Celebratory events on Dec. 1 marked the first opening at CityCenter, the urban resort destination that aims to redefine the Las Vegas Strip. Company executives and local dignitaries participated in a press event and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Vdara Hotel & Spa. They also welcomed Vdara's employees to be the first to officially walk through the hotel's doors. Vdara opens to the public Dec. 2.
"We are incredibly proud to offer the world this first taste of all that CityCenter will bring to the Las Vegas Strip," said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM MIRAGE. "Travelers will finally find in Las Vegas what they find in other great cities around the world - spectacular architecture, culturally significant art, great public spaces, sophisticated hotels, unique restaurants and incredible amenities. We look forward to unveiling all of this and more as the month unfolds."
In the evening on Dec. 1, Vdara, in partnership with Vanity Fair, threw a star-studded event hosted by famed photographer Sebastian Copeland, along with award-winning actors Orlando Bloom and Rosario Dawson. A dedicated environmental activist, Copeland shares Vdara's commitment to sustainability, which is evidenced in the resort's LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Vdara is the first hotel to open at CityCenter, which in total will put 12,000 employees to work in Las Vegas. An all-suite hotel and spa designed for those who love the excitement of Vegas but prefer an exclusive, non-gaming, smoke-free environment, Vdara is physically connected to Bellagio and directly adjacent to Aria Resort & Casino, offering access to all the amenities and energy of CityCenter while also providing a retreat from it all.
CityCenter will celebrate openings throughout the month, culminating with one final grand opening celebration, Dec. 16. Crystals retail and entertainment district opens on Dec. 3, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas on Dec. 4 and Aria Resort & Casino on Dec. 16.
CityCenter is located on 67 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. It is a joint venture between MGM Mirage and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World. CityCenter features Aria, a 61-story, 4,004-room gaming resort; luxury non-gaming hotels including Las Vegas' first Mandarin Oriental and Vdara Hotel & Spa; Veer Towers, the development's only strictly residential buildings; and Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district.
Vdara, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers include approximately 2,400 residences total. In addition, The Harmon, a 400-room luxury boutique hotel, is slated to open at CityCenter in late 2010. CityCenter also features a resident Cirque du Soleil production celebrating the musical legacy of Elvis Presley; and a Fine Art Collection with works by acclaimed artists including Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer, Nancy Rubins, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, among others. For more information, visit www.citycenter.com.
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