ARIA Resort & Casino

Fresh from its December 16, 2009, grand opening, Aria Resort & Casino welcomes groups to the world’s largest LEED Gold–certified hotel and convention center—centerpiece of MGM Mirage’s new CityCenter in Las Vegas, at $9.2 billion the single most expensive privately funded project in the western hemisphere.

Guests turn off The Strip to find two soaring, shimmering towers of steel and glass filled with 4,004 luxury-laden guest rooms and suites. Other highlights include three major pools areas and 50 private cabanas; an 80,000-square-foot spa and fitness center; 150,000 square feet of casino gaming; more than two dozen restaurants, bars, and lounges; Cirque du Soleil’s magic applied to the music of Elvis; and 300,000 square feet of out-of-this-world meeting and prefunction space.

The convention center’s four ballrooms host everything from product launches to black-tie soirées for up to 5,000 guests under 20- to 25-foot ceilings. Three of the ballrooms furnish fully equipped theatrical stages, and all provide flexible room divisions and built-in audiovisual systems. The same built-in, high performance systems support two executive boardrooms and 36 additional meeting rooms.

A dramatic glass-curtain wall serves as a prime example of the hotel’s innovative, integrated approach to green-minded meetings. It spans one entire facade of the three-level facility, affording floods of soft, natural light from its northern exposure along with awe-inspiring views of the landscaped pools, Las Vegas, and desert beyond. There are no reviews posted at this time. There are no packages available at this time. There are no hot dates at this time. Posted Jun 1, 2010 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed Five Free Apps Deliver New Ways to Experience Strip's Hottest Hotels

LAS VEGAS - May 25, 2010 - Continuing its legacy of innovation, MGM MIRAGE (NYSE:MGM; www.mgmmirage.com) has launched five free iPhone apps delivering new ways to explore Las Vegas hotels and attractions. The applications are available through iTunes.

"Vegas Reality," the city's first dedicated Augmented Reality application, merges real Vegas with virtual Vegas for a multi-dimensional experience of its hotels, restaurants and attractions.

Feature-rich resort applications for Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand and New York-New York deliver dynamic interactivity and a depth of content unparalleled in the hospitality industry. An app also has been launched for Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi, and more are underway for additional MGM MIRAGE Las Vegas properties and attractions.

"Entertainment of Las Vegas" delivers access to video previews, show times, event calendars, directions and ticket purchasing for all the MGM MIRAGE fun in the city.

VEGAS REALITY

Developed by Resort Technology Partners

* Compatible with iPhone 3GS

Key Features: While strolling The Strip, point your iPhone at resorts and casinos and watch as information automatically appears as floating text on your screen, using your phone's camera and GPS services.

* Virtually jump inside your favorite resort to learn about its shows, nightclubs, restaurants and more
* Easily buy tickets and book reservations with one touch
* Access property's real-time Twitter feed for deals and events
* Select "fun facts" for info and videos sharing famous - and infamous - moments in Vegas history
* Explore CityCenter's public Fine Art Collection, including artist bios and facts about each piece
* Explore Vegas virtually. Regardless of your 'real' location, open the app and be transported to Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard

RESORT APPS: Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, New York-New York

Developed by MacroView Labs

* Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Key Features: Using your resort app, access photos, videos and information to help you decide what to do during your Vegas adventure, and book it all with one-touch functionality.

* Preview videos of shows, grab last-minute tickets, even check seating charts
* Bookmark your favorite activities to create itineraries for your trip
* Use GPS maps and indoor casino maps to quickly get you where you want to go
* Order room service, browse restaurant menus and make reservations from anywhere
* Review rules for casino games or join the Player's Club
* Email any page or offer to a friend
* Enjoy targeted content and deals based on your location
* Check local weather
* Preview and reserve rooms at the hotels
* For special events, work with your host property to load passcode-protected content viewable only to your attendees, including program schedules, party photos and more
* Preview event space
* Check out the clubs, bars and nightlife
* Rate any of the featured services at the resort
* See information in French, German, Italian, Japanese or Spanish
* View the live Twitter feed for deals, special events and more

ENTERTAINMENT OF LAS VEGAS

Developed by MacroView Labs and MGM MIRAGE

* Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Key Features: Explore shows, nightclubs and attractions at Bellagio,ARIA Resort & Casino,MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Excalibur, Circus Circus, Luxor and The Mirage.

