-THE MAJOR PLAYERS-
MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) is a Las Vegas, Nevada-based business engaged in the development, ownership and operation of hotels and casinos throughout the world. The company began operations on May 31, 2000 after the completion of a merger of MGM Grand Inc. and Mirage Resorts, Inc. It is currently the second largest gaming company in the world.[1] Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian and his Tracinda Corporation are currently the majority owners of MGM Mirage. Kerkorian was also the former owner of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studio, from which the predecessor corporation MGM Grand, Inc. derived its name.
As of 2005, the company owns 831 acres (3.4 km²) of property on the Las Vegas Strip. Its yearly revenue is around $7.4 billion USD. The company also owns the recently completed MGM Grand Detroit, in downtown Detroit, Michigan and recently opened MGM Grand Macau in December 2007, owned and operated through a 50/50 partnership between MGM Mirage and Pansy Ho Chiu-king.
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates casinos, hotels, and six golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues around $7.11 billion. Harrah’s is owned by Hamlet Holdings[1] (Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group).
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) is a casino resort company based in Las Vegas, Nevada and majority owned by one of the world's richest men, Sheldon Adelson. Founded in 1988, the company was the owner and operator of the Sands Hotel, which was demolished in 1996 to make room for The Venetian, which opened in 1999.
In February of 2008, the company announced that it has acquired two L-1011 aircraft which it plans to use to bring gamblers from Asia to its Las Vegas properties. The aircraft will be equipped with baccarat tables that can be played while over international waters using established lines of credit. According to gaming officials, the Nevada gaming tax will not apply to these wagers.
BALLYS
Bally's Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada which is owned and operated by Harrah's Entertainment. The hotel has 2,814 rooms that are 450 square feet (41.8 m²) or larger and over 175,000 square feet (16,258 m²) of banquet and meeting space. The casino occupies 67,000 square feet (6,225 m²).
One of the signature features of the hotel is the neon lighting wrapped around the covered moving sidewalk that brings guests from Las Vegas Boulevard to the entrance of the casino whilst old hits from the Rat Pack are pumped out. The resort has a large shopping area a floor below its gaming level, including several restaurants and there is a Las Vegas Monorail station at the rear of the property. Bally's is home for the long-running production show Jubilee! which opened in 1981.
BELLAGIO
Bellagio is an AAA Five-Diamond, Mobil Four-Starred rated luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, USA. It is owned by MGM Mirage and was built on the site of demolished Dunes hotel and casino. Inspired by the Lake Como resort of Bellagio in Italy, Bellagio is famed for its elegance. One of its most notable features is an 8-acre artificial lake between the building and the Strip, which houses the Fountains of Bellagio, a large dancing water fountain synchronized to music.
Bellagio was conceived by Steve Wynn and built by his company, Mirage Resorts, Inc. following the purchase and demolition of the legendary Dunes hotel and casino in 1993. Bellagio was designed by Marnell Corrao Associates and Jon Jerde. Bellagio had an original construction cost of US$1.6 billion.
The Bellagio employs approximately 10,000 people. In the fall of 2006, the casino floor was remodeled and new uniforms were issued, changing the original color scheme to a more contemporary blue tone.
Inside Bellagio, Dale Chihuly's Fiori di Como, composed of over 2,000 hand-blown glass flowers, covers 2,000 sq ft (190 m²) of the lobby ceiling. Bellagio is home to Cirque du Soleil's aquatic production of "O", only the second permanent production show for the world-renowned troupe.
CAESARS PALACE
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Caesars Palace is owned and operated by Harrah's Entertainment. Caesars is located on the west side of the Strip, between the Bellagio and the Mirage.
Caesars has 3,348 rooms[1] in five towers: Augustus, Centurion, Roman, Palace, and Forum. The Forum tower features guest suites with 1,000 square feet (93 m²) of space.
EXCALIBUR
The Excalibur Hotel and Casino hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, in the United States. It is owned and operated by MGM Mirage.
Excalibur, named for the mythical sword of King Arthur, uses the Arthurian theme in several ways. Its facade is a stylized image of a castle. Until 2007, a wizard-like figure representing Merlin looked out from a high turret. The style of the hotel is heavily based on the castle in Carcassone, France.
