What it is is a handsome, varied, occasionally ingenious, occasionally even beautiful piece of very expensive, very dense urban planning for 67 acres of short- and long-term housing, luxury shopping, eating and drinking, gambling and other entertainment in a conurbation unique in the world. Presuming it survives, perhaps even helps to turn around that place’s’s near-disastrous recent decline in visitors and revenues, its greatest contribution may be what it has to teach visitors and other observers about the value of fine art, decoration and architecture, careful planning, and sustainable design.
The irony, perhaps, is that a city that’s built its reputation on allowing visitors to leave their old lives behind and adopt new personas is itself a major shape-shifter. And while the recession has clearly dealt it a lousy hand lately, betting against the place remains a fool’s game.
– Will the real Las Vegas please stand up? - Seasonal- msnbc.comCityCenter isn’t just another real estate development in danger of flopping. It’s the largest privately funded construction project in the U.S. and could prove to be a barometer of the health of the overall economy. It’s also the ultimate test of a business model that has guided Sin City for decades: that building bigger and flashier resorts will bring ever more visitors and keep Vegas competitive with rival destinations. Even Murren, 47, predicts that “there won’t be another property built like this for a long time.
– The biggest bet in Las Vegas - Seasonal- msnbc.comDuring a video conference today sponsored by Nevada State Bank, Jeremy Aguero, a principal at Applied Analysis, said Las Vegas has a lot to overcome with its job losses, overdevelopment and stalled projects. But Aguero said signs of improvement in the national economy are starting to pay dividends in Las Vegas with visitor volume in September and October ahead of 2008, reversing the trend of previous months. He said the opening of CityCenter should help the city build on that growth in visitors as other resort openings have done in the past.
“We are bullish and hopeful on the opening of CityCenter that it will continue to push our economy forward,” Aguero said.
–[The glass is half full]
The U.S. economy hasn’t recovered enough for people to come here and blow huge budgets on travel,” said Mary Riddel, a UNLV economist and the center’s interim director. “Rather than CityCenter boosting the local economy … we think it will be at the expense of other properties. This is increased competition and when competition increases, you lower your prices.
–Report: CityCenter may drive Vegas room discounting trend - Las Vegas Sun
[The glass is half empty]
Spread the word that an alternative to the humdrum, ho-hum, everyday, year-after-year holiday entertainment has arrived! The ‘‘Twisted Sister: A Twisted Christmas’ holiday extravaganza! You don’t need to be a Twisted Sister fan to enjoy this show! It’s a family show! That’s right, no profanity! Yes, I’m capable! It’s the best of Twisted Sister with a ton of ’80-style metal Christmas songs, traditional Christmas songs, from our hit album ‘Twisted Christmas!’ We’ve got a huge stage set and production designed by a Broadway award-winning set designer named Kevin O’Callahan! This is just something for everybody who is looking for something with a little more edge, and a little more fun, than what is out there!
– We have notes, and they are from Steve Wynn and Dee Snider - The Kats Report - Las Vegas Sun
In addition to the nightly room rate we kindly require a nominal resort fee of $25.00 per room, per night, in order to provide you the following services: * Unlimited in-room wireless access * Unlimited access to the fitness center * Daily service * Choice of daily newspaper * Complimentary scheduled transportation to & from the Airport plus Shopping (Las Vegas Blvd Strip Area: Fashion Show) * Complimentary local and 800 phone calls
–M Resort Spa Casino Las Vegas • Resort Fee
[
- Kindly require?
- The airport transportation does save you at least $25 per trip, but still.
- I’d like the Times of London, please.
]
