn pizza. My hip was still hurting and I was starving for some carbs.

My sweet husband had planned for us to go see a movie and have another fab dinner, so I was pretty excited. Even though I was kind of full of pizza and a little hungover from the shitty margaritas, I rallied and got all dolled up.

We got all the way downstairs and halfway through the casino when the text came through. “Both boys want Mom. So sorry.”  The message was like finding out the new expensive sweater you love so much is woven from a homeless man’s pubes. Very very disappointing, but not anyone’s fault and just something you have to find a way to accept. Defeated, we slumped back upstairs and collected our heinous spawn. As a consolation prize, I got to watch the Miss America Pageant on mute while my older son snored old pizza breath into my face. I was so sad, I got up and ate another Quest bar because it had chocolate in it. I gloomily noticed it was the last one. Not even my Quest bars had lasted.

Day 4

I meant to get get up early and at least do 200 burpees in the hotel room, but I accidentally slept in. Damn you, blackout curtains! That morning was our departure day. My hip felt better, but I was broken. We hit up the incredible Cosmopolitan buffet and I went a little nuts. I had smoked salmon, chocolate mousse, sushi, gelato, caesar salad with a glistening white anchovy on top, bacon, pork belly, more sushi, three cups of coffee, raspberry rice krispie treats, pho, roasted potatoes, eggs, orange juice, chocolate tart, and more sushi.

We took the leftover pizza from the night before home with us and I ate it all in the car while blasting the air conditioning in my face to keep the carb and guilt sweats down to a slow drip.

Here’s what I learned:

1. Bring a sound machine. Here’s my pick, it works gooooood and is small and portable. Surprise! People are partying in Las Vegas. They will play extremely loud music in the room right next to yours. If you are adults who are alone, this can just be annoying. With kids = Disaster. The sound machine truly cancels the noise out and lets you (and your babies) have a decent night’s rest.

2. Go all in or all out. No wish-washy crap.

• All In: If you’re going to be good in Vegas, plan ahead. Prep chicken. Buy canned salmon or packaged tuna. Blend tons of greens into smoothies. Gather responsible carbs. Buy 24 Quest Bars. Freeze it, pack it, put it in your mini fridge. Then you’re not at the mercy of when other people want to eat or what there is on a menu. You can down your fuel whenever you need to and not inconvenience anyone. Insist on getting time to spend in the gym to just slip away. Don’t care about the fun you’re missing. Find a way to be accountable. Strut around the pool marinating in the glory of your superior hotness. Sip only water. Feel smug on the car ride home.
• All Out: Just take a break from your grueling schedule and have an incredible time. Don’t feel guilty about anything you’re doing and take advantage of every minute that’s available to you to indulge, get crazy, and do things you normally wouldn’t do. Stay out too late and don’t think about the next day. Smile all the way home remembering the fun you had.

Follow Sarah on Facebook: This Fit Mom

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Images: Shutterstock Vegas Photo and Sarah Olive Bergson

The post I Tried to Live a Fit Life During A Vegas Vacation: A Survivor’s Story appeared first on EcoSalon.

The Mandarin Oriental hotel is redefining luxury with a twist of sustainability in Las Vegas.

Prior to one’s first visit to Las Vegas, the recommendations are clear, and the expectations high. Go nuts. Go dancing. Gamble. Drink…a lot. The phrase most commonly attached to the city is practically a household name: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

After staying at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, however, what happens in Vegas, should also make the return trip. It’s a brand known among travelers as one that sets a gold standard and, among those with the privilege of staying there, there is reluctance to refer to it merely as a “hotel.” No, the Mandarin Oriental is far more than a place to rest one’s head. It’s an experience: A place that one leaves feeling confident, fulfilled, and restored.

That’s correct: It is possible to leave Las Vegas with a sense of restoration.

The Mandarin Oriental, among its many global locations, carries a commitment to wellness: To guests, and to the planet. It’s one of the few hotels on the Strip that doesn’t contain a casino, features a tea lounge, and offers seasonal, organic cuisine throughout its restaurants and cafes. It’s luxury with a twist: Yes, some rooms have bathtubs large enough to sleep in, but behind the scenes, the individuals who bring the Mandarin Oriental to life are quietly recycling water, protecting endangered fish populations, and deliciously sneaking superfoods onto restaurant menus.

It’s easy to question how one operates sustainably, or sources food locally, in a city essentially located in the desert and known for its water crisis. In fact, there is so much that can be – and is being – done, that Chef David Werly, executive chef of the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, can speak for over an hour about all of the establishment’s ecological efforts. Even then, the sense is that, still, more is being done, but there is only so much time to discuss it.