Excalibur is situated at the Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection. The intersection is so busy that pedestrians are not allowed to cross at street level. Instead, Excalibur is linked by overhead pedestrian bridges to its neighboring casinos to the north (the New York-New York, across Tropicana Avenue) and to the east (the Tropicana, across the Strip). There is also a free tram that connects Excalibur to its sister MGM Mirage properties to the south, the Luxor and Mandalay Ba
FLAMINGO
The Flamingo Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada and is owned and operated by Harrah's Entertainment. The property offers a 77,000 ft² (7,200 m²) casino along with 3,626 hotel rooms. The hotel is sometimes referred to as the pink hotel due to the structure's neon pink color. The 15 acre (61,000 m²) site's architectural theme is reminiscent of the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne style of Miami and South Beach, with the central outdoor area housing an exhibit of flamingos as part of a wildlife habitat. It was the home of penguins, but they have since been moved to a Dallas zoo.
The Flamingo has a Las Vegas Monorail station at the rear of the property.
HARRAHS
Harrah's Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The property is owned and operated by Harrah's Entertainment.
The hotel offers 2,677 rooms with an attached casino providing 87,000 square feet (8,051 m²) of space. The hotel consists of several towers, the tallest of which has 35 stories. The court yard entry houses a Ghirardelli Chocolate Company store.
There is a Las Vegas Monorail stop at the rear of the property, and a free shuttle to the Harrah's-owned Rio.
IMPERIAL PALACE
Imperial Palace is a 2,640 room hotel and a 75,000 square foot (7,000 m²) casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The hotel and casino were owned by Imperial Palace LLC until purchased by the current owner, Harrah's Imperial Palace Corporation a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment.
LUXOR
The Luxor Hotel is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It was one of the city's first fully-themed megaresorts. Ground was broken for the Luxor in 1991, that same year construction began on the Treasure Island and the current MGM Grand. It has an Ancient Egyptian motif and contains a total of 4,407 rooms lining the interior walls of a hollow pyramid and contained within twin ziggurat towers that were built as later additions. The hotel is named after the city of Luxor (ancient Thebes) in Egypt, the site of the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor Temples, and scores of other pharaonic monuments — but no pyramids.
In July 2007, owner MGM Mirage announced plans to thoroughly renovate the Luxor, spending $300 million to remodel 80 percent of Luxor's public areas, removing much of the ancient Egyptian theme and replacing it with more adult-oriented and modern lounges, restaurants and clubs.[1] Among the distinctive changes to the exterior occurred in mid-2007, when management covered one of the pyramid's massive black faces with a 15-story sign that advertises Absolut Vodka. On June 16, 2008 the sign was taken down.
MGM GRAND
The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip, which opened as a Hollywood themed resort.
Owned and operated by the MGM Mirage company, the 30-floor main building is 293 feet (89 m) high and features five outdoor pools, rivers, and waterfalls that cover 6.6 acres,[1] a 380,000 square foot (35,000 m²) convention center, the MGM Grand Garden Arena, CBS Television City, and the Grand Spa. It also houses numerous shops and night clubs, 16 restaurants, two food courts, and the largest casino in Clark County, which occupies 171,500 square feet (16,000 m²).
The hotel rooms are located in several buildings including:
The main hotel building, with 5,044 rooms (4,293 rooms and 751 suites)[2]
The three The Signature at MGM Grand towers each with 576 suites
SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand with 51 lofts
The Mansion at MGM Grand with 29 villas
Located on the Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection, pedestrians are not allowed to cross at street level. Instead, the MGM Grand is linked by overhead pedestrian bridges to its neighboring casinos: to the south across Tropicana Avenue, the Tropicana, and to the west across the Strip, the New York-New York.
MANDALAY BAY
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is a 39-story luxury hotel casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas. It is owned by MGM Mirage. The top five floors (floors 35-39) of the main hotel building are used by the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas.[1] It is connected by free tram to its sister properties, Excalibur and Luxor.