* Enjoy location-specific content that changes depending on where you are
* Find top stand-up comedy acts, Cirque du Soleil shows, the Lion Habitat, the Shark Reef Aquarium, and all the best activities and shows right here
* Access overhead custom GPS maps of The Strip and get exact directions to where you want to go
* Use the embedded smart-search bar to find content by keyword
* Bookmark any page to create your own entertainment favorites
* Let your voice be heard - comment about your trip or rate any of the featured services
* Check out the live entertainment Twitter feed right from the app or send any page in the app to a friend Posted Dec 21, 2009 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed By Heidi Knapp Rinella, Las Vegas Review-JournalMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News

December 18, 2009 --There's a sort of unspoken guarantee that every new hotel-casino in Las Vegas will be better -- or at least more wondrous, more spectacular -- than anything that had gone before it, and that's certainly the case with the restaurants of CityCenter's Aria.

Consider, for example, Bar Masa and Shaboo, from chef Masayoshi Takayama, and their towering doors -- squat rectangles evoking shoji screens, which stretch almost to the restaurant's 36-foot ceiling. "Iconic" is how they're described by Bart Mahoney, vice president of food and beverage at Aria (who will be departing at the end of the month, to be replaced by Christina Clifton).

But they're not the only extreme-decor element of Bar Masa and Shaboo. Above the reception desk begins a stepped structure that extends above it to arch across the ceiling of the dining room beyond. The space below is the 150-seat Bar Masa, the more casual of the two, which serves an a la carte menu of updated Japanese food.

Beyond Bar Masa is the more elegant Shaboo, with seats for just 54. At Shaboo, guests dine from an omakase menu, a sort of Japanese-style prix fixe in which the multiple courses are selected by the chef. Shaboo's tables are topped with induction burners (with overhead hoods) for tabletop food preparation.

These are the first Las Vegas restaurants for Takayama, but the names of other Aria chefs will be familiar to locals and regular visitors. There is, for example, Julian Serrano, whose eponymous Aria restaurant is quite different from the one he runs at Bellagio. The Picassos have been replaced by a vibrant, contemporary design by Spain's Gente de Valor group, chosen by Serrano.

"He took complete ownership of the project five years ago," Mahoney said of the chef.

Floors are colorful mosaic; other elements evoke trees. The 218-seat restaurant serves hot and cold tapas, paella and seafood, including an elaborate shellfish presentation on the bar.

Another familiar name is Michael Mina, who opened American Fish at Aria. Mina's fifth local restaurant, American Fish has a lodge-y feel and a mission reflective of its name -- highlighting regional American seafood, including fish poached in Pacific Ocean water.

Stand back and squint at the entrance of Jean-Georges Steakhouse -- from Jean-Georges Vongerichten, familiar to Las Vegas beef lovers for his Prime at Bellagio -- and you'll spot a massive image of a bull's nose, which is repeated in different sizes throughout the restaurant. Highlighted by a huge wine wall near its entry, the steakhouse has a higher-energy feel than Prime, Mahoney said.

A mural of an Italian street scene and water wall of colored glass blocks marks the entrance to Sirio Ristorante, from Le Cirque master Sirio Maccioni. The menu here is predominantly traditional Italian dishes, plus some Italian-American fusion. An antipasto bar is along the rear wall of the restaurant.

Sage is the first Las Vegas restaurant for award-winning Chicago chef Shawn McClain. With a New American menu with Mediterranean influences, Sage is an opulent spot, with accents of brass and plum.

"It's going to be a very sexy restaurant," Mahoney said before Aria's opening.

And those familiar with the Light Group's Fix (at Bellagio), with its undulating wooden ceiling, and Stack (at The Mirage), with its stacked wood, will see continuity in the stylized wooden trees at Aria's Adam Tihany-designed Union, which also has a revolving liquor turntable behind the bar. The menu suitably evokes those of Fix and Stack.

