Anthony Curtis, Author at Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Las Vegas Advisor: Resort, parking fees facing more hikes

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 10:04:00 +0000

Resort fees and parking. No one likes ’em. Except for the casinos. Resort fees, the now almost universal add-on to per-night hotel rates, at MGM properties have been raised by $5 to $8 depending on the resort. The increases result in fees ranging from $45-per-night at Luxor, Excalibur and New York-New York to $55-per-night at Aria, Bellagio and Cosmopolitan. Parking fees have also been raised at MGM properties, up $2 across the board to $20-per-day weekdays and $25 weekends.

Las Vegas Advisor: Holiday season brings affordable room rates

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The holiday season is traditionally prime time for finding low room rates in Las Vegas, and this year follows suit. Last week, the researchers at the Las Vegas Advisor canvassed every casino in town, looking for the best leads on lodging in December. The rates below were available either by consulting casino websites or using third-party reservations options. Rates are higher during the National Finals Rodeo, which runs through Dec. 14. All told, 26 casinos have rooms going for under $40 (base price; does not include resort fees), the same total as last year. Here’s the lineup (rates change often and are not guaranteed).

Grand Prix cleanup is underway in Las Vegas

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

With the Vegas Grand Prix race now in the record books, it’s cleanup time. The work started the day after the race, and many of the temporary structures that transformed Las Vegas streets into a world-class raceway have already been taken down. Still, as workers remove barriers, scaffolding for lights and cameras, grandstands and other race infrastructure, lane restrictions will be in place through most of December. The temporary bridge on East Flamingo Road is expected to be removed by Dec. 20, which should mean that things are back to normal. All in all, the teardown should be accomplished by the end of the year, taking less than half the time that it did last year.

Las Vegas Advisor: No casino in plans for 3-tower project

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A project with the “placeholder” name Galileo has been proposed for a 27-acre parcel on the north Strip. Targeting the location that was formerly Wet ‘n’ Wild and recently the site of the never- started All Net arena project, plans for Galileo include three towers — one of which would be the city’s tallest at 752 feet (17 feet taller than Fontainebleau) — with 2,500 hotel rooms and condos, along with a 6,000-seat theater, a 120,000-square-foot convention area and an 18,000-square-foot “NBA-ready” arena, but no casino so far. The plan will require approval from the Federal Aviation Administration due to the height of the towers. If green-lighted, construction could start as early as the first quarter of 2025 and finish sometime in 2029.

Las Vegas Advisor: Grand Prix racing highlights the week

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

If you haven’t been paying close attention, you might not know that this is Grand Prix week in Las Vegas. Last November’s race was one of the city’s biggest events and this year’s will be, too, but it doesn’t have anywhere near the buzz of F1 No. 1. Prices for rooms and tickets are down and so is the enthusiasm, but the effects linger. Part of the race’s course runs from the Venetian to Aria, so that section of the Strip, as well as the streets in the vicinity to the east, will be blocked off. If you’re not paying the (still high) fees for a seat in the grandstands along the course, there’s no reliable way to catch a glimpse of the race, as the pedestrian bridges over the Strip along the race route have been outfitted with view-obstructing coverings. Recommendation: Watch it on TV.

Las Vegas Advisor: New immersive district in the works for 2025

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Las Vegas City Council has approved a project in the vicinity of the AREA15 entertainment complex. The “New Vegas Immersive District” will feature a 200-room hotel and a 100,000-square-foot horror experience in collaboration with Universal Parks and Resort. Originally announced in 2023 as a stand-alone attraction called “Universal Horror Unleashed,” the footprint has since expanded from 20 to 36 acres and the hotel added, with a scheduled opening in 2025. Longer-range plans for the district include 585 multifamily housing units and 320,000 square feet of office space.

Las Vegas Advisor: LINQ Promenade mall sold for $275 million

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

After more than a year of speculation about which Caesars Entertainment casino might be up for sale, the question has been answered. It’s none of them. Instead, it’s been announced that Caesars is selling the LINQ Promenade, the outdoor shopping mall situated between The LINQ and the Flamingo, for $275 million. The buyer is a joint venture between noncasino companies in Texas and New York; hence, there doesn’t figure to be any kind of gambling-industry element connected to the sale. The High Roller observation wheel was not included in the deal. The sale comes on the heels of Caesars’ sale of the World Series of Poker brand, another capital-raising move that didn’t necessitate the sale of any of its casinos.