Mandalay Bay has 3,309 hotel rooms and a casino of 135,000 ft² (13,000 m²). The adjacent Mandalay Bay Convention Center has almost one million ft² (93,000 m²) of space. In addition, the Mandalay Bay Events Center hosts events including boxing, the UFC's MMA pay-per-views and concerts.
MIRAGE
The Mirage is a 3,044 room hotel and casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada (though like most hotels on the Strip, it uses a Las Vegas mailing address). The casino is owned by MGM MIRAGE.
The Mirage is connected by a free tram to Treasure Island, its sister property immediately to the north. The marquee in front of The Mirage is the largest free standing marquee in the world.
MONTE CARLO
The Monte Carlo Resort and Casino is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, USA. It is currently owned by MGM Mirage. The hotel offers 3,002 guest rooms, including 259 luxury suites.
The hotel currently has an AAA rating of four diamonds. The hotel, named to invoke the Place du Casino in Monte Carlo, features chandelier domes, marble floors, neoclassical arches, and promenades, though its construction used far less expensive finishes, such as EIFS as a facade material.
One of the resort's highlights is Lance Burton, who performs magic at the Lance Burton Theater. The resort has a grand lobby, shopping mall, convention facilities, a spa, fitness center, tennis courts, a large pool area, which includes a wave pool and a lazy river tubing ride, and a wedding chapel. Tram service shuttles visitors between the Monte Carlo and Bellagio every 10 minutes. As of August 2006 the tram is not running due to construction between the two hotels.
The Monte Carlo, a subsidiary of MGM Mirage, has about 3,000 employees.
NEW YORK-NEW YORK
New York-New York Hotel & Casino is a hotel and casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip at 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South, in Paradise, Nevada. It is one of the largest casinos owned by MGM Mirage.
Within the resort, particular gambling areas, bars, eating areas and meeting rooms are named after New York City neighborhoods or landmarks. The main casino area, for example, is named after Central Park, while the "Village Eateries" food court is modeled after New York City's Greenwich Village, even including real menus from New York Chinese takeout restaurants taped to the doors of the mock apartment buildings. New York-New York uses the trademarked slogan "The Greatest City in Las Vegas".
The resort is located on the northwest corner of the Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection. At street level, pedestrians are blocked from crossing by concrete barriers. Instead, New York-New York is linked by overhead pedestrian bridges to its neighboring casinos to the south (the Excalibur, across Tropicana Avenue) and to the east (the MGM Grand, across the Strip).
PALAZZO
The Palazzo (IPA: [pə.ˈla.ˌt͡soʊ]) is a luxury hotel and casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas. The Palazzo is owned and operated by the [[Las Vegas Sands]Corporation]. The property's design and theme is reflective of modern European ambiance and luxury living.
Parts of the resort were opened to the general public on December 30, 2007.[1] The official grand opening took place on January 17, 2008.
The $1.8 billion resort features a Lobby where guests from the street arrive beneath a 60-foot (18 m) glass dome with a two-story fountain. Those approaching from The Venetian make the transition through a towering octagonal structure, itself topped by a glass-and-iron dome. Visitors to The Palazzo using the underground parking structure can take elevators or escalators from the underground garage and arrive in the center of the property's casino.
Though marketed and portrayed as a stand-alone resort, The Palazzo is actually an extension of The Venetian Casino Resort and the Sands Expo complex on the Las Vegas Strip.[citation needed] The Palazzo Casino, like some other casinos on the strip, operates under the license of a related casino—in this case The Venetian's license. The resort's 642-foot high hotel tower features 3,068 all-suite rooms and 375 concierge-level suites.
PARIS
Paris Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, USA , that is owned and operated by Harrah's Entertainment. As its name suggests, its theme is the city of Paris in France; it includes a half-scale, 540-foot-tall (164.6 m) replica of the Eiffel Tower, a neon sign in the shape of the Montgolfier balloon, a two-thirds size Arc de Triomphe and a replica of La Fontaine des Mers. The front facade of the building suggests the Paris Opera House and the Louvre.