Blossom and Lemongrass flank the VIP gaming area. The former is a high-end Chinese restaurant with a warm, rosy feel and intimate private spaces, the latter a Thai restaurant -- currently the only one in a Strip resort -- complete with a charcoal-burning satay bar and large vertical design elements that evoke stalks of lemongrass.

Fans of Jean Philippe Patisserie at Bellagio will be gratified to know that chef Jean-Philippe Maury's like-named Aria property has an 85-seat cafe.

Even the usually pedestrian restaurants are extraordinary as designed at Aria. The buffet has walls of windows that overlook the pool area's spas and gardens, and Cafe Vettro is a large open space facing a 40-foot-high wall of glass on the resort's north side, with stepped rear walls, each tier lined with stones, backlit and encased in glass. There are illuminated glass topiaries on one side, and if you look carefully, Red Rock can be seen through a window. It's awe without the shock.

"When you're in a high-end restaurant, you expect that," Mahoney said. "When you're at $20 and you feel like that, that's a big thing."

Contact reporter Heidi Knapp Rinella at hrinella@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0474.

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Copyright (c) 2009, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. Posted Dec 18, 2009 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed By Howard Stutz, Las Vegas Review-JournalMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News

Dec. 15, 2009--When the design firm of New York-based Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn Architects, EE&K, laid out a master plan for a site on the Strip known as 55 West more than five years ago, the challenge was to develop a location with New York City-type density but with Las Vegas accessibility.

That's one reason an additional 12 acres behind Bellagio was added to the plan that would soon become known as the 67-acre Project CityCenter.

"I can't remember if it was exactly our idea, but it was one of the first moves because we thought the 55 acres should be integrated and connected with adjacent properties," said Peter David Cavaluzzi, a principal with EE&K who helped the lead the CityCenter master-planning team. "The idea about city making is to extend and connect adjacent areas."

That's one reason CityCenter is connected to Bellagio to the north and Monte Carlo to the south via an elevated tram system.

Cavaluzzi and EE&K turned over the CityCenter master plan about a year into the process to a team of seven world-renowned architects. EE&K laid out conceptual locations for a major hotel-casino, smaller boutique hotels, high-rise residential and a high-end retail mall, all connected by roadways, walkways and the tram. The buildings themselves were just ideas.

Today, as the centerpiece of the $8.5 billion CityCenter, the 4,004-room, 61-story Aria resort prepares for its opening Wednesday night, Cavaluzzi is impressed by what took shape.

His biggest surprise was the diversity in the CityCenter skyline, which includes glass structures of 61, 57, 47 and 37 stories.

"It has a lot of energy," Cavaluzzi said. "The high level of design achieved at CityCenter is remarkable."

The idea behind CityCenter was to create a modern urban development, not just another Strip hotel-casino. EE&K spent more than two-thirds of the master planning process on the creative analysis, looking at other urban areas, researching the Strip and trying to understand what was appropriate for the site.

"We knew we had a very valuable piece of property and that we had to make it very dense to seize that value," Cavaluzzi said. "CityCenter was to be like a real city, with neighborhoods connected to each other through public spaces."

When EE&K turned over the master plan, it was up to the seven architectural firms to create buildings and structures that were unique but similar. Gensler, the world's largest architectural firm, managed the design process and kept the lines of communication open between the architects.

The firms had worked on some of the world's best-known commerce centers, museums, airport facilities and public spaces.

"It was intellectually stimulating and rewarding," said Greg Jones, lead architect on Aria for New Haven, Conn., firm Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. "The work constantly evolved. It was an exciting and fresh process."

Jones said Pelli Clarke Pelli had to work closely with Kohn Pederson Fox Associates, which was designing the Mandarin Oriental because of the common boundaries between the two buildings.

Pelli Clarke Pelli had created four of the world's largest private developments: World Financial Center in New York; Kuala Lumpur City Centre in Malaysia; Canary Wharf in London; and the International Finance Center in Hong Kong.

