Back when the Mirage was rumored to be for sale there was a lot of discussion about how much the sale price would be, and how it would compare to other similar properties, say Cosmopolitan for example.
With Phil Ruffin's $1.3 billion offer to buy the Mirage rejected, we can determine that it would be worth more than that.
Cosmopolitan sold for $1.73 billion back in 2014. Although MGM Resorts has repeatedly stated that Mirage is not for sale, I would think they would need an offer of around that figure to raise their eyebrows.
If I had to place a value on Mirage I would place it right around that $1.73 billion mark. Now this is an unscientific estimate. I haven't dug into the financials like I probably should have, but I think it would be a fair price for the Mirage if it were ever to be on the market.
Showing posts with label Cosmopolitan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cosmopolitan. Show all posts
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Casinos Test Drink Ticket System
A few months ago news spread that Mirage was testing a drink voucher system at one of their video poker bars.
Instead of the bartender giving free drinks while you are playing, you would have to "earn" the drink by playing a certain amount that would trigger your machine to print out a drink voucher.
Now several message boards are discussing a similar drink voucher system being installed at Cosmopolitan at their Bond bar.
I'm hoping this trend won't continue and that these experiments with drink vouchers at video poker bars won't prove to be successful. I really don't see how having a system like this is going to save the casino that much money.
Sure, some people like to take advantage by putting a $20 in and getting a few free drinks by slow playing the machine, but I think bartenders are pretty good at making sure people are actually playing before comping them.
While a drink ticket system is certainly annoying to players, it's not completely unheard of in Las Vegas as most sportsbooks around town have implemented a similar policy for better or worse.
Instead of the bartender giving free drinks while you are playing, you would have to "earn" the drink by playing a certain amount that would trigger your machine to print out a drink voucher.
Now several message boards are discussing a similar drink voucher system being installed at Cosmopolitan at their Bond bar.
I'm hoping this trend won't continue and that these experiments with drink vouchers at video poker bars won't prove to be successful. I really don't see how having a system like this is going to save the casino that much money.
Sure, some people like to take advantage by putting a $20 in and getting a few free drinks by slow playing the machine, but I think bartenders are pretty good at making sure people are actually playing before comping them.
While a drink ticket system is certainly annoying to players, it's not completely unheard of in Las Vegas as most sportsbooks around town have implemented a similar policy for better or worse.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Marriott to Acquire Starwood Hotels and Resorts
Marriott International announced today their intention to acquire Starwood Hotels and Resorts. If the deal goes through it would create the world's largest hotel company, controlling over 1.1 million rooms.
Starwood currently has an affiliation with the Caesars Entertainment properties on the Strip, and recently signed a deal to convert one of the towers at SLS into a W Hotel.
Marriott has an agreement with Cosmopolitan, although it has been rumored that will be replaced with Hilton due to Cosmopolitan's recent sale to Blackstone.
I personally don't have a vested interest in either one of these loyalty programs, but from what I'm reading it appears that Starwood customers are worried about having their points devalued by Marriott.
Starwood currently has an affiliation with the Caesars Entertainment properties on the Strip, and recently signed a deal to convert one of the towers at SLS into a W Hotel.
Marriott has an agreement with Cosmopolitan, although it has been rumored that will be replaced with Hilton due to Cosmopolitan's recent sale to Blackstone.
I personally don't have a vested interest in either one of these loyalty programs, but from what I'm reading it appears that Starwood customers are worried about having their points devalued by Marriott.
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Cosmopolitan Reports Third Quarter Profit
Cosmopolitan reported a $4.7 million profit in the third quarter of 2015 according to a filing with the SEC yesterday.
While third quarter net revenue was down year over year ($179.8 million in 2015 compared to $189 million in 2014) Cosmopolitan was able to acheive a profit by slashing expenses all the way down to $167 million down from $203.5 million the previous year.
Cosmopolitan's new parent company Blackstone seems to have the ship pointed in the right direction, as Cosmopolitan has now reported two consecutive quarterly profits.
It appears the new owners are shifting the focus away from food, beverage, entertainment and retail and putting more of an emphasis on the casino. It will be interesting to see if this strategy proves to pay off over the next few quarters.