Las Vegas Advisor: Delano rebranding turns it into a W Hotel

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 27 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Delano, the 43-story 1,117-room all-suite noncasino hotel located next to Mandalay Bay, will soon be no more. Originally opened in 2003 as THEhotel, in 2014 the rooms were remodeled and the amenities refurbished to accompany a name change to Delano. Now, Delano will be rebranded again in a partnership with Marriott International as a W Hotel. A timetable for the conversion wasn’t announced; however, it’s expected to begin immediately, with a completion date in early 2025.

Las Vegas Advisor: Traffic snarls abound during F1 preparation

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

It’s cone time in Las Vegas. With one month to go until the second Las Vegas Grand Prix, prep work for the race is in full swing, along with the attending traffic disruptions signaled by what seems like thousands of cones and barrels on the streets near the race path. Construction, lane restrictions and tree removals at center Strip are all in progress. But the main indicator is the start of work to build the temporary bridge on Flamingo Road. The bridge will remain in place until early December, when the teardown of the seating, track barriers, course lighting and other elements takes place.

Las Vegas Advisor: Trop drops, readying for redevelopment

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

On schedule and without a hitch, the two remaining towers of the Tropicana were imploded in the wee hours on Wednesday. It was Las Vegas’ first implosion since the Riviera in 2016 and probably the last for some time (there are no current candidates). Security was tight and the perimeter was wide, disallowing the public from getting within a half-mile of the demolition. After the cleanup, attention will turn to redeveloping the property with what’s expected to be a baseball stadium and casino resort, though no firm plans have been settled on.

Las Vegas Advisor: Mirage volcano razed for Hard Rock tower

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Everyone knew it was coming, and now it has. The Mirage volcano, in many ways the symbol of the “new Las Vegas,” is no more. Last month construction crews tore down the volcano in preparation for using the space to build the guitar-shaped hotel tower that will be the focal element of the resort when it reopens as a Hard Rock. In addition to distinguishing the Mirage when it debuted with the casino in 1989, the volcano was the first “free spectacle” in Las Vegas, a forerunner of the Bellagio fountains, the Treasure Island pirate battle and downtown’s Fremont Street Experience, among several others.

Las Vegas Advisor: New Paris Skybridge delivers convenience

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

While pedestrian travel has been hindered to some degree by the closing of bridges at the south end of the Strip in preparation for the Tropicana demolition, moving around has become a bit easier up the street. The 250-foot-long walkway that connects the Versailles Tower (at the Horseshoe) to the Paris front desk has been completed and is open to the public. The Paris Skybridge passes over the service road between Bally’s and the Horseshoe. Caesars Entertainment spent $100 million transforming the Horseshoe’s Jubilee Tower into Paris’ Versailles Tower, and now the conversion is complete.

Las Vegas Advisor: Mixed-use project OK’d at old Riviera site

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Plans have been approved for a mixed-use hotel, residential, retail, dining and entertainment center on the Strip in front of the Convention Center. The 10-acre parcel is part of the old Riviera site that was purchased for $125 million in June. The project includes two 60-story towers (the neighboring Fontainebleau is 67 stories), one with 425 residential units, the other with short- and long-term hotel rentals, along with a shopping center, pool complex, events venue and a 400-foot amusement ride. A casino is not included. No timeline, budget or name was revealed, but the powers behind it are also the successful developers of the 63 CityCenter complex.

Las Vegas Advisor: Monday football parties have all but vanished

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Once a key cog in the Las Vegas marketing wheel, Monday Night Football parties are now almost nonexistent. Rather than throw parties in ballrooms, the casinos now rely solely on their sports books to draw crowds. And they do. Busiest are Las Vegas’ two premier sports books at Circa and Westgate.

Las Vegas Advisor: Circa’s expansion offers more rooms Downtown

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 08 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Downtown’s Circa is opening 106 rooms and suites, which will increase the resort’s total room count from 512 to 618. The rooms occupy four floors in the middle of the tower. The four suites and 102 king rooms will be rolled out floor by floor every two weeks starting in late October and finishing up by Christmas. Interestingly, these rooms have been available since the first day the resort opened in 2020, but haven’t been brought online until now. Pre-opening reports set Circa’s room count at 777, a cool number, but not one that is likely to materialize.

