Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading provider of innovative information technology and hospitality software solutions, today announced that Affinity Gaming has selected the Agilysys Stratton Warren System inventory and procurement solution to streamline operations at Terrible's Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.
Nobu Hospitality partners including Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, along with designer David Rockwell and principals from Caesars Palace, gathered yesterday at the original Nobu in New York City to provide guests with an initial glance inside the world's first Nobu Hotel, set to open in Las Vegas late 2012. In addition to revealing the first look into the hotel design, the group announced guest bookings will begin Oct. 1. Rooms can be booked online at NobuHotelCaesarsPalace.com.
Funding Signals Improved Economic Growth for Las Vegas and North End of the Strip --Set to Open in 2014, SLS Las Vegas will Feature the Design of Global Visionary Philippe Starck and the Culinary Brilliance of Chef Jose Andres sbe, an industry-leading hospitality, lifestyle and real estate development company, and Stockbridge Capital Group, LLC, a real estate investment firm, today announced that they have secured $300 million in new funding for the redevelopment of the Sahara Hotel & Casino into the highly anticipated SLS Las Vegas. The news of the funding marks a major milestone for Las Vegas and the north end of the Strip, signaling renewed economic growth for the community and the hospitality and gaming industries.
sbe, an industry-leading hospitality, lifestyle and real estate development company, and Stockbridge Capital Group, LLC, a real estate investment firm, today announced that they have secured $300 million in new funding for the redevelopment of the Sahara Hotel & Casino into the highly anticipated SLS Las Vegas. The news of the funding marks a major milestone for Las Vegas and the north end of the Strip, signaling renewed economic growth for the community and the hospitality and gaming industries. In addition to the funding, sbe named hospitality and gaming industry veteran Rob Oseland as President and Chief Operating Officer of SLS Las Vegas. Oseland was formally with Wynn Resorts. In his new role, he will work in conjunction with Nazarian and sbe to develop and launch SLS Las Vegas. "Rob brings more than two decades of development, gaming and marketing expertise at the highest level to SLS Las Vegas," Nazarian said. "His leadership and talents have made Rob a valued member of the Vegas community, and his contributions to sbe will be instrumental to our success."
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) announces today that Chris Cahill is joining the company in the newly created position of executive vice president of global operations. After almost two decades with Fairmont Raffles International, Mr. Cahill started with Las Vegas Sands on April 1, 2012 and is responsible for overseeing the company’s various property operations, as well as corporate marketing, human resources, and other operating departments. He reports to company President and Chief Operating Officer Michael A. Leven. While at Fairmont Raffles and its predecessor organizations, Mr. Cahill gained an international reputation for excellence as he led the company through several successful mergers as both president and chief operating officer. Mr. Cahill began his hospitality career in 1978 as a beverage manager for the Delta Hotel in Ottawa, Canada and has served in a number of senior positions before landing his current role as chief operating officer of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, which he has held since 2006.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the opening of The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa, the newest addition Westin’s growing resort portfolio and the second Westin in greater Las Vegas. The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa features 493 rooms and suites, world-class resort amenities, and expansive meeting facilities in an unbeatable location. The resort underwent a $4 million renovation prior to re-opening under the Westin flag, including upgrades to all guest rooms to implement signature Westin brand amenities including the renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed.