The company had never designed a casino, in Las Vegas or anywhere.

Jones said Aria needed to have an experience different than any other hotel-casino on the Strip. CityCenter Chief Executive Officer Bobby Baldwin told the firm to take a fresh look at hotel-casino design.

"We were able to give this as fresh a look as anybody on the planet," Jones said.

Aria's exterior has a sweeping glass and steel design that Jones says "offers a shimmering glow at night" now that its lighting features are taking full effect.

Also, detail was given to the hotel rooms, including a chiseled bay window that allows each hotel guest "to step outside the footprint of the building."

Jones said Aria was designed to be the "epicenter" of CityCenter, which is how EE&K envisioned the building on the master plan.

"If there is one surprise, its that the hotel-casino feels much closer to the Strip than I imagined it would," Cavaluzzi said. "I believe that comes from the perspective of looking up. It's a beautiful design."

It took five years to complete the bulk of CityCenter, although the Harmon Hotel has been delayed until 2010. Cavaluzzi said it was built enormously quickly compared with similar-type developments. He said the economic downturn, which nearly derailed CityCenter last spring, makes CityCenter rare in American history.

He likened the complex to New York Rockefeller Center, built between 1932 and 1940, and the Empire State Building, which opened in 1931, all buildings constructed during the Great Depression.

"Some of America's greatest public works, such as Hoover Dam, have been accomplished during hard times," he said. "In some ways, CityCenter has faced the same challenges."

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Posted Dec 18, 2009 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed Grand Opening Day and Gala Party Highlighted by Rooftop Fireworks Finale

December 17, 2009

LAS VEGAS - (NYSE:MGM) - Under a canopy of fireworks illuminating the night sky, ARIA Resort & Casino opened its doors last night and welcomed its first guests. Located at the heart of CityCenter, ARIA is the centerpiece of this extraordinary urban resort destination. Its debut signifies the official grand opening of this city-within-a-city, following two weeks of celebrations for the reveals of Vdara Hotel & Spa, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Crystals retail and entertainment district. Featuring an unprecedented combination of striking architecture, sustainable design, high-end service and spectacular amenities, the stunning ARIA has dramatically altered the skyline of the world's most famous boulevard and will forever change the perceptions of the Las Vegas Strip.

"ARIA and CityCenter reflect a combination of innovation, energy and visionary design that we believe will reshape how the world views the destination resort experience and attract visitors from around the globe as a landmark of taste and style," said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM MIRAGE, which developed CityCenter in partnership with Infinity World Development Corp.

Designed by the world-renowned firm Pelli Clarke Pelli, ARIA's architectural expression reveals itself at every turn, from its two breathtaking curvilinear steel and glass towers to the clean use of natural elements including lush foliage, wood and stone.

At 18 million square feet, CityCenter is the largest private sustainable development in the world, having received six LEED® Gold certifications for its buildings.

At an early morning press conference yesterday, company executives and national dignitaries including the president, CEO and founding chairman of the U.S Green Building Council were on hand to pay tribute to CityCenter's significant milestone in the arena of sustainable design, construction and operations. Among its sustainable distinctions, ARIA commissioned the first fleet of clean-fueled CNG stretch limousines. It also is the first resort on the Las Vegas Strip to generate its own electricity.

Also part of yesterday's opening events, senior executives from both MGM MIRAGE and Infinity World had the rare honor of remotely ringing the Closing Bell of the New York Stock Exchange, marking the project's major contribution to the financial fortitude of Las Vegas. CityCenter is the single largest hiring effort in the country today, creating new jobs for approximately 12,000 people.

Bobby Baldwin, president and CEO of CityCenter 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."

A grand opening invite-only gala capped the opening day's activities, giving VIP guests an opportunity to sample ARIA's impeccable hospitality, creative personalized attention and incredible array of amenities. Finally, at 11 p.m. fireworks filled the sky with brilliant bursts of color, reflected in ARIA's curved glass curtain wall, as Las Vegas visitors and locals gathered below eager to enter the resort when the doors opened shortly following the dramatic aerial salute.