Las Vegas Advisor: Tropicana’s 2 towers to be imploded Oct. 9

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The window was supposed to be Sept. 30 to Oct. 8 for the implosion of the Tropicana’s two remaining towers (the rest of the resort has already been demolished mechanically), but another day has been added and the deed will be done on Oct. 9 at 2:30 a.m. Although the early morning time suggests an understated affair, the implosion will be preceded by a fireworks and drone show. Both towers will come down at the same time, then the site will be cleared and attention turned to the ostensible building of the $1.5 billion stadium for the Las Vegas Athletics.

Las Vegas Advisor: Las Vegas could get into filmmaking in big way

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Already a favorite for location shooting, Las Vegas is poised to take a huge leap into the movie business. Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that it will lease a movie studio in the southwest valley and spend upwards of $8.5 billion in film production costs if state legislators pass tax incentives in the 2025 session. Warner said it will partner with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the studio developer for a “long-term commitment” to “Hollywood 2.0,” a plan spearheaded by Vegas transplant Mark Wahlberg. The filmmaking center would be the focal point of UNLV’s Harry Reid Research and Technology Park located about 10 miles west of the Strip. A proposal for a second movie studio in Summerlin, for which Sony Pictures has committed $1 billion in production spending, is also contingent on the legislative action.

Las Vegas Advisor: Pedestrian bridges to Tropicana closed

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

There’s still almost three months to go before the implosion of the Tropicana towers, but the two pedestrian bridges leading to the site of the former casino have been closed to the public. From now until the end of the year, there will be no access to the bridges leading from the MGM and Excalibur to the Tropicana corner, though the intersection’s other two bridges (to New York-New York) remain open. Sidewalk access will be next to go sometime prior to the implosion window of Sept. 30 to Oct. 8.

Las Vegas Advisor: 2024 F1 prep to go easy on traffic, businesses

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Following last year’s high level of discontent over traffic-flow and business-access disruptions related to preparation for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, several new protocols have been put in place to ease the impact. Formula 1 has indicated that the installation of seating, track barriers, course lighting and other necessities for the race will take place almost exclusively during nighttime hours, with work beginning Sept. 1. The temporary bridge on Flamingo Road will be installed in October and have a smaller footprint, due to having two lanes instead of four, which will provide better access to businesses in the area. The race will be staged Nov. 21-23 and the tear-down will be completed in December.

Las Vegas Advisor: New casino planned at Jokers Wild site

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

After a bit of a lull in new-casino news, Boyd Gaming has announced that it will build a $100 million resort on the site it owns on Boulder Highway in Henderson that the Jokers Wild casino now occupies. The new casino will be called Cadence Crossing, in a nod to the nearby Cadence master-planned community. Construction will start later this year with an opening date expected in early 2026. The Jokers Wild casino will remain open until Cadence Crossing replaces it, then will be demolished.

Las Vegas Advsior: New poker champ won hard-earned $10M prize

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Jonathan Tamayo, a 38-year-old professional poker player from Texas, emerged from the record-breaking starting field of 10,112 players to become the new World Series of Poker Main Event champion and take down a first prize of $10 million. Tamayo beat Jordan Griff from Arizona after 65 hands of back-and-forth heads-up play. Griff pocketed $6 million as runner-up. Tamayo’s victory makes it two straight wins in the Main Event for American players.

Las Vegas Advisor: Las Vegas megaresort The Mirage is no more

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Mirage, the casino that ushered in the megaresort era and flipped the switch on the “new Las Vegas,” closed Wednesday after a 34-year run. The radical Mirage model concocted by Steve Wynn aimed to generate profits property-wide, including from rooms, food and beverage, entertainment and retail, rather than relying almost solely on casino winnings. It was successful, and that model is in place at almost every major casino today. The property will be completely transformed into Hard Rock International’s guitar-shaped hotel, which is scheduled to open in 2027. An implosion isn’t planned, and several elements of the Mirage, including the stunning atrium, are expected to be a part of the new resort.

Las Vegas Advisor: Poker tournament draws record number of players

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Main Event of the 55th World Series of Poker is in progress, drawing 10,112 players who put up $10,000 for the entry fee or won their way in through qualifying tournaments. That’s a scant 69 more than last year, but it’s also a new all-time record. The prize pool is more than $100 million, with $10 million going to first place. All nine final-table players will get $1 million or more, and the top 1,517 finishers will be in the money for at least a $15,000 prize. The new poker world champion will be crowned this week.

