Monte Carlo will be renamed Park MGM as part of a $450 million remodeling project. The new name was announced in an MGM Resorts International press release earlier today.
The property will also feature a "hotel within a hotel" concept with NoMad Hotel occupying a small portion of the rooms. NoMad will be operated by the New York City based Sydell Group.
It's unclear what will happen to Monte Carlo's current "hotel within a hotel" concept Hotel 32.
Re-naming Monte Carlo after the adjacent Park promenade was a fairly predictable move, but attaching the MGM brand to the property is kind of a head–scratcher.
While I understand "MGM" is a valuable brand name to the company, having two different properties on the same street with MGM in the name could become pretty confusing.
I could see a drunk tourist who cant remember the exact name of the hotel telling a cabbie to take him to MGM which would probably get him dropped off at MGM Grand.
Showing posts with label Renovations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Renovations. Show all posts
Friday, June 03, 2016
Friday, December 04, 2015
California Renovation Planned
California Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas announced a multi-million-dollar redesign and renovation plan yesterday.
The public areas will be improved first, "with distinctive elements include bright, brilliant metallic finishes, luxe textures like alpine white granite, and a dark, rich wood finish to accent molding throughout the casino."
That will be followed by "a complete redesign and upgrade of nearly 500 hotel rooms and suites, as well as additional food and beverage projects."
The Cal is one of the most under-the-radar casinos in Las Vegas. The location a block off Fremont Street on Ogden Ave puts it out of sight out of mind for most casual downtown travelers. The hotel is able to thrive on its unique business model of selling vacation packages to Hawaiian travelers.
I'm guessing these renovations will be a welcomed improvement to the property.
The public areas will be improved first, "with distinctive elements include bright, brilliant metallic finishes, luxe textures like alpine white granite, and a dark, rich wood finish to accent molding throughout the casino."
That will be followed by "a complete redesign and upgrade of nearly 500 hotel rooms and suites, as well as additional food and beverage projects."
The Cal is one of the most under-the-radar casinos in Las Vegas. The location a block off Fremont Street on Ogden Ave puts it out of sight out of mind for most casual downtown travelers. The hotel is able to thrive on its unique business model of selling vacation packages to Hawaiian travelers.
I'm guessing these renovations will be a welcomed improvement to the property.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Foundry Hall coming to SLS
The former Life nightclub at SLS Las Vegas is being transformed into an 1800 seat music venue called Foundry Hall, which will open early in 2016.
A Las Vegas Weekly article detailed the renovation project. The nightclub's DJ booth is being removed in favor of a stage. Audio improvements are being made, while keeping the nightclub's massive LED screens.
Live Nation will partner with SLS to book acts at the new venue, which will be a mix of permanent and standing room only seating.
The new music venue comes at a time when SLS is looking to make major improvements to the property to attract more guests. Last week it was announced that one of the hotel towers will be converted into a W Hotel brand.
SLS is still struggling financially. After reporting third quarter earnings they have lost $122.7 million so far in 2015. Parent company Stockbridge is banking on these improvements to help turn the property's fortunes around.
A Las Vegas Weekly article detailed the renovation project. The nightclub's DJ booth is being removed in favor of a stage. Audio improvements are being made, while keeping the nightclub's massive LED screens.
Live Nation will partner with SLS to book acts at the new venue, which will be a mix of permanent and standing room only seating.
The new music venue comes at a time when SLS is looking to make major improvements to the property to attract more guests. Last week it was announced that one of the hotel towers will be converted into a W Hotel brand.
SLS is still struggling financially. After reporting third quarter earnings they have lost $122.7 million so far in 2015. Parent company Stockbridge is banking on these improvements to help turn the property's fortunes around.
Friday, October 23, 2015
Caesars Palace Julius Tower
Caesars Palace is remodeling and renaming the Roman Tower, which will be transformed into the Julius Tower opening January 1, 2016.
This tower is the oldest at Caesars Palace first opening in 1966. The last major renovation to the tower was back in 2001.