As progress continues on the world’s first Nobu Hotel, Restaurant and Lounge at Caesars Palace, slated to welcome guests in fall 2012, the venture has announced Gigi Vega as general manager of Nobu Hotel. Vega will oversee the operation of Nobu Hotel, working with her team to implement the highest service standards and uphold Nobu and Caesars Palace experience expectations. Vega is no newcomer to the luxury hotel industry with nearly 25 years of experience in hospitality. She joined Caesars Palace in January 2009 as vice president of luxury hotel operations, successfully leading operations for the exclusive villas and luxury suites. Prior to joining the Caesars Entertainment family Vega held a 10-year tenure with Mandarin Oriental where she held esteemed positions including resident manager and assistant executive manager for the Mandarin Oriental, Macau and Manila brands, respectively
In November, 2011, LV Tower 52, LLC ("LV Tower") acquired a controlling interest in Planet Hollywood Towers by Westgate and appointed Hilton Grand Vacations to rebrand the property and provide future vacation ownership sales and marketing services. Most recently LV Tower appointed HGV to oversee the resort's condominium association, timeshare interval reservations, and on-site resort maintenance and resort operations. The more than 17,000 existing Westgate owners of the property will continue to enjoy the full ownership rights and benefits associated with their original purchase from Westgate Resorts as well as their exchange privileges with Interval International.
During a two-week period in the middle of January, Las Vegas - sets aside its otherwise upstanding morals to the selling of porn. And, what's more - it's completely legal! Hundreds of thousands of people descended upon this desert oasis, which has more than a bit of a reputation for being a party town, and perhaps none more so than at this time. This high profile period also attracted thousands of the world's Press who waited patiently in breathless anticipation to unravel what's new and hopefully captures the money shot.
Looking for a cheap room on the Strip this week? Good luck. Room rates at the Riviera, normally one of the most affordable places in town, are more than eight times normal January prices, thanks to the annual International Consumer Electronics Show.
Colliers International today announced Executive Managing Directors Mike Mixer and Dharmesh Patel will lead Colliers International Hotels | USA. Colliers International Hotels specializes in hospitality real estate investment advisory services.
With the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas so far underperforming with its casino operations, the property on Monday signaled it's hoping for further improvements with the hiring of longtime casino executive Thomas McCartney as chief operating officer.
A number of Strip resorts have partnered with the nonprofit group Clean the World to collect partially used hotel room toiletries and recycle them for use by people in need in the United States and abroad. Recycled soaps and shampoos have been sent to Las Vegas homes for pregnant teens, homeless shelters in New York City, Houston and Chicago and impoverished villages overseas. They have helped hundreds of thousands of Haitians struggling in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake and, more recently, scores of Filipinos left homeless by typhoons and flooding.
Paul Pusateri was recently named chief operating officer of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas.
Marketing expert Michael Ribero of Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday was named the fifth director by the board of Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel & Casino Inc.
Robert Van Ausdal has worked in the construction business in Las Vegas for fifteen years and has witnessed first-hand the dramatic collapse of the industry. He is describing the construction site of the Fontainebleau, a 63 storey mega-hotel. The planned development featured more than 3,800 rooms - but construction was halted in the spring of 2008 with the hotel around 70% complete.
MGM Resorts International on Monday said it wants to destroy its Harmon building — an unfinished condo-and-hotel tower riddled with construction engineering problems. If it occurs, the demolition would mark a significant new tack for the once fast-growing gambling mecca, which for decades saw the destruction of old casinos to make way for costly new ones. This demolition, observers believe, might be the first large-scale one of a Strip building that was never in use.
IN-DEPTH: There is definitely a lot of value in accurately predicting demand at every price level for hotels, rather than simply assuming that the past will repeat itself, says Frederic Deschamps, Vice President Global Revenue Optimization, Carlson Hotels Worldwide. A forecast of demand to come at every price level gives the RM area a "sand box" where different rate structures and distribution strategies can be tested.
When the Hard Rock launched its pool party ‘Rehab’ in 2004, it was a stroke of marketing genius. Seven years later, that resort—and its myriad competitors—are keeping the party going.
Ms. Boyett was most recently with Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas, where she held the position of Director of Sales and Marketing. Prior to St. Thomas, Boyett served as Director of Group and Catering Sales at Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. In addition to Mandarin Oriental, Miami, Boyett has served on opening teams for Four Seasons Aviara, Miami and West Lake Village. In her new role, Ms. Boyett will oversee all of Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas Group, Transient and Catering Sales.