While third quarter net revenue was down year over year ($179.8 million in 2015 compared to $189 million in 2014) Cosmopolitan was able to acheive a profit by slashing expenses all the way down to $167 million down from $203.5 million the previous year.
Cosmopolitan's new parent company Blackstone seems to have the ship pointed in the right direction, as Cosmopolitan has now reported two consecutive quarterly profits.
It appears the new owners are shifting the focus away from food, beverage, entertainment and retail and putting more of an emphasis on the casino. It will be interesting to see if this strategy proves to pay off over the next few quarters.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Fontainebleau For Sale - Who Will Buy?
The Wall Street Journal reported today that Carl Icahn is looking to sell the Fontainebleau. The property will be listed by CBRE for $650 million.
I immediately starting thinking about who might be a candidate to buy and finish the stalled Fontainebleau project. I'm going to spend the rest of this blog post speculating about which companies might be in the mix.
MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment are the two largest Las Vegas hotel/casino companies but neither of them are really looking to expand in Vegas at the moment. Plus MGM will be completing a REIT conversion soon, and Caesars is going through a partial bankruptcy. I don't see either of these giants buying Fontainebleau.
Wynn Resorts boss Steve Wynn has long said he doesn't want to build in Las Vegas again. His frustration with the Macau government and endless headaches getting his Boston project off the ground might have him singing a different tune though. The rub: Wynn likes to build from scratch and the Fontainebleau structure might not be a blank enough slate for architect DeRuyter Butler and designer Roger Thomas to work their magic.
Like Wynn, Las Vegas Sands and Sheldon Adelson have shown a lack of interest in building anything new in Vegas. I actually think the Fontainebleau would be a great fit though. LVS has deep pockets so finishing the resort wouldn't be a problem, and the location near the planned convention center expansion would fit right in with their convention heavy business model. The best part: They could call the property Sands Hotel and Casino resurrecting an iconic Las Vegas brand.
Speaking of iconic properties: Boyd Gaming has been looking to get back on the Strip ever since they demolished The Stardust and failed to replace it with Echelon Place, later selling the property. While I would be in favor of Boyd buying Fontainebleau and renaming it The Stardust (or Borgata Las Vegas perhaps?) it seems unlikely they would undertake such a large project so shortly after abandoning Echelon.
Penn National was seriously considering purchasing Fontainebleau before ultimately losing out to Carl Icahn. Since then they have entered the Las Vegas market with purchases of M Resort and later Tropicana. If Penn was unwilling to spend $150 million to buy Fontainebleau in 2010 I'm guessing they don't want to spend $650 million in 2015.
Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin was in the news earlier this week as it was reported he made a recent $1.3 billion failed bid to buy The Mirage. If Ruffin has that much cash to spend could he possibly want to buy the Fontainebleau? It seems like a real possibility to me.
Other regional operators like Eldorado Resorts, Golden Entertainment, Full House Resorts, and Pinnacle Entertainment are likely eager to get into the Las Vegas market but probably don't have the money to make a deal like Fontainebleau happen. Could one of these companies partner up with a rich benefactor like Ruffin to get it done?
Lastly and perhaps most likely to buy Fontainebleau are private equity real estate companies. Cosmopolitan parent company Blackstone might be a possibility if they are looking to expand their casino holdings. Once rumored Mirage buyer Starwood Capital might also be looking to buy.
I immediately starting thinking about who might be a candidate to buy and finish the stalled Fontainebleau project. I'm going to spend the rest of this blog post speculating about which companies might be in the mix.
MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment are the two largest Las Vegas hotel/casino companies but neither of them are really looking to expand in Vegas at the moment. Plus MGM will be completing a REIT conversion soon, and Caesars is going through a partial bankruptcy. I don't see either of these giants buying Fontainebleau.
Wynn Resorts boss Steve Wynn has long said he doesn't want to build in Las Vegas again. His frustration with the Macau government and endless headaches getting his Boston project off the ground might have him singing a different tune though. The rub: Wynn likes to build from scratch and the Fontainebleau structure might not be a blank enough slate for architect DeRuyter Butler and designer Roger Thomas to work their magic.