The rooms appear to have a somewhat standard modern look. Very grey with a little bit of gold mixed in. The 55 inch TV is nice, and the bathroom looks huge if we can trust the publicty pics:
Photos: Caesars Palace.
Once the most affordable tower at Caesars Palace, the new upgraded rooms will now be more inline with the rest of the property. Rates will be starting at $149.
The cost of the tower renovation is a cool $75 million. Not small money for a company in bankruptcy, but it appears the courts are allowing the renovation as part of a standard capital expenditure plan. The fact is that real estate needs to be maintained, and even Caesars creditors stand to benefit since a remodel like this will likely bring in much higher revenue for the company.
This tower is the oldest at Caesars Palace first opening in 1966. The last major renovation to the tower was back in 2001.
The rooms appear to have a somewhat standard modern look. Very grey with a little bit of gold mixed in. The 55 inch TV is nice, and the bathroom looks huge if we can trust the publicty pics:
Photos: Caesars Palace.
Once the most affordable tower at Caesars Palace, the new upgraded rooms will now be more inline with the rest of the property. Rates will be starting at $149.
The cost of the tower renovation is a cool $75 million. Not small money for a company in bankruptcy, but it appears the courts are allowing the renovation as part of a standard capital expenditure plan. The fact is that real estate needs to be maintained, and even Caesars creditors stand to benefit since a remodel like this will likely bring in much higher revenue for the company.
Saturday, September 05, 2015
The Linq Hotel - Old and New
Now that The Linq hotel on the Strip has been completely transformed from it's former Imperial Palace roots, I thought it would be fun to compare the current Linq hotel with what it used to look like as Imperial Palace.
Here's a picture I took of Imperial Palace in 2009:
And here's a Linq PR photo of the new pool deck and hotel facade:
Here's a picture I took of Imperial Palace in 2009:
And here's a Linq PR photo of the new pool deck and hotel facade:
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Las Vegas Club Sold to Derek Stevens
Las Vegas Club downtown on Fremont Street has been sold to the owners of The D and Golden Gate - brothers Greg and Derek Stevens. The property will close in the next few days and will likely remain shuttered until plans are finalized for a renovation.
The purchase price was undisclosed, but property records show a $40 million transaction for the real estate. The gaming assets still belong to the old owners PlayLV a subsidiary of Tamares Group. PlayLV also owns The Plaza next door.
Greg and Derek Stevens through their company Desert Rock Enterprises owned 21% of Riviera. When that property was sold for $182.5 million the Stevens brothers theoretically cashed in for $38.325 million. It looks like they are taking that money and reinvesting in Las Vegas Club.
The Riviera slot machines were also sold to Derek Stevens shortly after the closing, so I'm guessing many of those slots will end up at Las Vegas Club eventually.
Las Vegas Club has been the worst downtown casino for a while now and had fallen into a state of disrepair. Having Derek Stevens take over is the best possible outcome for this property.
There are many different directions Stevens could go with the remodel. The first priority will likely be getting the hotel portion of the property - which has been closed since 2013 - remodeled and back in operation.
Las Vegas Club currently has a sports theme. If done right I think keeping this theme could be a good option. Converting the casino into a giant sports-bar / sports book area with traditional casino games mixed in could be an interesting idea.
It really is a blank slate though, and after the creativity he's shown with The D and Golden Gate I trust that Stevens will do something great with Las Vegas Club.
Derek Stevens tweeted about the acquisition:
Lots of Q's regarding LVC. We will evaluate the property thoroughly to determine Max Best Use, then do it.
Addressing concerns that he and Boyd Gaming will have a duopoly on downtown casinos Stevens tweeted:
don't worry. I'm committed to 3-2 Blackjack,10X odds on dice and a great value in our offerings....
The purchase price was undisclosed, but property records show a $40 million transaction for the real estate. The gaming assets still belong to the old owners PlayLV a subsidiary of Tamares Group. PlayLV also owns The Plaza next door.
Greg and Derek Stevens through their company Desert Rock Enterprises owned 21% of Riviera. When that property was sold for $182.5 million the Stevens brothers theoretically cashed in for $38.325 million. It looks like they are taking that money and reinvesting in Las Vegas Club.