Murren said, "CityCenter will become the benchmark by which all new developments will be measured, and it won't be surpassed in scope and grandeur for decades." Posted Dec 17, 2009 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed LAS VEGAS-The largest development with CityCenter-the 4,004-room Aria Resort & Casino-opens for business today on the Las Vegas Strip. Located at the back of the $9-billion 63-acre development, Aria features 150,000 square feet of gaming area, 26 bars and restaurants, a 215,000-square-foot pool area, an 80,000-square-foot spa and a permanent Elvis-themed Cirque du Soleil show.

Over the last two weeks three other pieces of the six-tower, 17-million-square-foot development have opened, including the 1,500-unit Vdara condo-hotel, the 500,000-square-foot Crystals shopping center and the 400-unit Mandarin Oriental hotel. The development also includes the 674-unit Veer Towers, the development's only strictly residential building, and the 400-room Harmon Hotel, which is slated to open in late 2010.

The LEED-Gold 6,800-unit development was designed by eight architectural firms including Pelli Clarke Pelli; Kohn Pedersen Fox; Helmut Jahn; RV Architecture LLC, led by Rafael Vinoly; Foster + Partners; Studio Daniel Libeskind; David Rockwell and Rockwell Group; Gensler; and Tihany Design. The executive construction manager was Tishman Construction. The general contractor was Perini. MGM Mirage launched a new web site for the development a few weeks ago. Posted Dec 4, 2009 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed Private Party Hosted by Eva Longoria Parker Follows Special Opening Day Event Benefiting Local Charities

LAS VEGAS - Today, Crystals at CityCenter opened its doors to the world, showcasing an unparalleled array of the world's most exclusive retailers and forever redefining the Las Vegas retail experience. Opening day activities gave invited guests an early preview of this unique retail and entertainment district at the core of the extraordinary urban resort destination, CityCenter.

Festivities began at noon with an invite-only shopping event for several thousand Las Vegas locals, for which a portion of the proceeds were donated to local charities including Nevada Cancer Institute, Keep Memory Alive, Nevada Ballet Theatre and The Smith Center for The Performing Arts. Crystals opened its doors to the public at 5 p.m.
Continuing the exclusive experience into this evening, one of Hollywood's favorite celebrities, Eva Longoria Parker, will host a private party at the CityCenter location of her highly anticipated new Latin steakhouse, Beso, one of several innovative dining experiences to open at Crystals.

"I am thrilled to be expanding my restaurant franchise, and cannot think of a more perfect location than Crystals at CityCenter," said Eva Longoria Parker. "Vegas is full of energy, excitement, and in the city of lights, Beso will be right at home."

An architectural movement of sheer energy, Crystals' interactive atmosphere invites guests to be part of the excitement. The exterior architecture, conceived by Studio Daniel Libeskind*, is a multi-faceted, brilliant glass canopy depicting the intricate beauty of a quartz crystal that welcomes an abundance of natural light into the stunning three-level experiential environment. Within, David Rockwell and Rockwell Group have created an abstract 21st century park that celebrates nature and the seasons, featuring "changeable artwork" in the way of hanging gardens and a colorful flower carpet.

"In Crystals we have coupled stunning architecture and interior design with one-of-a-kind offerings from the fashion industry's most celebrated brands to create a premier social and cultural environment in the heart of the city," said Frank Visconti, president of retail for CityCenter. "Here, Las Vegas visitors have a unique place to discover the finer things in life."

The Taubman Company, the world's leading developer of upscale shopping centers, who is responsible for the leasing of Crystals, has assembled an unprecedented collection of luxury retailers and dining destinations.

This incredible array of prestigious brands features one of the largest Louis Vuitton stores in the world, as well as flagships for Tiffany & Co., Prada, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, and Ermenegildo Zegna.

Unique- to-the-market retailers include: Tom Ford, Assouline, Carolina Herrera, de Grisogono, Kiki De Montparnasse, Kiton, Lanvin, Marni, Mikimoto, Miu Miu, Paul Smith, Porsche Design, Rodney Lough Gallery, and Tourbillon.