Like Wynn, Las Vegas Sands and Sheldon Adelson have shown a lack of interest in building anything new in Vegas. I actually think the Fontainebleau would be a great fit though. LVS has deep pockets so finishing the resort wouldn't be a problem, and the location near the planned convention center expansion would fit right in with their convention heavy business model. The best part: They could call the property Sands Hotel and Casino resurrecting an iconic Las Vegas brand.
Speaking of iconic properties: Boyd Gaming has been looking to get back on the Strip ever since they demolished The Stardust and failed to replace it with Echelon Place, later selling the property. While I would be in favor of Boyd buying Fontainebleau and renaming it The Stardust (or Borgata Las Vegas perhaps?) it seems unlikely they would undertake such a large project so shortly after abandoning Echelon.
Penn National was seriously considering purchasing Fontainebleau before ultimately losing out to Carl Icahn. Since then they have entered the Las Vegas market with purchases of M Resort and later Tropicana. If Penn was unwilling to spend $150 million to buy Fontainebleau in 2010 I'm guessing they don't want to spend $650 million in 2015.
Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin was in the news earlier this week as it was reported he made a recent $1.3 billion failed bid to buy The Mirage. If Ruffin has that much cash to spend could he possibly want to buy the Fontainebleau? It seems like a real possibility to me.
Other regional operators like Eldorado Resorts, Golden Entertainment, Full House Resorts, and Pinnacle Entertainment are likely eager to get into the Las Vegas market but probably don't have the money to make a deal like Fontainebleau happen. Could one of these companies partner up with a rich benefactor like Ruffin to get it done?
Lastly and perhaps most likely to buy Fontainebleau are private equity real estate companies. Cosmopolitan parent company Blackstone might be a possibility if they are looking to expand their casino holdings. Once rumored Mirage buyer Starwood Capital might also be looking to buy.
Thursday, October 08, 2015
Lisa Marchese signs Cosmo Extension
Lisa Marchese has signed a deal which will keep her in her role as Chief Marketing Officer at Cosmopolitan for at least three years.
Marchese will earn a base salary of 400k a year, with a potential for up to 50% more in bonuses according to a filing with the SEC.
Lisa Marchese is responsible for booking many of the musical acts which have put Cosmopolitan on the map, including a newly announced Bruno Mars New Year's Eve show.
Having her continue to serve as Chief Marketing Officer is a definite plus for Cosmo, as she seems to have a good feel for attracting the "curious class" demographic they have become known for.
She's even been able to get more gamblers in the door as well, if the latest Cosmopolitan quarterly report is any indication.
For more about Lisa Marchese and her musical bookings at Cosmopolitan, check out this Las Vegas Weekly interview from 2012.
Marchese will earn a base salary of 400k a year, with a potential for up to 50% more in bonuses according to a filing with the SEC.
Lisa Marchese is responsible for booking many of the musical acts which have put Cosmopolitan on the map, including a newly announced Bruno Mars New Year's Eve show.
Having her continue to serve as Chief Marketing Officer is a definite plus for Cosmo, as she seems to have a good feel for attracting the "curious class" demographic they have become known for.
She's even been able to get more gamblers in the door as well, if the latest Cosmopolitan quarterly report is any indication.
For more about Lisa Marchese and her musical bookings at Cosmopolitan, check out this Las Vegas Weekly interview from 2012.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Sam Smith - Money On My Mind - Music Video
The music video for the Sam Smith song "Money On My Mind" takes place in Las Vegas.
Some landmarks I spotted in the video include:
Golden Gate
Paris
Cosmopolitan
Fremont Street
Stratosphere
Dino's Lounge
A Little White Wedding Chapel
Fun City Motel
Flamingo
Some landmarks I spotted in the video include:
Golden Gate
Paris
Cosmopolitan
Fremont Street
Stratosphere
Dino's Lounge
A Little White Wedding Chapel
Fun City Motel
Flamingo
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Harmon and Cosmopolitan 2009 Construction Photos
I was going through some old Las Vegas photos and came across these from 2009 which I think might be interesting to the Las Vegas fanatics out there.
The first photo shows the ill-fated Harmon Hotel being constructed. The tower was deemed unsafe because of construction flaws and ultimately had to be dismantled piece by piece.
The second photo shows Cosmopolitan under construction, along with a pre-remodeled Bill's Gamblin' Hall which would later become The Cromwell.