The Riviera slot machines were also sold to Derek Stevens shortly after the closing, so I'm guessing many of those slots will end up at Las Vegas Club eventually.
Las Vegas Club has been the worst downtown casino for a while now and had fallen into a state of disrepair. Having Derek Stevens take over is the best possible outcome for this property.
There are many different directions Stevens could go with the remodel. The first priority will likely be getting the hotel portion of the property - which has been closed since 2013 - remodeled and back in operation.
Las Vegas Club currently has a sports theme. If done right I think keeping this theme could be a good option. Converting the casino into a giant sports-bar / sports book area with traditional casino games mixed in could be an interesting idea.
It really is a blank slate though, and after the creativity he's shown with The D and Golden Gate I trust that Stevens will do something great with Las Vegas Club.
Derek Stevens tweeted about the acquisition:
Lots of Q's regarding LVC. We will evaluate the property thoroughly to determine Max Best Use, then do it.
Addressing concerns that he and Boyd Gaming will have a duopoly on downtown casinos Stevens tweeted:
don't worry. I'm committed to 3-2 Blackjack,10X odds on dice and a great value in our offerings....
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Mandalay Bay - New Resort Rooms
Mandalay Bay has unveiled a collection of new rooms and suites.
The resort tweeted a press release showing the new rooms. It looks like the entire hotel will be getting the new rooms eventually, with the first wave of rooms being available soon (the press release says July 2015 but I couldn't find any of the new rooms available until August 2015). The rooms have a bright, beach-like feel. I think they fit the theme of Mandalay Bay very well.
It looks like the newly remodeled rooms will be $19 more expensive than the "old" rooms.
Looking at a random weekday room in August, an "old" Deluxe King is $76 while a "new" Resort King is $95. An "old" Deluxe Queen is $85.50 while a "new" Resort Queen is $104.50.
A random weekend in October shows an "old" Deluxe King at $280.25 while a "new" Resort King is $299.25. An "old" Deluxe Queen is $289.75 while a "new" Resort Queen is $308.75.
These prices are before the current resort fee of $32.48.
Resort King:
Resort Queen Rust and Gold:
Panoramic Suite Bedroom and Living Room:
Photos: Mandalay Bay.
The resort tweeted a press release showing the new rooms. It looks like the entire hotel will be getting the new rooms eventually, with the first wave of rooms being available soon (the press release says July 2015 but I couldn't find any of the new rooms available until August 2015). The rooms have a bright, beach-like feel. I think they fit the theme of Mandalay Bay very well.
It looks like the newly remodeled rooms will be $19 more expensive than the "old" rooms.
Looking at a random weekday room in August, an "old" Deluxe King is $76 while a "new" Resort King is $95. An "old" Deluxe Queen is $85.50 while a "new" Resort Queen is $104.50.
A random weekend in October shows an "old" Deluxe King at $280.25 while a "new" Resort King is $299.25. An "old" Deluxe Queen is $289.75 while a "new" Resort Queen is $308.75.
These prices are before the current resort fee of $32.48.
Resort King:
Resort Queen Rust and Gold:
Panoramic Suite Bedroom and Living Room:
Photos: Mandalay Bay.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
The Quad name change to The Linq
The Quad will be changing names again. The hotel formerly known as Imperial Palace was re-named The Quad in December of 2012. Starting in fall 2014 it will be known as The Linq Hotel and Casino.
The question I have: Was this planned all along?
Since the early days of The Quad there have been rumors floating around of a possible second name change. I have a feeling parent company Caesars Entertainment intentionally used The Quad as a sacrificial placeholder until they were able to renovate the hotel rooms. Now with a $223 million renovation underway it only makes sense to remove the bad stigma (and reviews) of the old Quad/IP hotel rooms and go for a total re-brand.
From the Caesars Entertainment renderings it looks like the outside of the hotel will be getting a fresh new look. It's not really clear if the balconies will remain functional, or if they will be closed off and just for decoration. The splash of green and purple looks good, and I bet it will be even better at night.