The Paris is linked via a promenade to its sister property, Bally's Las Vegas. It also is linked to the Las Vegas Monorail.
PLANET HOLLYWOOD
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas is a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The resort was formerly known as The Aladdin. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is rebranding the hotel as a Sheraton Hotel and will operate the hotel portion of the project. Planet Hollywood rebranded and operates the rest of the property under the Planet Hollywood brand.
The property is owned by ObBiz, which is a partnership of Robert Earl, Bay Harbour Management and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
STRATOSPHERE
The Stratosphere Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, owned by American Casino & Entertainment Properties which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Real Estate Partners. The property's signature attraction is the 1,149 ft (350 m) Stratosphere Tower; it is the tallest free-standing structure in Nevada and the second-tallest free-standing structure in the United States west of the Mississippi River, after the Kennecott Smokestack in Magna, Utah. The hotel is a separate building with approximately 20 stories, 2,444 rooms and an 80,000 square foot (7,000 m²) casino.
The Stratosphere is the northernmost of the major Strip casinos and the only one actually in the City of Las Vegas, as the rest of the strip south of Sahara Avenue is in the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester. Following its completion in 1996 it was initially less popular than first envisioned due to its location on the extreme north end of the strip, far away from the most popular hotel casinos, but its low room prices and unique offerings eventually ensured its success. While many tourists consider its location to be inconvenient, others feel the location is an advantage since it is equidistant between the more popular strip casinos and the downtown area (which includes the Fremont Street Experience).
TREASURE ISLAND
Treasure Island (also known as "ti") is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA with 2,665 rooms and 220 suites, and is connected by tram to The Mirage as well as pedestrian bridge to the Fashion Show Mall shopping center.
TI has received the AAA Four Diamond rating each year since 1998, and is owned by MGM MIRAGE.
TROPICANA
The Tropicana Resort & Casino Las Vegas is located on the Las Vegas Strip, in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Tropicana Entertainment, LLC. The parent company is reported to be seeking protection from creditors under Chapter 11 according to media reports. It offers 1,871 rooms and is attached to a 61,000 square foot (5,667 m²) casino. The Tropicana also has 110,000 square feet (10,000 m²) of convention and exhibit space.
The original building, with the Garden room wings, was built in 1957. The Paradise Tower, consisting of 21 floors of guest rooms and suites, was built in 1979 as the Tiffany Tower, adjoining the resort's Tiffany Theatre, home to the Folies Bergere production show. A 22-story Island Tower was later constructed in 1986.
This location, Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection, has the most hotel rooms of any intersection in the world and is extremely busy. Pedestrians are not allowed to cross at street level. Instead, the Tropicana is linked by overhead pedestrian bridges to its neighboring casinos: to the north across Tropicana Avenue, the MGM Grand Las Vegas, and to the west across the Strip, the Excalibur.
VENETIAN
The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino is the largest AAA Five-Diamond rated Resort in the Americas. [1] This Venice-themed luxury hotel and casino is located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, on the site of the old Sands Hotel. The Venetian is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.
The Venetian has 4,049 suites and a 120,000 square foot (11 000 m²) casino. It is located on the east side of the Strip, between Harrah's and the The Palazzo.
Combined with the adjacent Sands Expo Convention Center and The Palazzo Hotel and Casino Resort, The Venetian is a part of the largest hotel and resort complex in the world --- featuring 7,128 hotel rooms and suites.
WYNN
Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Country Club (often just called "Wynn") is a AAA five diamond/Mobil four-star and Mobil five-star (for The Tower Suites at Wynn Las Vegas) casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. The US$2.7 billion resort is named after casino developer Steve Wynn and is the flagship property of Wynn Resorts Limited. The resort covers 215 acres (0.87 km²).
It is located at Las Vegas Boulevard South and Sands Avenue (on the N.E. corner), directly across The Strip from the Fashion Show Mall.
The 2,715 rooms range in size from 640 square feet (58 m²) to the villas at 7,000 square feet (650 m²) with a 111,000 ft² (10,200 m²) casino, a convention center with 223,000 ft² (20,700 m²) of space, 76,000 square feet (7,000 m²) of retail space.
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