Las Vegas Advisor: Summertime means deals on room rates

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Summertime in Las Vegas traditionally means low room rates, and that applies to the summer of 2024. A survey conducted last week by LasVegasAdvisor.com turned up 28 hotel-casinos with base rates of $50 and below. Lowest of all was The Linq, with a $20-per-night base rate. Las Vegas casinos with hotel rates of $40 or less were also found at Arizona Charlie’s Decatur, Arizona Charlie’s Boulder, Circus Circus, the D, Ellis Island, Excalibur, Gold Coast, Golden Gate, Harrah’s, OYO, Planet Hollywood, Rio, Silver Sevens and The Strat. Rates change quickly, and these are weekday base prices that may be subject to any combination of taxes, booking charges and resort fees, but they’re an excellent place to start if you’re trying to track down good room deals over the next couple of months.

Las Vegas Advisor: After 3 decades, free Strip shuttle shutters

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 10:05:00 +0000

One of Las Vegas’ earliest traffic innovations has seen its last day. After three decades of shuttling riders between the Mirage and Treasure Island, the short — 1,000-foot, 90-second — free tram has discontinued service. The tram began running in 1993 when Treasure Island opened; at the time, both it and the Mirage were owned by the same company. It survived ownership changes at both casinos, but the writing was on the wall came when Hard Rock took over operations at the Mirage and announced the resort’s closure to facilitate the rebranding.

Las Vegas Advisor: F1 Arcade constructing its flagship in Las Vegas

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The world’s largest F1 Arcade will open next year at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, and the 21,000-square-foot attraction will become the flagship location. Three Arcades are already operating, in Boston, and London and Birmingham in England. A fourth location is slated to open in Washington, D.C., in the fall.

Las Vegas Advisor: Major renovation set for Venetian Resort

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Venetian, a major $1.5 billion renovation of Venetian/Palazzo will soon begin. Plans include a comprehensive makeover of the Venetian Expo, a remodel of the high-limit room and sports book at Palazzo, the new Voltaire Theater, a complete refresh of all 4,000 Venetian suites and several new restaurants. Two acclaimed restaurants already announced are the Michelin-starred Cote Korean Steakhouse out of New York City and Gjelina, an Italian restaurant from L.A.’s Venice Beach.

Las Vegas Advisor: Classic downtown casino to undergo big expansion

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Following the recent $30 million capital investment to redo the hotel rooms and casino restrooms, downtown’s El Cortez, one of the oldest casinos in Las Vegas, has announced another $20 million upgrade. This one will expand the casino floor by 10,000 feet, with a dedicated high-limit table-games lounge, two bars, an Asian restaurant and a Starbucks. Additionally, Ike’s Bar will be replaced with a circular roulette-themed bar, and a second new bar will host live music. The project will begin this summer with a completion date of early next year.

Las Vegas Advisor: Another Vegas casino to charge for parking

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Add another Las Vegas casino to the pay-for-parking list. After holding the line on free parking since opening in 2021, as of June 1, only players club members in the upper tiers at Resort World will be allowed to park for free for extended periods. Under the new system, everyone will still get up to three free hours, but after the free three, the rate will be “$18 per entry,” which appears to mean that rate will apply no matter how long you stay. Valet parking will remain the same: $25-$75, depending on the duration.

Las Vegas Advisor: In an unexpected move, Mirage to close in July

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 26 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

It wasn’t closing, until it was. After numerous proclamations that the Mirage would remain operating during the long transition to Hard Rock, it was announced last week that the entire casino will close on July 17. It’s a significant development in that the opening of the Mirage in 1989 is credited with flipping the switch on the “new Las Vegas” and ushering in the age of the mega-resort. The Mirage model called for generating profits propertywide, from rooms, food and beverage to entertainment and retail, rather than relying almost solely on casino winnings. Once proven successful, it became the business plan for every high-end casino on the Strip. The new Hard Rock Las Vegas, with its guitar-shaped hotel, is slated to reopen “by spring 2027.”