The first photo shows the ill-fated Harmon Hotel being constructed. The tower was deemed unsafe because of construction flaws and ultimately had to be dismantled piece by piece.
The second photo shows Cosmopolitan under construction, along with a pre-remodeled Bill's Gamblin' Hall which would later become The Cromwell.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Alex and Mia Las Vegas Videos
Alex and Mia are YouTube vloggers who just a couple of days ago published a series of videos documenting a trip to Las Vegas. I was unfamiliar with Alex and Mia before stumbling upon these videos - but they have two hundred fifty thousand subscribers on YouTube so they're kind of a big deal - at least to a demographic ten to twenty years younger than the readers of this blog.
The first video (August 1, 2015) sets the stage. Alex and Mia (with another couple) travel from LA to Las Vegas for Mia's 21st birthday on Virgin America and check-in to a ridiculous suite at The Cosmopolitan before hitting the Bellagio buffet and doing some gambling at Harrah's. Everything is going well so far.
The next video (August 2, 2015) is where the trouble begins. It starts off with Alex showing off an amazing view of the south Strip and taking advantage of some lavender-peppermint shower gel before the group heads off to ride the High Roller. It looks like they were doing the open bar package and had a good bartender who poured them a shot when the wheel reached its highest point. Some nice Vegas footage here. They then headed to the new O'Sheas to play some beer pong. I haven't been in the new O'Sheas yet, but from the video it kind of reminded me of the old O'Sheas which is a very good sign.
At the 5:25 mark we learn The Cosmopolitan has failed Alex as he reveals he was (allegedly) robbed of a $100 casino chip by (allegedly) the Cosmo housekeeping staff. If that wasn't bad enough - at the 7:48 mark Alex tells us they also found bedbugs in their Cosmo suite. Here's a picture Mia posted on twitter of the bedbug:
After a long wait the group gets moved to another suite which is even better than the first. It must have been a wraparound as they had views of the south Strip along with a different view of the Bellagio fountains and the rest of center Strip.
The third video (August 3, 2015) opens with the view from yet another room as they were told the "eco test for bedbugs came back negative." Interesting. After a trip to Marquee Dayclub Alex and Mia head off to The Palms to dine at Alizé. I had actually never heard of this place that boasts "the most spectacular view in Las Vegas with French cuisine beyond imagination."
The final Las Vegas video (August 4, 2015) starts with Alex placing some insane sports-book wagers followed by the group heading down to Fremont Street.
So there you have it. I enjoyed the Vegas footage in these videos. It was definitely surprising to see the (alleged) theft and bedbug issues at a hotel as nice as The Cosmopolitan. I guess it's a reminder that unfortunate things can happen anywhere, even at the most expensive hotels.
The first video (August 1, 2015) sets the stage. Alex and Mia (with another couple) travel from LA to Las Vegas for Mia's 21st birthday on Virgin America and check-in to a ridiculous suite at The Cosmopolitan before hitting the Bellagio buffet and doing some gambling at Harrah's. Everything is going well so far.
The next video (August 2, 2015) is where the trouble begins. It starts off with Alex showing off an amazing view of the south Strip and taking advantage of some lavender-peppermint shower gel before the group heads off to ride the High Roller. It looks like they were doing the open bar package and had a good bartender who poured them a shot when the wheel reached its highest point. Some nice Vegas footage here. They then headed to the new O'Sheas to play some beer pong. I haven't been in the new O'Sheas yet, but from the video it kind of reminded me of the old O'Sheas which is a very good sign.
At the 5:25 mark we learn The Cosmopolitan has failed Alex as he reveals he was (allegedly) robbed of a $100 casino chip by (allegedly) the Cosmo housekeeping staff. If that wasn't bad enough - at the 7:48 mark Alex tells us they also found bedbugs in their Cosmo suite. Here's a picture Mia posted on twitter of the bedbug:
After a long wait the group gets moved to another suite which is even better than the first. It must have been a wraparound as they had views of the south Strip along with a different view of the Bellagio fountains and the rest of center Strip.
The third video (August 3, 2015) opens with the view from yet another room as they were told the "eco test for bedbugs came back negative." Interesting. After a trip to Marquee Dayclub Alex and Mia head off to The Palms to dine at Alizé. I had actually never heard of this place that boasts "the most spectacular view in Las Vegas with French cuisine beyond imagination."