Other luxury retailers opening large format stores: Bottega Veneta, Bulgari, Cartier, Christian Dior, Fendi, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Versace. Many of these brands will be opening this month, with the balance opening the 1st half of 2010.
Eva Longoria Parker's Beso is joined by dining destinations Mastro's Ocean Club, a new offering by Todd English, Todd English P.U.B., and two new concepts by Wolfgang Puck, The Pods by Wolfgang Puck and Brasserie PUCK. Additional retail, restaurant and entertainment offerings will be announced throughout 2010.

The 500,000 square foot Crystals retail and entertainment district, is the second destination to open at CityCenter. Vdara Hotel & Spa opened Tuesday, December 1, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas opens tomorrow, December 4 and ARIA Resort & Casino opens Wednesday, December 16.

For More Information:
Christi Braginton
MGM MIRAGE Public Relations
702-650-7565 Posted Nov 25, 2009 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed CityCenter Awarded First Place in Commercial/Institutional Category at Fifth Annual Designing & Building with FSC Awards at USGBC's GreenBuild '09 Conference

LAS VEGAS - November 13, 2009 - The Forest Stewardship Council-US (FSC-US®) has honored CityCenter as the best commercial project of 2009 in the fifth annual Designing & Building with FSC Awards. The awards recognize entities that are committed to using sustainably harvested wood and creating a marketplace that promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management. CityCenter's dedication to the use of FSC-certified wood products is unprecedented in scale and resulted in a significant market transformation.

"We are honored to be recognized as this year's top commercial project," said Cindy Ortega, senior vice president of MGM MIRAGE's Energy and Environmental Services. "Sustainability has been at the forefront of every design and construction decision for CityCenter, and due to our high demand for responsibly harvested FSC-certified wood, numerous local companies have transformed their business practices, thereby opening channels for future sustainable projects."

Due to its size and buying power, construction of the 18-million-square-foot CityCenter development expanded the local and domestic FSC wood supply markets, which will serve to open channels to future projects interested in purchasing FSC-certified wood. Ten local wood suppliers received their FSC chain of custody certification to supply wood to CityCenter. Additionally, the development supported numerous FSC-certified companies, including:

* Seventeen wood mills
* Nineteen manufacturers and fabricators
* Fifty vendors
* Eight sub-contractors

"As far as a project that has driven the national demand for FSC chain of custody suppliers and products, CityCenter is it - and it deserves to be recognized for that," said Terry Campbell of Forest Products Solutions, in Portland, Ore., and a Designing & Building with FSC Awards jurist.

The FSC is an international non-profit organization established to promote responsible management, distribution and use of timber throughout the world. The FSC-US is recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating system as the world's only credible organization to certify responsible forestry (Source: The Forest Stewardship Council). Posted Nov 18, 2009 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed THREE-DIMENSIONAL VIDEO NAVIGATION IMMERSES USER IN THE CITYCENTER EXPERIENCE

LAS VEGAS - (November 18, 2009) - An evolutionary destination designed to transform Las Vegas at its core, CityCenter will be unveiled to the world this December. Yet now, weeks before the groundbreaking project opens its doors to the public, people everywhere can sample some of the energy and sophistication of CityCenter without ever leaving their chairs. Just launched, CityCenter's new Web site, www.citycenter.com, takes visitors on an interactive cinematic journey, allowing them to discover virtually why CityCenter is destined to forever change the face of the Las Vegas Strip.

CityCenter is an unparalleled urban development brought to life by eight world-renowned architects. Much more than a collection of resorts and residences in the center of the Las Vegas Strip, CityCenter will be a community - a welcoming environment for people to gather, relax and enjoy. Great pedestrian corridors, dynamic public spaces, authentic richness and diversity of experiences will evoke the energy of the world's most exciting places. Highly innovative and inviting, CityCenter's newly launched site epitomizes the very essence of this extraordinary resort destination.