Las Vegas Advisor: Virgin to take over managing its casino

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 19 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

After three years of hiring out the management of its casino, Virgin Las Vegas is taking full control of the entire resort. Since its conversion from Hard Rock to Virgin, the casino has been run by Mohegan Sun. However, Virgin and Mohegan are parting ways, with Virgin expecting to take over gambling operations by the end of the year. Virgin management says it also plans to beef up promotions and is considering bringing back the iconic Center Bar, which was one of the resort’s biggest draws during the Hard Rock days.

Las Vegas Advisor: New ‘NBA-ready arena’ proposed along the Strip

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 12 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A just-launched Las Vegas-based real estate company called LVXP has announced plans to build an “experiential mixed-use development” on the 27-acre former site of the Wet’n’Wild water park. The project would include what’s being touted as “the city’s tallest resort” with 2,500 rooms and a “state-of-the-art NBA-ready arena.”

Las Vegas Advisor: Pool season can mean inclusivity — for a fee

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 05 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

With the Vegas party machine revving up for summer, the action at the pools takes center stage. Unlike the days when you had to be a hotel guest to get into a casino pool, many are now open to the public for swimming or partying, but be prepared to pay for the privilege.

Las Vegas Advisor: Strip casino goes retro with coin, token slots

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

After years of languishing without an identity, Slots A Fun on the north end of the Strip has rebranded with a retro theme.

Las Vegas Advisor: Mirage’s transition to Hard Rock begins

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Cirque du Soleil has announced that its long-running show, The Beatles LOVE, will close on July 7. The show that’s based on the music of the Fab Four has run for 18 years and played to 11.5 million people. While it’s big news that one of Las Vegas’ most renowned shows is closing, the bigger news is its departure is signaling that the transformation from the Mirage to the Hard Rock is underway in earnest. Already closed is Siegfried &Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, followed by the volcano, which will be replaced with a guitar-shaped hotel tower. Firm timetables haven’t been disclosed, but there are currently no plans to completely close the casino at any point.

Las Vegas Advisor: Tropicana faces razing possibly in October

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

It’s been a while since the last big casino demolition on the Strip, but another may be in the works. Following the closing of the Tropicana, a 10-foot “razing wall” is being built around the property, with a demolition tentatively scheduled for October. The demolition could include an implosion of the two towers, “subject to permitting and further changes.” If it transpires, it will be the first Strip casino to be imploded since the Riviera in 2016.

Las Vegas Advisor: Show price hikes boost cost of Vegas getaway

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Everyone wants to see a show as part of a complete Las Vegas vacation, but the cost of doing so is rising. In a LasVegasAdvisor.com tally of ticket prices for 88 active shows, the average cost of a single ticket came in at a daunting $104.72. That’s just 57 cents higher than last year’s average, but it’s also a sign that $100 tickets aren’t going away. In fact, 48 shows had a ticket price above $100 this year, four more than last. And it’s significantly higher for the premium shows. The highest average for a production was O at Bellagio, coming in at $265.59.

Las Vegas Advisor: Tropicana, a constant on the Strip, to close

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

After an uninterrupted 66-year run, the Tropicana will close on Tuesday. The last day of full operation will be Monday, and shortly after midnight, the casino will bid goodbye to the last of those who have stuck around. The remainder of closing day will accommodate the checking out of the last guests, then the doors will be shut. It’s not known for certain what’s in store for the Trop. It’s believed that the casino will return remade, possibly with a baseball stadium attached; however, firm plans haven’t been announced. One thing appears certain: If the casino does return, it won’t be called the Tropicana.

Las Vegas Advisor: March Madness buzz dominates Las Vegas

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Super Bowl is Las Vegas’ biggest sporting event, but March Madness isn’t far behind. The big opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament is in progress, and the sportsbooks and casino viewing parties will be packed on game days through to the championship game. The tournament’s Final Four will be held in Las Vegas in 2028. For now, though, hanging with the raucous crowds in the books, where every game will be telecast on the big screens, is the next best thing.

Las Vegas Advisor: Mirage volcano active but faces destruction

Anthony Curtis — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

After a lengthy hiatus that some believed would be permanent, the Mirage volcano is again erupting on the hour from 8 to 11 p.m. nightly. The volcano was dormant through much of February, due to a Super Bowl-related promotion that made use of the structure. How long it will continue to operate is unknown, as the volcano will eventually be demolished to make room for the guitar-shaped hotel tower that will signal the transition from the Mirage to the Hard Rock brand. When that will happen, though, still hasn’t been revealed.