The final Las Vegas video (August 4, 2015) starts with Alex placing some insane sports-book wagers followed by the group heading down to Fremont Street.
So there you have it. I enjoyed the Vegas footage in these videos. It was definitely surprising to see the (alleged) theft and bedbug issues at a hotel as nice as The Cosmopolitan. I guess it's a reminder that unfortunate things can happen anywhere, even at the most expensive hotels.
Saturday, August 08, 2015
Cosmopolitan Reports Profit
Cosmopolitan has reported their first ever profit, earning just over $15 million in the second quarter of 2015.
It looks like the strong results were fueled by two things: increased casino revenue and cost cutting in other areas.
Revenues:
Casino +20.94%
Hotel -0.63%
F&B -10.12%
Entertainment, retail and other -22.65%
Expenses:
Casino +23.73%
Hotel -2.46%
F&B -20.20%
Entertainment, retail and other -39.19%
Sales and Marketing -34.19%
Blackstone is the new owner of Cosmopolitan and it appears they are shifting the focus away from food, beverage, entertainment and retail and putting more of an emphasis on the casino, something the previous owners didn't do.
Another interesting thing in the quarterly report: the company is spending money to complete unfinished rooms. I had no idea that rooms were still unfinished, so that was kind of surprising. Given Cosmopolitan's ultra high room rates I would have thought the previous owners would have wanted to finish the rooms as quickly as possible.
It looks like the strong results were fueled by two things: increased casino revenue and cost cutting in other areas.
Revenues:
Casino +20.94%
Hotel -0.63%
F&B -10.12%
Entertainment, retail and other -22.65%
Expenses:
Casino +23.73%
Hotel -2.46%
F&B -20.20%
Entertainment, retail and other -39.19%
Sales and Marketing -34.19%
Blackstone is the new owner of Cosmopolitan and it appears they are shifting the focus away from food, beverage, entertainment and retail and putting more of an emphasis on the casino, something the previous owners didn't do.
Another interesting thing in the quarterly report: the company is spending money to complete unfinished rooms. I had no idea that rooms were still unfinished, so that was kind of surprising. Given Cosmopolitan's ultra high room rates I would have thought the previous owners would have wanted to finish the rooms as quickly as possible.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Cosmopolitan Pool Deck Fire
A fire broke out at The Cosmopolitan Bamboo Pool on Saturday, July 25, 2015. Artificial palm trees and cabanas reportedly caught fire after a lit cigarette was allegedly discarded from a balcony above the pool deck.
Smoke from the poolside fire could be seen throughout the Las Vegas valley. Thankfully the fire did not result in any deaths. One person was reportedly hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
The Bamboo Pool and other areas of the hotel were temporarily closed, but damage appeared to be relatively minor and could have been much worse. Cosmopolitan's other two pools (Marquee Day Club Pool and Boulevard Pool) were not affected and remain open.
Fires like this bring back memories of the tragic MGM Grand (now Bally's) fire in 1980 that took 87 lives and caused stricter fire regulations to be adopted in Las Vegas hotels. The last major fire at a Las Vegas hotel was at the Monte Carlo in 2008.
John Wells on YouTube captured this dramatic footage of the Cosmopolitan pool deck fire:
Smoke from the poolside fire could be seen throughout the Las Vegas valley. Thankfully the fire did not result in any deaths. One person was reportedly hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
The Bamboo Pool and other areas of the hotel were temporarily closed, but damage appeared to be relatively minor and could have been much worse. Cosmopolitan's other two pools (Marquee Day Club Pool and Boulevard Pool) were not affected and remain open.
Fires like this bring back memories of the tragic MGM Grand (now Bally's) fire in 1980 that took 87 lives and caused stricter fire regulations to be adopted in Las Vegas hotels. The last major fire at a Las Vegas hotel was at the Monte Carlo in 2008.
John Wells on YouTube captured this dramatic footage of the Cosmopolitan pool deck fire:
Friday, July 03, 2015
Golden State Warriors Celebrate in Vegas
I always get a kick out of athletes celebrating a big win in Las Vegas.
