ARIA Resort & Casino is getting ready to make its mark in the Las Vegas skyline. The new property, scheduled to open this December on The Strip, is part of CityCenter, an urban resort community under construction between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts. Once complete, ARIA will be CityCenter's only resort and casino and will eventually be joined by two non-gaming hotels (Vdara and Mandarin Oriental), residential buildings, a retail and entertainment district, and a $40 million public fine art program.

The resort — which is accepting reservations for December 2009 and beyond — will feature 4,004 guest rooms with panoramic views; an 1,800-seat theater; celebrity-chef inspired restaurants; an 80,000-square-foot, two-level spa; three pools with 50 cabanas; 150,000 square feet of gaming; 300,000 square feet of meeting space; four ballrooms accommodating up to 5,000 attendees; 38 meeting rooms; and more than 500,000 square feet of retail and dining options just outside the hotel.

Venue Updates

Gaming News

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas

The News: A $750 million expansion and renovation was completed in April.

Specs: The 860 new guest rooms bring the total to 1,525 rooms and suites; 75,000 square feet of new meeting space bring the total to 82,000 square feet; and The Joint, a new concert and events facility, holds 4,000 guests.

Extra: Nearly 50,000 square feet of casino space and a pool will be added in late 2009.

Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem
Bethlehem, Pa.

The News: The Las Vegas Sands Corp. is opening its first property on the East Coast.

Specs: Plans call for a 300-room hotel, 200,000 square feet of retail space, nearly 50,000 square feet of meeting space, 3,000 slot machines, and a variety of dining establishments.

Time Frame: Scheduled to open May 22, 2009

Extra: The resort is located 60 minutes from Philadelphia and 90 minutes from New York City.

Palms Place
Las Vegas

The News: The new hotel opened in May 2008 as the latest addition to the Palms Casino Resort.

Specs: 599 suites, including studios, one- and two-bedroom units, and penthouses. Also on site: the 2,500-seat Pearl Concert Theater and a 14,000-square-foot ballroom

Extra: The property boasts the only Las Vegas location of L.A.'s Sunset Tan. Guests have access to the Palms Casino Resort via SkyTube, an elevated, enclosed walkway.

MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino
Mashantucket, Conn.

The News: The new standalone property opened in May 2008 to the tune of $700 million. It is connected to Foxwoods Resort Casino by a pedestrian concourse.

Specs: MGM Grand offers 825 guest rooms, 115,000 square feet of meeting space, a 4,000-seat MGM Grand Theater, a 21,000-square-foot spa, and dining, retail, and gaming amenities. The casino features 1,400 slot machines and 53 game tables, as well as two lounges available for private events.

Tulalip Resort Casino
Seattle, Wash.

The News: A new hotel and spa opened at the property last summer.

Specs: 370 guest rooms; 30,000 square feet of meeting space (including a 15,000-square-foot ballroom); the 14,000-square-foot T Spa, featuring group treatment rooms; and four restaurants

Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa
Michigan City, Ind.

The News: A $130 million expansion was completed in January.

Specs: The expansion features the 22-story, 302-room Spa Blu Tower, increasing the total number of guest rooms at the property to 486. Also added: a spa; a 20,000-square-foot entertainment, meetings, and special-events space; and two restaurants

Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel
Traverse City, Mich.

The News: The $80 million hotel opened June 2008.

Specs: 137 guest rooms, four restaurants, Level 3 Lounge nightclub, 54,000-square-foot gaming floor, 4,500 square feet of meeting space.

Extra: Private dining is available in the hotel's Bourbons 72 restaurant.

Greektown Casino-Hotel
Detroit

The News: The new hotel opened in February.

Specs: The 400-room hotel offers 10,000 square feet of meeting space, two restaurants, 1,100-seat theater, and a 25,000 square feet of gaming space.

Extra: When the hotel's Events Center opens in 2010 on the upper level of the casino, it will have 15,000 square feet of additional space.

Harrah's Resort Atlantic City
Atlantic City, N.J.

The News: The first 12 floors of the new 960-room, 44-story Waterfront Tower opened in March 2008. The remaining 32 floors opened in July 2008.

Specs: New rooms are 504 square feet in area, with 42-inch LCD flat-screen TVs and iHome systems. The resort now has a total of 2,590 rooms, as well as 25,000 square feet of meeting space in eight rooms. Amenities include a 23,000-square-foot Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa, a new 620-seat Waterfront Buffet, and a 172,000-square-foot indoor pool complex.

M Resort Spa Casino
Las Vegas

The News: The new $1 billion resort opened its doors in March.

Specs: The property offers 390 guest rooms, nine restaurants, five bars, a 92,000-square-foot casino, a 100,000-square-foot pool and entertainment piazza, 60,000 square feet of conference space, a 17,400-square-foot ballroom, the 23,000-square-foot Spa Mio with 16 treatment rooms, and a fitness center.

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