Monday, May 25, 2009

Vegas in Trouble

CNN is reporting very low travel numbers for Las Vegas year to year and although the economy appears to be stabilizing it's not clear that'll prevent severe challenges to the Las Vegas business landscape. Here are the highlights from this Las Vegas economic story:

  • State unemployment rate 10.4 percent, convention attendance down 30 percent
  • Casino slashes room rates, lays off workers -- including 28-year veteran
  • Mayor Goodman says, "I didn't see this coming," but still optimistic

CNN Reports

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

CITYCENTER Las Vegas almost complete

CityCenter cmyk LV_W#2D2092

CITYCENTER NEARS COMPLETION AS IT TOPS OUT FINAL RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT, VEER TOWERS

LAS VEGAS – May 20, 2009 CityCenter is celebrating a milestone with the recent “topping out” of its dramatically inclining high-rise condominiums, Veer Towers, CityCenter’s only pure residential offering. Preceded by Vdara Hotel, ARIA Resort & Casino and Mandarin Oriental, Veer Towers includes CityCenter’s fourth and fifth high-rise structures and the final residential component to be topped out in preparation of the urban resort destination’s opening later this year.

“The topping out of Veer Towers signifies the final stages of construction for CityCenter as we progress toward its grand opening just months from now,” said Bobby Baldwin, president and CEO of CityCenter. “Veer Towers’ cutting-edge architecture defines the core of CityCenter’s unique urban design. Inclined at five-degree angles – a feature celebrated by the development’s name – the towers will no doubt be an attraction in and of themselves when CityCenter debuts later this year.”

Designed by Helmut Jahn, Veer Towers will be a masterful translation of energy and excitement into physical form; its two glass towers will shimmer day and night and rise above Crystals, CityCenter’s retail and entertainment district. The overall lobby environment, with soaring ceiling heights, will showcase the beauty of its architecture with dramatic glass walls flooded with light, metal statements, exposed concrete walls and modern artwork. Veer residences will be filled with contemporary features and designer-selected fixtures. Open floor plans will feature floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows that capture spectacular views of Las Vegas and the surrounding CityCenter. Light-filled rooms, natural textures and a range of neutral palettes will infuse streamlined interiors with openness. Modern kitchens, living and dining areas will be ideal for entertaining and spacious spa-styled bathrooms will invite retreat.

Veer’s most compelling attribute will be its striking rooftop amenity floor. Positioned atop each striking 37-story tower, residents will enjoy an amenities floor featuring an unequaled view of Las Vegas complemented by an infinity-edge pool, hot tub, sun deck and patio for outdoor entertaining. Within, Veer will feature a media room; game room; screening room; fitness center with panoramic views; and men’s and women’s separate changing rooms, steam rooms and saunas. Veer’s west tower also will boast a business center and boardroom for residents who wish to conduct business from home.

Owners of Veer residences will enjoy access to the full spectrum of MGM MIRAGE properties in Las Vegas. Benefits include preferred access to MGM MIRAGE’s unequaled resorts, restaurants, entertainment, special events, nightlife, shopping, and golf and spa offerings.

Charting a new course for responsible growth in Las Vegas, MGM MIRAGE is pursuing the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification at CityCenter. Designed with the environment in mind, Veer residences will feature extensive natural light, dramatically reducing lighting power requirements, and water-saving fixtures throughout. Its glass façades and fins will provide shade from the sun, diverting heat and enhancing circulation of cool air to promote energy-efficient climate control.

Veer Towers is part of CityCenter, a dazzling vertical city set on 67 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts. A joint venture between MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World, the urban development will feature ARIA, a soaring 61-story, 4,004-room resort casino; three non-gaming hotels including Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, Vdara Hotel and The Harmon Hotel (opening 2010); approximately 2,400 luxury residences; a resident Cirque du Soleil show celebrating the legacy of Elvis Presley; and Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district. For sales information on Veer Towers or to inquire about CityCenter residential opportunities, please call (702) 590-5999, toll-free (866) 708-7111 or visit www.CityCenter.com.

Veer Towers Construction Facts:

  • Total concrete for Veer Towers: 55,000 cubic yards
  • Floor plan square footage: 853,000 square feet of floor plate (floor area)
  • Curtain wall square footage: 326,000 square feet
  • Number of stories: 37 floors each tower
  • Both towers lean at five degree angles
  • At peak, approximately 700 construction workers will work on Veer Towers.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Raku Restaurant makes Travel and Leisure's Top 50 New USA Restaurants List

Raku has made Travel and Leisure's prestigious list of the top 50 new restaurants in the USA:
http://www.travelandleisure.com/restaurants/raku

Although there appears to be no website for this outstanding yet relatively inexpensive Japanese restaurant located somewhat inconspicuously off-strip, it's a definite Las Vegas food attraction for those who value incomparable Japanese Cuisine.

Reviews of Raku at Yelp