The rooms look like a modern update that has become pretty standard among room renovations these days. The mural behind the bed is a unique touch, and what looks to be laminate flooring takes a cue from the Flamingo Fab rooms.
New rooms come with a new price. A quick search shows The Linq rooms going for 2-3 times the price of what The Quad rooms did. Considering the prime center Strip location that still might be a pretty good deal though. With a $223 million renovation budget it should be pretty nice.
The question I have: Was this planned all along?
Since the early days of The Quad there have been rumors floating around of a possible second name change. I have a feeling parent company Caesars Entertainment intentionally used The Quad as a sacrificial placeholder until they were able to renovate the hotel rooms. Now with a $223 million renovation underway it only makes sense to remove the bad stigma (and reviews) of the old Quad/IP hotel rooms and go for a total re-brand.
From the Caesars Entertainment renderings it looks like the outside of the hotel will be getting a fresh new look. It's not really clear if the balconies will remain functional, or if they will be closed off and just for decoration. The splash of green and purple looks good, and I bet it will be even better at night.
The rooms look like a modern update that has become pretty standard among room renovations these days. The mural behind the bed is a unique touch, and what looks to be laminate flooring takes a cue from the Flamingo Fab rooms.
New rooms come with a new price. A quick search shows The Linq rooms going for 2-3 times the price of what The Quad rooms did. Considering the prime center Strip location that still might be a pretty good deal though. With a $223 million renovation budget it should be pretty nice.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Stratosphere's Under the Radar Renovations
People staying or playing at the Stratosphere may notice some changes at the property. The hotel has quietly been working on a $20 million renovation project.
The biggest changes will come on the casino floor where the carpets have been replaced and marble flooring has been added. The buffet and some of the other restaurants are also getting face-lifts.
New "Stratosphere Select" rooms in the Premier Tower are fully remodeled and seem like a bargain at only $15-20 more than regular rooms. Looks like average rates for these rooms are around $50/night on weekdays and $95/night for weekends. Pretty good prices for a brand new room. You can even request a view of the Fontainebleau.
While this is certainly minor compared to the Tropicana's $165 million dollar makeover, it's good to see some positive changes at the property. Location is a disadvantage, but these new rooms along with the new Sky Jump attraction and a fresh casino experience might give more people a reason to check it out.
For more on the Stratosphere renovations: Las Vegas Sun.
The biggest changes will come on the casino floor where the carpets have been replaced and marble flooring has been added. The buffet and some of the other restaurants are also getting face-lifts.
New "Stratosphere Select" rooms in the Premier Tower are fully remodeled and seem like a bargain at only $15-20 more than regular rooms. Looks like average rates for these rooms are around $50/night on weekdays and $95/night for weekends. Pretty good prices for a brand new room. You can even request a view of the Fontainebleau.
While this is certainly minor compared to the Tropicana's $165 million dollar makeover, it's good to see some positive changes at the property. Location is a disadvantage, but these new rooms along with the new Sky Jump attraction and a fresh casino experience might give more people a reason to check it out.
For more on the Stratosphere renovations: Las Vegas Sun.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Plaza Hotel Closing in November
Hotel operations at the Plaza downtown will close on November 11th. The casino will remain open, along with the popular Firefly restaurant and Rat Pack is Back show.
The official word is that the hotel is closing for renovations and will re-open in 2011 with the new name Union Plaza. Unofficially though many people are wondering if the remodeling will be done and how soon. It might make more economic sense to just leave the hotel closed for a while until things turn around a little bit. With rooms downtown as cheap as they are the hotel portion of the revenue can't be that substantial.
Unfortunately the closure means the loss of 400 jobs. The Plaza's parent company will try to place some of the employees at their other hotels (Las Vegas Club and The Western) and will also try to re-hire them if and when the hotel re-opens.
It will be interesting to see how well the planned renovations go, along with the planned renovations over at Lady Luck. If things go as planned, downtown visitors could have two new fresh hotels to choose from in 2011 and 2012. On the flip side there's a pretty good chance that things will be put on hold indefinitely, which would be another negative development for downtown.