"Through cutting-edge technology, this new site provides the best online experience for our guests," said Bobby Baldwin, CityCenter's president and CEO. "Travelers planning a trip to Las Vegas can visit the site and within moments understand why CityCenter will be the destination of choice on the Las Vegas Strip."

From the moment visitors enter the site they have the opportunity to craft their own journey. Just as within CityCenter itself, intrigue awaits around every corner, enticing guests to delve deeper into the project, learning and experiencing along the way. Moving the mouse over the various resort images makes options come alive, while the click of a button pulls viewers into CityCenter via cinematic flythroughs. Full-motion 3-D video treats visitors to a compelling visual tour, providing the sensation of actually being in the center of the city.

"The quality of CityCenter, with its range of amenities, the acclaim of those who helped bring it to life and the ambitious cultural and ecological accomplishments demanded an unconventional approach," said John Schadler, managing partner of SK+G, the Web site's designer.

Once stopped on the image of a particular resort, a simple click provides users with general information, a link to the hotel's individual Web site, and additional options, including a video exploration highlighting the unique character of each resort and the amenities available.

Functional layouts make navigation user-friendly, with no need to back-button click to continue exploration. Dedicated links take visitors to information regarding CityCenter's unprecedented public Fine Art Collection and the award-winning architects behind the project. Also easily accessible via a dedicated link are details on the development's commitment to sustainability. Upon opening, CityCenter will be one of the world's largest green developments, having already earned several Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certifications.

A unique directory allows users to search by category - from dining and spa to entertainment, accommodations and shopping - to discover more about the vast array of offerings available throughout the destination and help guests plan their visit in advance.

With the same ease, visitors looking to simply book their vacation at a CityCenter resort get immediate access to reservations from every page of the site.

"In developing this Web site, we focused on establishing an immersive, first-person perspective that puts the entire collection of CityCenter's brands at the visitor's fingertips," Schadler said. "We utilized full-motion 3-D elements as the basis of navigation to draw visitors in while providing an enhanced sense of both scale and detail. The goal is to intrigue guests by giving them a quick taste of the CityCenter experience and its rich list of offerings." Posted Nov 17, 2009 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed LAS VEGAS - November 17, 2009 - Chihuly at CityCenter will debut December 4 within the GALLERY, a dynamic exhibition space located within Crystals at CityCenter in Las Vegas. Spanning 4,350 square feet, the compelling presentation will feature a diverse representation of world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly's sculptures, drawings, editions and prints.

Recognized for his masterful use of color, fluid forms and large-scale glass installations, Chihuly's CityCenter exhibition will highlight a number of his important works including turquoise reeds and birch logs in the Nuutajarvi Installation, the dramatic Lime Green Icicle Tower and an indigo-blue neon sculpture. Chihuly's new Silvered Venetian series, marking the artist's first application of silver as a base color, also will be on view. Additionally, visitors will see Chihuly's popular series works, drawings - created on both paper and acrylic - as well as Studio Editions, limited-edition prints, books and videos.

Chihuly's work has been exhibited in many major museums throughout the world. One of his most extraordinary and iconic pieces can be found in the lobby of Bellagio Resort & Casino. Among the luxury hotel's most-photographed features, Fiori di Como is a dazzling three-dimensional sculptural representation of flowers in bloom.

Located within the heart of CityCenter and just steps from the famed Las Vegas Strip, the GALLERY is among an unparalleled collection of unique luxury retailers and restaurateurs that will be found within Crystals - a 500,000-square-foot retail, dining and entertainment district certain to become Las Vegas' premier shopping experience. Hours of operation for the GALLERY will be from 10 a.m. to midnight, daily. For sales information, the GALLERY can be reached at (702) 590-8741 beginning December 4. Posted Nov 9, 2009 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed LAS VEGAS - November 9, 2009 - Planning a visit to Las Vegas can now be accomplished with unprecedented ease. Beginning today, the expert Concierge of ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter are only a phone call or e-mail away, ready to provide ARIA guests personalized assistance on everything from transportation and tee times to dining, spa and show reservations. Upon opening December 16, ARIA will introduce a new generation of resort experiences, giving people around the globe a new reason to visit the Las Vegas Strip. With the early availability of ARIA's Concierge, guests will experience first-hand the exceptional service that ARIA provides before ever setting foot inside the resort.

