<P> The Rio opened on January 15 , 1990 , as a locals casino ; it had been constructed and owned and operated by Marnell Corrao Associates . The opening acts were the Brazilian Group Sérgio Mendes ' 99 and Henrietta Alves of New Orleans , bringing the first two - piano act to Las Vegas , with various co-performers . A 20 - story expansion tower was added to the current Ipanema Tower in 1993 . Masquerade Village , a hotel tower and casino expansion including the Masquerade Show in the Sky , opened in 1997 , at a cost of over $200 million . The Rio was purchased by Harrah 's Entertainment in 1999 for $888 million . After the purchase , the Culinary Workers Union organized the Rio employees through card check recognition by enforcing the neutrality clause of the existing Harrah 's contract on the new acquisition . </P>
<P> The Rio opened on January 15 , 1990 , as a locals casino ; it had been constructed and owned and operated by Marnell Corrao Associates . The opening acts were the Brazilian Group Sérgio Mendes ' 99 and Henrietta Alves of New Orleans , bringing the first two - piano act to Las Vegas , with various co-performers . A 20 - story expansion tower was added to the current Ipanema Tower in 1993 . Masquerade Village , a hotel tower and casino expansion including the Masquerade Show in the Sky , opened in 1997 , at a cost of over $200 million . The Rio was purchased by Harrah 's Entertainment in 1999 for $888 million . After the purchase , the Culinary Workers Union organized the Rio employees through card check recognition by enforcing the neutrality clause of the existing Harrah 's contract on the new acquisition . </P>
who built the rio hotel in las vegas
who built the rio hotel in las vegas
Marnell Corrao Associates
Marnell Corrao Associates