The official word is that the hotel is closing for renovations and will re-open in 2011 with the new name Union Plaza. Unofficially though many people are wondering if the remodeling will be done and how soon. It might make more economic sense to just leave the hotel closed for a while until things turn around a little bit. With rooms downtown as cheap as they are the hotel portion of the revenue can't be that substantial.
Unfortunately the closure means the loss of 400 jobs. The Plaza's parent company will try to place some of the employees at their other hotels (Las Vegas Club and The Western) and will also try to re-hire them if and when the hotel re-opens.
It will be interesting to see how well the planned renovations go, along with the planned renovations over at Lady Luck. If things go as planned, downtown visitors could have two new fresh hotels to choose from in 2011 and 2012. On the flip side there's a pretty good chance that things will be put on hold indefinitely, which would be another negative development for downtown.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Improvements planned for Plaza Downtown
The Sun is reporting that some renovations are being planned for the downtown casinos owned by the Tamares Group.
The biggest changes will come at the Plaza, where a $20 million loan is being negotiated to makeover the hotel rooms. The hotel name will also be changed to Union Plaza, which was the original name of the hotel when it opened 1971 in reference to the Union Pacific railroad station that originally stood at the site.
Lesser changes will be seen at Las Vegas Club, which will see "theme changes". The infamous Western casino on East Fremont will also get some new slots if things go according to plan.
Any investment to improve hotel rooms is a winner in my book, especially downtown. The only question is whether the planned renovations will make a difference. The $20 million being spent on the Plaza is a fraction of the $165 million being spent on the Tropicana, or the $90 million outlay by Wynn to remodel their 5 year old rooms. Obviously the Plaza is smaller than those two, and being downtown they can probably spend less and get away with it, so we'll see how it goes.
The biggest changes will come at the Plaza, where a $20 million loan is being negotiated to makeover the hotel rooms. The hotel name will also be changed to Union Plaza, which was the original name of the hotel when it opened 1971 in reference to the Union Pacific railroad station that originally stood at the site.
Lesser changes will be seen at Las Vegas Club, which will see "theme changes". The infamous Western casino on East Fremont will also get some new slots if things go according to plan.
Any investment to improve hotel rooms is a winner in my book, especially downtown. The only question is whether the planned renovations will make a difference. The $20 million being spent on the Plaza is a fraction of the $165 million being spent on the Tropicana, or the $90 million outlay by Wynn to remodel their 5 year old rooms. Obviously the Plaza is smaller than those two, and being downtown they can probably spend less and get away with it, so we'll see how it goes.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Tropicana to go with Miami Beach Theme
Details of the Tropicana renovations continue to trickle in.
Recent developments revealed that the hotel will be aiming for a South Beach Miami motif. The finished product scheduled to be complete by 2011 will include a Gloria Estefan inspired show and the Nikki Beach club.
Doing some quick and probably inaccurate math, I calculate that the Tropicana would need to command about a $30 per night room rate increase over the next 10 years to equal the cost of the $165 million renovation. That should be attainable. If they are getting an average of $50 a night now (just a guess) for an outdated room, it shouldn't be that hard to get $80 for a brand new one. And this isn't even considering added gaming and other revenue which is bound to increase with a higher end clientele. I've said it before, but good move by the Trop, and I hope it works out well for them.
Recent developments revealed that the hotel will be aiming for a South Beach Miami motif. The finished product scheduled to be complete by 2011 will include a Gloria Estefan inspired show and the Nikki Beach club.
Doing some quick and probably inaccurate math, I calculate that the Tropicana would need to command about a $30 per night room rate increase over the next 10 years to equal the cost of the $165 million renovation. That should be attainable. If they are getting an average of $50 a night now (just a guess) for an outdated room, it shouldn't be that hard to get $80 for a brand new one. And this isn't even considering added gaming and other revenue which is bound to increase with a higher end clientele. I've said it before, but good move by the Trop, and I hope it works out well for them.
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