| “City Center- The Place to See in Las Vegas” In Las Vegas, usually the opening of a new hotel is a big event but there has never been a celebration compared to the unveiling of the Mega- urban resort destination City Center. Like a delicate work of art, each building sparkles with its own unique designs. Enormous in stature, the entire development encompasses 18 million square feet, the equivalent to nine Empire State buildings. Not only is City Center extraordinary in every way, this is the largest privately financed project in the United States. I am not used to seeing so many large skyscrapers reaching up to the clouds along the Las Vegas strip, our skyline has been transformed. With an expenditure of $8.5 billion dollars, City Center is an example of luxurious settings, THE PLACE TO SEE in Las Vegas! Just when I think Las Vegas has surprised the world with another outstanding mega- resort, the city does it again. But this is the ultimate, to be heralded as the “Best of the Best”. While strolling from one building to another, I loved the expansive free flowing passageways with the feeling of spaciousness everywhere. There is so much to see, a person could spend days and still not discover all of the excitement and amenities of City Center. The seven-building complex is weaved together in an elaborate maze of hotels, entertainment, restaurants, a casino, shopping, and residences. You have everything anyone could want here without venturing outside City Center. Las Vegas can be proud about all of the jobs they have brought to the local economy. City Center was a dream which almost did not happen then finally became a reality. As Bobby Baldwin, said, “This is an incredibly proud time in our company’s history. We believe this moment marks a turning point in the financial future of our community.” Jim Murren, felt, “City Center will become the benchmark by which all new developments will be measured, and it won’t be surpassed in scope and grandeur for decades.” |
To show the enormity of each of the buildings,
the City Center development features the four
million square- foot Aria Hotel & Casino, ten
story parking garage, 1.5 million square foot
Vdara Hotel & Spa, 500,000 square- foot
Crystal’s entertainment and retail district, and
the Mandarin Oriental Resort and spa.
I was invited to the opening celebration of City
Center and they really know how to throw a
party, in fact five days of activities! The first
day of festivities took place at the Vdara Hotel
& Spa with a ribbon cutting and tours of the
property. Celebrities walked the red carpet
the second day at Crystals retail and
entertainment district while the VIP’s and
press had a chance to see everything first-
hand on tours. The Mandarin Oriental Las
Vegas had its turn to show off during the third
day following their ribbon cutting, Lion Dance,
and plenty of time to learn about their
wonderful facility.
The fourth day we all had a chance to sample
some of the extraordinary dishes from three
of AREA’s finest restaurants- Sirio Ristorante,
Jean Georges Steakhouse and American
Fish. They combined entertainment, fine
dining, with more tours. One of the many
highlights of the day was a quick preview of
several segments of ARIA’s new show “Viva
ELVIS” by Cirque du Soleil in the new Elvis
Theatre.
The City Center is more than just another
development; it is a city within a city.
The Harmon Hotel and residential properties
are scheduled to open in 2010.
The City Center is located between the Monte
Carlo Resort and the Bellagio Resort on the
strip. www.citycenter.com
the City Center development features the four
million square- foot Aria Hotel & Casino, ten
story parking garage, 1.5 million square foot
Vdara Hotel & Spa, 500,000 square- foot
Crystal’s entertainment and retail district, and
the Mandarin Oriental Resort and spa.
I was invited to the opening celebration of City
Center and they really know how to throw a
party, in fact five days of activities! The first
day of festivities took place at the Vdara Hotel
& Spa with a ribbon cutting and tours of the
property. Celebrities walked the red carpet
the second day at Crystals retail and
entertainment district while the VIP’s and
press had a chance to see everything first-
hand on tours. The Mandarin Oriental Las
Vegas had its turn to show off during the third
day following their ribbon cutting, Lion Dance,
and plenty of time to learn about their
wonderful facility.
The fourth day we all had a chance to sample
some of the extraordinary dishes from three
of AREA’s finest restaurants- Sirio Ristorante,
Jean Georges Steakhouse and American
Fish. They combined entertainment, fine
dining, with more tours. One of the many
highlights of the day was a quick preview of
several segments of ARIA’s new show “Viva
ELVIS” by Cirque du Soleil in the new Elvis
Theatre.
The City Center is more than just another
development; it is a city within a city.
The Harmon Hotel and residential properties
are scheduled to open in 2010.
The City Center is located between the Monte
Carlo Resort and the Bellagio Resort on the
strip. www.citycenter.com
After a press conference at ARIA, the fifth
day, the focus turned to the WET Features
Tour, Fine Art Collection Tours, and
Sustainability Tours of City Center. The
guides told us the story behind the
fountains, sculptures, waterfalls and all of
the WET effects. We had delightful tastes
of three different gourmet restaurants-
Julian Serrano, Bar Masa, and Sage.
A special press conference at ARIA’s porte
cochere, introduced the men and women
behind this gargantuan project, speakers
were Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO, MGM
Mirage, Bobby Baldwin, President and CEO,
City Center, Bill Grounds, Infinity World
Development Corp, Cesar Pelli, Pelli Clarke
Pelli, Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC.
day, the focus turned to the WET Features
Tour, Fine Art Collection Tours, and
Sustainability Tours of City Center. The
guides told us the story behind the
fountains, sculptures, waterfalls and all of
the WET effects. We had delightful tastes
of three different gourmet restaurants-
Julian Serrano, Bar Masa, and Sage.
A special press conference at ARIA’s porte
cochere, introduced the men and women
behind this gargantuan project, speakers
were Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO, MGM
Mirage, Bobby Baldwin, President and CEO,
City Center, Bill Grounds, Infinity World
Development Corp, Cesar Pelli, Pelli Clarke
Pelli, Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC.
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