At one time, Chef Werly says he was able to secure herbs, quail and prawns from local producers. Today, however, those producers are no longer in operation, as local supply “seems to shrink, a little bit.” Not all hope is lost, however. He still sources local honey for smoothies and juice at the pool cafe, and beyond that, many provisions are supplied from California: One of the closest seaside neighbors to not only Las Vegas, he says, but a state that serves as the “back yard of America.”

Seafood, for Chef Werly, is consistently front-and-center, with particular regard to the menus he develops for the property’s MOzen Bistro (The M and O for “Mandarin Oriental”), one of the “best kept secrets” for sushi in Las Vegas, he says. He maintains awareness of what he calls seafood “emergencies,” such as that of Chilean sea bass, which he restricts from menus, and works very closely with suppliers, deliberately visiting facilities like fish farms to see just how product is raised. The Marine Conservation Society is one of his primary resources in becoming informed, and he uses seafood that is eco-labeled. When he can’t source farm-raised fish, which the restaurant does as much as possible, “we try at least to respect the seasonality.”

“I’m not pretending to know everything about it,” Chef Werly says, with respect to sustainable seafood, “but I am trying to educate [myself] as much as possible.”

It’s not all about fish; Chef Werly is a true believer in biodynamic farming, and the careful use of water and the environment around what is grown. He addresses the Las Vegas water crisis, in the way the kitchen operates; the refrigerators, for example, are all water-cooled, allowing water to be recycled, and are being replaced with new units that will not only permit water recycling, but also, conserve energy. These new refrigerators, as well as the entire kitchen, will be outfitted with LED lighting.

Meanwhile, other products are sourced and utilized with a focus on “the control and reduction of food waste,” says Robert Jenny, the property’s Director of Food and Beverage.

When asked why he, or the hotel, isn’t bragging about these initiatives more, or making a slightly bigger deal about them, Chef Werly points to education. To him, information is more important, ensuring that the environmental benefits of his actions are genuine and accurate, prior to boasting them to the public.

It seems that, throughout the Mandarin Oriental, there is a philosophy of using nature, of letting it do as it was intended, “and wait,” says Chef Werly. “Stop taking sea bass out of the ocean. Nature can recover very quickly, actually, if we leave [it] alone.”

There’s also a tradition of paying tribute to the heritage of food; the offerings at MOzen, for example, are designed as a culinary tour of Asia, such as a bento box prepared by Chef de Cuisine Prabeen Prathapan featuring Tandoori roasted chicken, miso cod, and Tom Yum Goong, among other colorful provisions. It’s a combination of flavors so unusual and diverse, even a spoiled, jaded New Yorker considers it beyond unique.

It’s an ideology also present in the Mandarin Oriental Spa, particularly the Las Vegas location. Here, guests can experience Tian Quan (translated to “heavenly waters” in Chinese), a series of what are described as “thermal experiences” on the hotel’s website. The treatments used here are rooted in ancient eastern medicine, which were developed during a time when nature was exclusively used for beauty and health. The ice fountain, for example, contains rolled cloths in a bowl of ice, which guests apply to the hands, face and neck after undergoing a heated experience, such as a hot shower, steam, or soak in the spa’s vitality pool. Donald Graham, the spa supervisor, explains that this tradition helps to stabilize the body’s core temperature after such thermal experiences, creating physical comfort for and less of a shock to the system.

Perhaps the most natural treatment in the spa, however, is the quiet relaxation lounge. It’s a room of plush beds overlooking the Las Vegas strip, replete with infused water, dried fruit and nuts, and magazines. Most guests, however, use the relaxation lounge for what its namesake intends: Quiet, free of phones and any noise other than the silent observation of the Strip below.

It seems a logical fit for the property’s Spa Director to also serve as the Chairperson for sustainability efforts of the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas. “I am personally very passionate about finding ways to conserve our natural resources, recycle and work with skin care and product companies who also share similar sustainable practices,” says Jennifer Lynn. “The Spa has also introduced several water conservation techniques…including experience showers with 20 second cycles to prevent unattended running water. We also have low flow restrictors in several areas of the spa.”

And those divine thermal experiences? Localized water softeners are added to those features, Lynn explains, to help reduce the wear and tear on the equipment that runs them.

There’s only one drawback to a stay at the Mandarin Oriental. It’s certainly not the lack of casino or entertainment venue; those are a short walk up the Strip. It’s not even the expense, as the long-term value of such experiences nearly exceeds the price paid for them. It’s the standard that is set by the Mandarin Oriental, and the inability to view any hotel experience the same after witnessing this one. It’s not a complaint, and would be wrongfully labeled as a shortcoming. Instead, it leaves its visitors with an omnipresent sentiment of, “I’ll be back.” At the Mandarin Oriental, what happens in Vegas, would surely make the world a more sustainable, restorative place.

