We’ve recently received word after reporting on Project Linq that O’Sheas will be no more. It will merge with Imperial Palace, which will be rebranded and change names after it gets a makeover. This is the reference to “re-skinning” both O’Sheas and Imperial Palace.
Caesars owns both properties and plans to relaunch a different O’Sheas in summer 2013. We will miss the current O’Sheas. Where else can you be served beer by a leprechaun?
MGM Resorts and Perini Building Company are locked in a battle that could eliminate the never-opened Harmon Tower, a luxury hotel that has not had a single guest. On Monday, MGM filed to Clark County seeking approval to use explosives to bring down the tower. Perini, the general contractor for CityCenter (where the Harmon is located on the north end) who is currently involved in a lawsuit against MGM, says they can fix the errors after inspectors found improper support, OSHA violations, and evidence from an engineering firm that if a major earthquake struck Vegas, it would collapse. MGM argues that it can’t be fixed yet Perini says that if the structure is imploded, signs of structural defects will be destroyed.
The Harmon was supposed to have 47 stories, but it was cut to 27 after inspectors found the errors in 2008, and never completed. Couple that with the recession, and MGM simply wants to cut their losses and get the approval to implode from a District Judge. If approved, it would take six months to prepare the tower for explosion and four to remove debris. There are plenty of other properties MGM owns, including Circus Circus, Mandalay Bay
, and ARIA
, and we encourage you to check them out while this gets resolved.
Parrotheads, this job’s for you. Jimmy Buffett and the Flamingo are hiring 250 workers for a new Margaritaville minicasino scheduled to open in October. It will replace Steakhouse 46 in the Flamingo and build on the existing Margaritaville bar and restaurant that is already a big part of the hotel, essentially connecting them at Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard. Among the things included in the new casino are a 15,000-square-foot casino floor, 22 gaming tables, 220 slot machines and a “Five O’Clock Somewhere” bar. Positions for table game dealers, flair bartenders, and supervisors are available, among others. Interested applicants can apply online here or at the Caesars Entertainment Employment Center on Flamingo Road. If you’re interested in booking a trip to catch Margaritaville in all its glory, we’ve got your deal!
The wait is nearly over. Owner Tamares Group started the renovations, opting to keep the hotel closed and do them all at once, and the results sound promising. Almost everything has been fixed up or completely redone top to bottom, and with the re-opening scheduled for September 1, the project is ahead of schedule. The Plaza was aided by some items coming at a discount from the shuttered Fountaineblau project that helped the budget for the renovation. In a time when the tourism and economy of Vegas is starting to pick back up, the Plaza is targeting the typical Vegas crowd to convince them that the Plaza has changed. It will reopen with a new casino floor, lounges, and several restaurants, including a steakhouse named for former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. Don’t forget to check out our hotels page for all the information on every hotel in Vegas. We wish the Plaza the best of luck.
Caesars Entertainment Corp., with more than 50 properties in six countries, has narrowed its debt thanks in large part to its 10 Strip-area casinos. With casinos in other parts of the country temporarily closing down due to weather or simply not making money, Vegas-area casinos have shined. Even with customers actually visiting less, they are spending more money when they do, in large part to increased room fees and good demand. As we reported earlier, Project Linq is set to go, as well as completion on 662 unfinished hotel rooms in the Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace. Caesars also owns the World Series of Poker, which had record-setting attendance and a record prize pool of $190 million in June and July. Things are looking up for Caesars due in large part to Vegas. If you’d like to check out Caesars Hotels, we’ve got the link for you HERE.
One of the longest-running restaurants in America will have a new home on the Strip in Vegas, as by the end of 2011, Caesars will house Old Homestead steakhouse. The restaurant has been around since 1968. This version will seat 250 people and is 16,000 square feet. It will be designed to feature items reflecting the East Coast history of Old Homestead. It will replace Nero’s, which was located near the Colosseum theater. They are famous for being too much to eat in one sitting and promoting the four food groups–beef, beef, beef, and beef–while challenging patrons with items such as a 32-ounce ribeye. Old Homestead does have some prior experience feeding gamblers, as the Atlantic City location proves. For a place to stay while you pig out, check out our great deal on hotels. While you’re waiting for December and the grand opening, be sure to look at Caesars’ page on our site too.
After a four-year absence from the Vegas gaming scene, the Riviera is bringing bingo back to the fold. After exiting Chapter 11 on April 1, the new Riviera is under new management and launching a complete revamp of many areas, including the bingo room. This isn’t your traditional chips and white cards setup, however, as the Riviera is targeting all audiences, particularly the males age 20-40 demographic. Now, the bingo machines are electronic, with players having the choice of using fixed monitors or hand-held devices. Gone are the days of only the older crowd playing–the Riviera says bingo is for everyone. Better yet, the big games will move to a bigger area and the bingo room is projected to break even at the least.
Other hotels are following suit.The Plaza will also reopen on August 24 with a $150,000 bingo tournament as well, and a waiting list that has grown to 160. If you’re looking for Vegas gaming at its finest, look into information on the Riviera, as well as checking out Plaza info.
Excalibur Remodeled 1000 to entice you to come back or at least stay there.
The last time I stayed at the Excalibur I was looking for any place to stay because of the Sema convention. I did get a great rate at the Excalibur and they still had rooms available in short notice. I wasn’t looking for plush just a place to lay my head. The rooms looked very dated and had some maintenance issues, like the shower wouldn’t drain, their were stains on the carpet, the windows weren’t clean and the carpet left a lot to be desired, Well lets just say everything was out-dated and needed to be replaced.
Excalibur Las Vegas has finally pulled the trigger and updated some of their rooms. They are called the Widescreen Rooms and they have been upgraded from floor to ceiling. They have a 42″ Plasma Screen Television, Pilow Top Mattresses, upgraded bathrooms with Granite and iPod Alarm clocks. The alarm clock didn’t work in our old room.
The Widescreen Rooms are a little more expensive but offer great views.
Newly Renovated Rooms at Excalibur. Click here to learn more.
The Luxor is tired and now is getting a $300 Million face lift, body lift, tummy tuck etc… The Luxor may be changing its name to “The Pyramid”, which I do not like, but who am I?
The RA Nightclub is now called LAX and will be run by PURE Management.
Two more Clubs will open this fall called Flight and Cathouse
Along with all of that an Ultrabar called Liquidity which will contain three sperate lounges will also open.
A new Bar Called Aurora will be in the lobby across from the front desk (seems this is a new theme)
The spa will be called Nurture and the pool will be renamed “Restore”.
Well what we need is another Cirque du Soleil and we have got it, in the form of Criss Angel starting in 2008. Also, Criss has been filming his show at the Luxor for the past year.
So Vegas is ever changing its face again, but to keep up it was a good move on MGM’s part to keep current. I have always enjoyed the Luxor’s architecture and its them, but to draw the crowds it was time for a change. I am excited to see what they come up with but sad to see the theme go.