Available to all ARIA hotel guests, Concierge are available seven days a week and may be reached by calling 877-347-2742 or 702-590-9520 or by emailing concierge@arialasvegas.com.

"ARIA will be demonstrably different than any resort that has preceded it," said Bill McBeath, the resort's president and COO. "We wanted to make sure our guests could experience that difference long before the day they check in."
The Concierge offers ARIA guests access and information on all that defines this unique destination. Featuring an unprecedented combination of striking architecture, sustainable design, high-end service and spectacular amenities, ARIA will offer impeccable hospitality and creative personalized attention, providing each guest an unmatched journey.
The contemporary architecture of the ARIA tower designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli will be complemented by the resort's lavish accommodations. Within ARIA's 4,004 guestrooms, including 568 suites, panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows will offer magnificent views of Las Vegas' striking skyline. Modern décor, lavish amenities, cutting-edge entertainment and next-generation technology will be the hallmark of these plush retreats.

ARIA will offer unrivaled entertainment. The visionary team at Cirque du Soleil has partnered with CKX, Inc. and its subsidiary Elvis Presley Enterprises to create a permanent production, Viva ELVIS™, celebrating the timeless musical legacy of Elvis Presley. Extraordinary artistry, astonishing acrobatics, stunning special effects and The King will rev up vintage Vegas into a show like no other. Guests of ARIA receive priority access to Viva ELVIS.

Many of the country's best chefs and restaurateurs are represented at ARIA, those who have played integral roles in the development of Las Vegas' culinary scene along with a pair of remarkable Las Vegas newcomers. Masayoshi Takayama, the world-renowned chef of the famed Masa in New York City; and Shawn McClain, celebrated executive chef and partner at three of Chicago's top restaurants; will join Sirio Maccioni, Michael Mina, Julian Serrano, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Jean-Philippe Maury and The Light Group. Guests also will enjoy ARIA's dynamic collection of lounges, bars and nightclubs.

-Personal Planning Assistance Available for Bookings December 17 and Beyond-

Synchronizing balance and beauty, The Spa at ARIA invites guests into a peaceful haven where nature's healing properties take center stage. The two-level Spa will feature 62 treatment rooms, a full-service salon with 55 stations, an advanced fitness center, boutique, poolside spa cabanas and Las Vegas' first co-ed spa balcony, featuring an outdoor therapy pool and views of ARIA's spectacular poolscape. In addition to skincare and massage rooms, The Spa will feature ashiatsu, couples' massage, thai massage, hydro-therapy and vichy rooms, as well as three exclusive spa suites. A unique salt meditation room ("shio") will feature a wall of illuminated salt bricks that encourages the healing of skin irritations and upper respiratory problems. A second meditation room will be the only in the country to offer Japanese stone sauna ("ganbanyoku") beds, composed of heated black mineral stone that emits negative ions and far-infrared rays. In addition to relaxing muscles, the ganbanyoku treatment will help improve blood circulation, increase metabolism and eliminate toxins from the body. A fire lounge will serve as a place for relaxation before or following treatments.

Reservations for ARIA are being accepted for Dec. 17 and beyond via www.arialasvegas.com or
866-359-7757. Nightly room rates range from $149 to $799; suites from $425 to $7,500. Posted Nov 5, 2009 by Elite News Team
Subscribe - RSS Feed Viva ELVIS - A tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley.

Today, Cirque du Soleil is revealing the name of its brand new show in Las Vegas and we wanted you to be among the first to know: Viva ELVIS!

Created in the image of The King of Rock 'n' Roll - powerful, sexy, whimsical, truly unique and larger than life - the show highlights an American icon who transformed popular music and whose image embodies the freedom, excitement and turbulence of his era.

Tickets to Viva ELVIS will be soon available. Stay tuned!

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/viva-elvis/videos.aspx