Attracting nearly 40 million visitors in 2013, Las Vegas is well positioned for continued growth with scheduled openings of The LINQ and High Roller, SLS Las Vegas, Delano Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment’s new resort, The Cromwell, on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road and the downtown zipline SlotZilla, among other new attractions and entertainment options expected to be unveiled in 2014. More than $9 billion of worth of projects have been announced or are currently under construction.

New shows, new restaurants — including Giada De Laurentiis’ first eatery — and new entertainment mark the ever-changing scene in Las Vegas. Here is a look at what’s newly blooming in the Sin City.

“Panda!”
The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas opened the New Year by celebrating the premiere of its exclusive show “Panda!” The Chinese production combines acrobatics with expert martial arts, as well as music and dance. The cast includes the award-winning performers from the China National Acrobatic Troupe and Shaolin Monastery Kung Fu Monks Troupe.

Directed by An Zhao and produced by a team that worked on the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, PANDA! features spectacular LED backdrops, a renovated stage and ancient Chinese performance arts, such as hoop diving, pole climbing and ribbon dancing. Characters include an athletically skilled “panda,” juggling monkeys, kung-fu Buddhas, the Demon Vulture and his minions and a variety of other costumed acrobats.

Visit Vegas.com to learn more about LongLong’s quest to save his bride, the Peacock Princess.

Crush at MGM Grand
Opened in December, Crush by Executive Chef William DeMarco features a cosmopolitan-style menu that includes traditional favorites and top dishes from around the world.

The 230-seat, 7,000-square-foot restaurant boasts appetizing small plates like shrimp risotto (made with tomato fondue), as well as wood-fired pizza, large plates like braised short rib with pepper crust, and a vast selection of curated wine, spirits and beer.

Beyond that, the space is wonderfully designed, featuring barrel-vault ceilings, an open lounge, flat-screen TVs for those who want to watch sports, six comfortable booths, pinewood flooring and lighting meant to resemble natural sunlight.

Other menu items include ricotta gnocchi, California sea bass with kale and tomato chutney, and lamb sirloin with celery root puree and bacon Brussels.

Check out MGMGrand.com for more information.

The Cromwell Las Vegas
Caesars Entertainment introduced its new hotel, The Cromwell, in late February. Located at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard, this boutique hotel has a sophisticated feel and a luxurious aesthetic.

The Cromwell is the newest luxury lifestyle boutique hotel and casino on The Strip, and it boasts the star power of celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis and nightclub mogul Victor Drai. De Laurentiis will offer light Italian food and an antipasto bar for her first restaurant, Giada’s, while Drai’s Beach Club Nightclub will sprawl across three separate venues: a rooftop beach club, a 65,000-square-foot nightclub and a luxurious after-hours lounge.

Add a 40,000-square-foot casino after a $185 million renovation, and Caesars may just be on to something.

Visit TheCromwell.com for more information.

Rose.Rabbit.Lie.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas showed gusto when it unveiled the bold Rose. Rabbit. Lie. in late January. Rose.Rabbit.Lie. is not just a restaurant, or a bar, or a club, or a show, but all four. To put it simply, it’s an experience that weaves everything together…and does so with an unbridled, provocative style.

During the night, several hosts will guide the audience through acts. They may say things that shock you, they may do things that are out of the norm, but, then again, that’s the whole point. The hosts are the guides, and the interactive experience evolves depending largely on how the guests respond.

What the production lacks in political correctness it makes up for in sheer improvisation and spontaneity. It’s a social experiment that can either go off the tracks or come together beautifully, in line with what its creator, Spiegelworld, has done in the past (Vegas Nocturne, Absinthe).

There are no rules. And we like it that way.

Check out CosmopolitanLasVegas.com for more info.

MGM Resorts & UFC
MGM Resorts International joined forces with the UFC in late February, adding some punch to its loyalty rewards program along the way.

Members of its loyalty rewards program “M life” are now granted VIP experiences and access to UFC parties, fighter meet-and-greets, discounted merchandise and more.