Say hey to Amanda on Twitter or Instagram

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Photo: kennejima

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55 million Americans played poker in 2005. Las Vegas’ poker industry alone accounts for billions of dollars and players fly around the world to attend high stakes championships. Casinos like the Monte Carlo can have annual energy costs upwards of $5 million. It’s a far cry from eco-friendly…or is it?

You might not immediately associate flashy card games in energy intensive, 24-hour casinos with eco-sensitivity, but even the poker industry is trying to make strides in the green economy.

It’s no news that world poker tours are a carbon suck; flying a few thousand people to one destination doesn’t come with a low carbon footprint. Add to that the waste and energy use associated with casinos. But change is brewing.

Switching to Online

Playing online poker instead of flying to far-off destinations certainly comes with a lower footprint, but because of the ongoing issue of legalization – online gambling was banned by Congress in 2006 – and taxation, playing online isn’t simple. Lifting that ban could encourage more players to stay home instead of travel to poker games away from home, cutting carbon costs associated with travel.

Unfortunately, it’s unknown what kind of environmental impact lifting the ban would actually have. In fact, lifting the ban could lead to an increase in online gaming, and with it, energy use. Considering most household computers emit 40-80 grams of greenhouse gas emissions per hour, the impact of millions of computers being turned on to play in online poker games could in fact become an eco-unfriendly disaster.

For the time being, some members of the poker community are advocating carbon offsets, at least ensuring that jet-set poker players consider their carbon footprint.

A Greener Sin City

Although it’s easy to assume the city known for gaudy lights, imported oysters and endless Ferraris doesn’t care much about its environmental impact, Las Vegas is actually making strides. One of professional poker’s epicenters, Las Vegas is an energy intensive city, but according to the Brookings Institute the Las Vegas metro area ranks 18th in per capita carbon emissions from transportation and residential energy use among the nation’s 100 largest metro areas. It’s even the least toxic city in the U.S.

Las Vegas has put many initiatives in place to reduce its carbon footprint, including running its vehicle fleet with alternative fuels and implementing a progressive water policy. Even the most expensive, privately funded construction project in U.S. history, the building of the MGM Mirage’s City Center, was done with L.E.E.D. in mind, and recently scored a Gold certification.

The Green Poker Niche

EGM Green makes eco-friendly casino gaming products, meaning you can play a hand of cards on a table made from FSC-certified wood and recycled synthetic materials. And you thought the fashion world was the only luxury industry to start going green.

These changes don’t herald immediate green status for the gambling industry, but they are indicators of progress.

Photo Credits: http2007, EGM Green

The post Can Gambling Be Green? appeared first on EcoSalon.

“It’s funny how new furniture has a way of restoring people,” says the sweet, pastel-coated spread (above) appearing in online and print magazines.

Why the reminder to hug a couch today?

It’s all part of a $20 million ad campaign launched by Ogilvy & Mather to spur Americans to focus on the bird in the hand, namely homes they now own and can play with even if the economy ain’t recovering and we can’t bid on new real estate.

Decor spending is in the toilet with showrooms hurting and closing in all major cities. According to the Commerce Department, sales of home furnishings fell 12.9% over the last year, and they’re still dropping. Sales were down .9% in July from June.

But don’t be part of that sluggish market when furniture can lift your spirits to new heights. A new pillow can make you thinner and an upholstered headboard will make you rich. Remodeling your bathroom can cure halitosis. Don’t even get me started on that imported bidet!

“Things that fill our home also fulfill us. They become who we are. Giving us joy. Providing us with comfort.” That’s what the ad says, which has appeared in Metropolitan Home’s eco edition and other respected journals.

Meantime, a product information invoice attached to the sofa in the ad ironically says: “22 percent cotton, 13 percent giggles, 15 percent hugs, 11 percent afternoon naps.”

Okay, so now we know why those ad men make the big bucks. It’s genius to assign the same value to seating as quality family time and showing affection. There’s even a makeover opportunity if you tell your cheap, lazy ass friends to clear out that dilapidated jalopy of a couch from their college years and the hideous side chairs they inherited from a cousin. Don’t you want a hug and tickles, you slob you?

If I entered the sweepstakes I’d get myself out of the laundry room and make a real office in a prefab shed outside. But I’m so unlucky at these prizes. My mom always wins raffles, purses at luncheons, free dinners, you name it. Not me. Damn, and I could get Monica Pedersen to stage my office, whoever she is. I wonder is she is related to the Bret Pedersen who works with my husband. Now he could use a makeover.

According to Fast Company, the story behind the ad is rooted in the maverick Las Vegas way of doing things. While High Point, North Carolina, once ruled as the center of American furniture production and sales, the focal point has shifted to the World Market Center,  a 1.3-million-square-foot showroom and exhibition space in Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas group apparently commissioned the ad campaign as a stopgap measure for the hurting industry. It’s a $20 million gamble that just might pay off!

Image: Homeyet Lifestyle, Homeyet Lifestyle, Fast Company

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