A few years ago I wrote about Chris Paul celebrating his All Star Game MVP award in Vegas.
This time it's the Golden State Warriors, who recently celebrated their NBA championship.
An LA Times article told the story of Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut, David Lee, Marreese Speights, Harrison Barnes and Justin Holliday living it up at Marquee at The Cosmopolitan.
The article goes on to tell how Barnes continued to party at Chateau Nightclub & Rooftop the next night at Paris Las Vegas.
A few years ago I wrote about Chris Paul celebrating his All Star Game MVP award in Vegas.
This time it's the Golden State Warriors, who recently celebrated their NBA championship.
An LA Times article told the story of Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut, David Lee, Marreese Speights, Harrison Barnes and Justin Holliday living it up at Marquee at The Cosmopolitan.
The article goes on to tell how Barnes continued to party at Chateau Nightclub & Rooftop the next night at Paris Las Vegas.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Las Vegas in 2014
I've been away from the blog for a while. I'm always thinking about Las Vegas and it's about time I start posting again. Some of the topics I plan on covering soon are:
- The Cromwell
- Downtown Grand
- The Linq and the High Roller
- The Quad name change to The Linq
- SLS Las Vegas
- Resorts World
- MGM-AEG Arena
- Cosmopolitan sold
- Atlantic City
Las Vegas is constantly changing so there's a lot to write about.
- The Cromwell
- Downtown Grand
- The Linq and the High Roller
- The Quad name change to The Linq
- SLS Las Vegas
- Resorts World
- MGM-AEG Arena
- Cosmopolitan sold
- Atlantic City
Las Vegas is constantly changing so there's a lot to write about.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Ice Skating at Venetian and Cosmopolitan
Visitors will be able to ice skate on the Las Vegas Strip this holiday season, as The Venetian and Cosmopolitan have both constructed temporary rinks.
The synthetic Venetian rink is already open right in front of the hotel. Skating will continue until January 6th from 11 to 11 each day. Prices range from 9.95 to 14.95 and include free skate rental.
The Cosmopolitan Boulevard Pool will be transformed into a skating rink from November 30th to January 20th. Normal hours will be 3 pm to 11 pm with extended hours on Holidays. Prices range from $10-15 plus an additional $5 for skate rental. The Cosmopolitan will also offer themed skating nights on Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
Ice skating seems like a good way to bring some holiday cheer to these hotels. The rinks are also being used to draw locals into the properties. I wouldn't be surprised to see more hotels add ice skating in the future if these two rinks are popular.
Please contact each hotel for more detailed pricing and hours information.
The synthetic Venetian rink is already open right in front of the hotel. Skating will continue until January 6th from 11 to 11 each day. Prices range from 9.95 to 14.95 and include free skate rental.
The Cosmopolitan Boulevard Pool will be transformed into a skating rink from November 30th to January 20th. Normal hours will be 3 pm to 11 pm with extended hours on Holidays. Prices range from $10-15 plus an additional $5 for skate rental. The Cosmopolitan will also offer themed skating nights on Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
Ice skating seems like a good way to bring some holiday cheer to these hotels. The rinks are also being used to draw locals into the properties. I wouldn't be surprised to see more hotels add ice skating in the future if these two rinks are popular.
Please contact each hotel for more detailed pricing and hours information.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Cosmopolitan Dominates Vegas Tripping Awards
Vegas Tripping announced the 2012 Trippies award winners today. The awards are voted on by readers of the site.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas dominated the awards, winning many of the major categories.
Cosmo took home Best Strip Hotel, Best Hotel Overall, Best Rooms, Best Dining Overall, Best Nightclub (Marquee), Best Bar (Chandelier Bar), Best Casino Carpet, Best Website, Best Social Media, and Best In Show.
These results are somewhat surprising because Wynn Las Vegas and Encore have traditionally won most of the awards. This year the only award Wynn or Encore won was Best Dayclub (Encore Beach Club).
Check out all of the results: 2012 Trippies.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas dominated the awards, winning many of the major categories.
Cosmo took home Best Strip Hotel, Best Hotel Overall, Best Rooms, Best Dining Overall, Best Nightclub (Marquee), Best Bar (Chandelier Bar), Best Casino Carpet, Best Website, Best Social Media, and Best In Show.