“By developing a partnership with the immensely popular UFC, we are able to enhance the fan experience like no one else could through M life,” says Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Resorts’ president and chief marketing officer. “Now every fight can be unforgettable with special access before, during and after the event. We are combining the best mixed martial arts talent in the world with our iconic venues on the Las Vegas Strip.”

Members of M life’s top three tiers — Gold, Platinum and NOIR — will have access to additional UFC benefits, including pre-sale UFC ticket offerings, a 20 percent discount on UFCstore.com purchases, a complimentary digital code to purchase and view a UFC fight, access to contests and giveaways, and access to live fighter video chats

Michael Mossholder, senior vice president of global partnerships for UFC, added, “Our relationship with MGM Resorts International brings M life members closer to the action than ever before. We are delighted to partner with M life and to give members access to UFC’s action-packed fights and world-class athletes.”

“El Loco” at Circus Circus
A new roller coaster appropriately titled “El Loco” debuted at The Adventuredome at Circus Circus on Feb. 18. Given that the 72-second adrenaline rush features 90-degree drops, 45-degree turns, barrel rolls and corkscrew rotations, it’s safe to say it’s not for the faint of heart.

The open-carriage coaster cars are smaller than most, and they also carry less weight (four passengers), making it easier for them to make harrowing turns and rotations. They can go up to 45 miles per hour along 1,300 feet of electric track. On top of that, riders can even listen to custom soundtracks during the high-octane experience.

El Loco underwent more than 2,000 safety tests during inspection before being launched. It is one of six El Loco models in the world, joining other coasters in Indiana, the U.K., France, Australia and China. It is the only indoor El Loco model.

Go to CircusCircus.com or Adventuredome.com for more information.

Hotel Revitalizations
New York-New York and Monte Carlo Resort & Casino will be undergoing some changes in the near future.

After introducing four new stores in December (Swatch, Stupidiotic, I Love NYNY and The Strip’s first 24-hour Starbucks), New York-New York expects to open the two-story attraction Hershey’s Chocolate World in the second quarter of 2014.

The interactive environment will feature Hershey brands, as well as possibly allowing customers to personalize chocolate wrappers and the paper plumes on Hershey’s Kisses.

Monte Carlo is scheduled to unveil Double Barrel Roadhouse on March 8. Yusho (Japanese grill and noodle house via chef Matthias Merges), Sambalatte (coffee shop), and 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria are all expected to follow in the spring.

Bally’s Jubilee Tower
Bally’s Las Vegas has officially celebrated the opening of its renovated 756-room Jubilee Tower. The Jubilee Tower rooms and suites, situated right in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, encompass 450 square feet and offer unrivaled views of iconic Vegas landmarks, including the Paris Eiffel Tower and Bellagio fountains. Modern designs meet stylish and contemporary furniture and fixtures.

Vegas by the Numbers
Las Vegas welcomed nearly 40 million visitors in 2013 and reached a five-year high in two key indicators for the meetings and convention industry.

The 2013 year-end statistics, released by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), point to continued recovery and steady growth.

Las Vegas tourism generates $45 billion in economic impact and supports more than 380,000 local jobs.

Despite less room inventory for the majority of the year, visitor volume was just 58,802 visitors shy of setting a record in 2013. Las Vegas hosted 39.67 million annual visitors last year, the second-highest total ever.

Other year-end highlights:
• The meetings and convention industry reached a five-year high with 5.1 million delegates attending a convention, tradeshow or meeting in 2013, reflecting a 3.3 percent increase over the 2012 total of 4.9 million.

• Las Vegas hosted 22,027 meetings, tradeshows or conventions in 2013, up 1.9 percent from the 2012 total of 21,615 and the highest number of meetings and conventions in Vegas since 2008.

• Average daily room rate increased $3 to nearly $111.

• Clark County gross gaming revenue reached $9.7 billion in 2013, a 2.9 percent increase over 2012. While Downtown Las Vegas was down 1.6 percent, the Las Vegas Strip revenues increased 4.8 percent to $6.5 billion for the year.