These results are somewhat surprising because Wynn Las Vegas and Encore have traditionally won most of the awards. This year the only award Wynn or Encore won was Best Dayclub (Encore Beach Club).
Check out all of the results: 2012 Trippies.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Pop-Up Wedding Chapel at Cosmopolitan
I found it odd when Cosmopolitan opened they didn't have some of the traditional Las Vegas staples that you would find at most hotels.
Since then they have added two of those things. A sportsbook and now a wedding chapel.
The chapel though, like many things at Cosmo, has a twist. It looks like it was designed to be intentionally tacky and a parody of of the stereotypical Las Vegas wedding.
One of the most popular packages will likely be the "Faux Ceremony" where participants can post pictures on facebook without the commitment.
The chapel will do real weddings too, at an extra cost of course. You need to bring a marriage license for the ceremony to be legally binding though.
The venue is behind glass right near the entrance of the hotel, which will surely attract gawkers walking on the Strip.
So if you're planning a wedding, real or fake, check out Pop-Up Wedding Chapel for all the info.
Since then they have added two of those things. A sportsbook and now a wedding chapel.
The chapel though, like many things at Cosmo, has a twist. It looks like it was designed to be intentionally tacky and a parody of of the stereotypical Las Vegas wedding.
One of the most popular packages will likely be the "Faux Ceremony" where participants can post pictures on facebook without the commitment.
The chapel will do real weddings too, at an extra cost of course. You need to bring a marriage license for the ceremony to be legally binding though.
The venue is behind glass right near the entrance of the hotel, which will surely attract gawkers walking on the Strip.
So if you're planning a wedding, real or fake, check out Pop-Up Wedding Chapel for all the info.
Monday, January 02, 2012
Top 5 Vegas News Stories of 2011
Now that the calendar reads 2012, I thought I'd attempt to recall some of the top Las Vegas news stories of 2011. These are more or less off the top of my head, so I might have forgotten something, but here goes:
5. Absinthe opens to rave reviews.
Usually shows open and close in Las Vegas with little fanfare, but Absinthe got such great reviews that it really opened some eyes. I can't remember a show that has received almost unanimous positive reviews in some time.
4. Plaza renovation leads downtown resurgence.
The Plaza hotel on Fremont Street purchased the Fontainebleau's furniture and used it to complete a major renovation project, which included a makeover of rooms, public areas and a few new restaurants. Along with the improvements at Plaza, many new bars and restaurants on Fremont Street made downtown a fun place to hang out in 2011 and beyond.
3. Cosmopolitan opens.
Technically Cosmopolitan opened during the last few days of 2010, but it was the talk of the town for much of 2011 as visitors got to experience it for the first time. Despite some issues with long check-in lines, the property has received high praise for its uniqueness and many drinking and dining options. That being said, it struggled to make money because it has attracted a largely non-gaming crowd.
2. Project Linq.
The Caesars Entertainment Project Linq has been talked about for a few years now, but in 2011 the project pushed full steam ahead. We learned many details of the project, including the news that O'Sheas will be closed in its current form and re-located, likely being incorporated into Imperial Palace, which will also be re-named.
1. Sahara closes.
On May 16th 2011 Sahara closed after nearly 59 years of operation. A month after the closing, a huge liquidation sale was held on the property where visitors could take home a piece of Las Vegas history while walking around the joint for one last time. The Sahara's owners have a plan to re-brand and re-open the hotel in 2014, but we'll just have to wait and see if that happens.
5. Absinthe opens to rave reviews.
Usually shows open and close in Las Vegas with little fanfare, but Absinthe got such great reviews that it really opened some eyes. I can't remember a show that has received almost unanimous positive reviews in some time.
4. Plaza renovation leads downtown resurgence.
The Plaza hotel on Fremont Street purchased the Fontainebleau's furniture and used it to complete a major renovation project, which included a makeover of rooms, public areas and a few new restaurants. Along with the improvements at Plaza, many new bars and restaurants on Fremont Street made downtown a fun place to hang out in 2011 and beyond.
3. Cosmopolitan opens.
Technically Cosmopolitan opened during the last few days of 2010, but it was the talk of the town for much of 2011 as visitors got to experience it for the first time. Despite some issues with long check-in lines, the property has received high praise for its uniqueness and many drinking and dining options. That being said, it struggled to make money because it has attracted a largely non-gaming crowd.
2. Project Linq.
The Caesars Entertainment Project Linq has been talked about for a few years now, but in 2011 the project pushed full steam ahead. We learned many details of the project, including the news that O'Sheas will be closed in its current form and re-located, likely being incorporated into Imperial Palace, which will also be re-named.
1. Sahara closes.
On May 16th 2011 Sahara closed after nearly 59 years of operation. A month after the closing, a huge liquidation sale was held on the property where visitors could take home a piece of Las Vegas history while walking around the joint for one last time. The Sahara's owners have a plan to re-brand and re-open the hotel in 2014, but we'll just have to wait and see if that happens.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Cosmopolitan gets Posterized
The Strip entrance to Cosmopolitan has been decorated with a collage of small posters, each one representing a different part of the resort.
The idea replicates a wild posting campaign.
While I think the individual posters look great, all of them together seem a little busy and possibly confusing for someone just walking by the hotel.
I thought the glass entrance looked great before the posters, so I'm not crazy about the change. It looks like this will be temporary though, so I really can't complain too much.
Photos credit: Christopher Burns Twitter.
The idea replicates a wild posting campaign.
While I think the individual posters look great, all of them together seem a little busy and possibly confusing for someone just walking by the hotel.
I thought the glass entrance looked great before the posters, so I'm not crazy about the change. It looks like this will be temporary though, so I really can't complain too much.
Photos credit: Christopher Burns Twitter.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Las Vegas Pool Season 2011 Begins
Summer comes early in Las Vegas, as many of the pools around the Strip are open and ready for business.
A few of the more popular day-club type places will be holding grand opening parties this weekend.
Rehab at the Hard Rock:
Wet Republic at MGM Grand featuring Kim Kardashian:
Encore Beach Club featuring Michael Phelps:
The new kid in town this year is the Marquee day club at Cosmopolitan. Victoria's Secret Angel Alessandra Ambrosio was on hand for the opening last weekend and tweeted this picture of the pool:
A few of the more popular day-club type places will be holding grand opening parties this weekend.
Rehab at the Hard Rock:
Wet Republic at MGM Grand featuring Kim Kardashian:
Encore Beach Club featuring Michael Phelps:
The new kid in town this year is the Marquee day club at Cosmopolitan. Victoria's Secret Angel Alessandra Ambrosio was on hand for the opening last weekend and tweeted this picture of the pool:
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Cosmopolitan gets Sportsbook
Just in time for March Madness, Cosmopolitan has opened a sportsbook. Cosmo has partnered with Cantor Gaming to open the book on the second floor of the hotel next to Holstein's restaurant and Marquee Nightclub. The sportsbook is small by Strip standards, but with Cantor's mobile gaming devices customers won't need to actually be at the sportsbook to place wagers.
Cantor has some interesting new concepts for sports betting, including live betting throughout the game. They just opened a new book at Tropicana, and also have locations at M Resort, Venetian and Palazzo.
When Cosmopolitan opened in December it did not have a "traditional" sportsbook. Instead the Book & Stage lounge served as a place where you could place wagers. The betting terminals at Book & Stage will remain open.
I know Cosmo caught some flack for not having a real sportsbook. I wonder if this is a direct response to that, or if it was planned all along. It seems like sports weekends are a huge part of Las Vegas with the Super Bowl and March Madness. Having a legit sportsbook would almost seem like a requirement for any casino resort.
For more information, see the Press Release and Cantor Gaming.
Cantor has some interesting new concepts for sports betting, including live betting throughout the game. They just opened a new book at Tropicana, and also have locations at M Resort, Venetian and Palazzo.
When Cosmopolitan opened in December it did not have a "traditional" sportsbook. Instead the Book & Stage lounge served as a place where you could place wagers. The betting terminals at Book & Stage will remain open.
I know Cosmo caught some flack for not having a real sportsbook. I wonder if this is a direct response to that, or if it was planned all along. It seems like sports weekends are a huge part of Las Vegas with the Super Bowl and March Madness. Having a legit sportsbook would almost seem like a requirement for any casino resort.
For more information, see the Press Release and Cantor Gaming.
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