New in Las Vegas for 2011
2011 promises to be bigger and better in Las Vegas. With increased air access from across the UK and a staggering 150,000 rooms awaiting UK visitors there has never been a better time to visit Las Vegas.
Virgin Atlantic will be launching direct flights from Manchester to Las Vegas from 3 April 2011. The twice-weekly service will operate on Thursdays and Sundays, using a Boeing 747-400 aircraft. The route will be Virgin Atlantic’s 33rd from the UK and the carrier’s third from Manchester. The additional flights from Manchester mean that from April 2011, Virgin Atlantic will operate nine flights a week from the UK to this popular and growing leisure destination, famous for its casinos and shows. Since Virgin Atlantic launched flights to Las Vegas from Gatwick in June 2000, it has carried almost 2 million passengers on the route, which now operates daily from Gatwick.
Both the existing service and the new Manchester to Las Vegas route will be operated by a Boeing 747-400 fitted with 14 Upper Class Suites, 58 Premium Economy and 379 Economy seats. The Upper Class Suite consists of a reclining seat for takeoff, a place to sit and eat a three course meal opposite your partner and a private on board bar to drink at with your friends. To book flights on the Manchester to Las Vegas route, customers can visit virgin-atlantic.com .
British Airways will offer increased capacity and introduce First Class on its direct flights from London Heathrow to Las Vegas from the summer of 2011. The announcement comes one year after the airline launched its first service from London to the entertainment capital of the world - ba.com .
Las Vegas continues to be a dynamic construction market. Over the past two years Las Vegas has added approximately 13,000 new hotel rooms in its portfolio. The newest kid on the block is The Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino which opened December 2010.
The Cosmopolitan boasts two 50-storey towers overlooking the heart of the Las Vegas Strip and offers 2,995 hotel rooms and condo-style accommodation, expansive terraces, residential-inspired furnishings, spacious living areas, luxurious bathrooms and a multitude of small but distinct touches transform each of our rooms into a stage of endless possibilities. Already the record holders for the largest number of rooms in a US destination, the new resort has seen Las Vegas reach the outstanding milestone of 150,000 rooms.
On February 11, 2011 Ravella at Lake Las Vegas is set to open off the strip. Located on the site of the former Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas, Dolce will manage the re-branded resort and deliver the personal service, premier cuisine, outstanding amenities and excellence in meeting experiences for which the company is renowned. Guests of the former Ritz also will enjoy a much more contemporary experience, including a totally redesigned lobby envisioned to be a high-energy, social gathering spot at Ravella. New dining and spa concepts will complement offerings at The Village Lake Las Vegas, for which Ravella guests will have privileged access.
The Harmon Hotel is being created for chic Las Vegas insiders who prefer staying out of the spotlight. The Harmon, part of the CityCenter development, is expected to open in 2011 with 400 hotel rooms. The Harmon is an exclusive residence that will be tailored to discriminating clientele. The hotel occupies floors 7-27 and the residences and penthouses will be located on the floors above the hotel. The Harmon's guests and residents will have used of all its amenities including its pool perched with views of the Las Vegas Strip.
The Neon Museum kicked off the reassembly of the historic La Concha Motel Lobby, which will serve as part of their new museum building. The completion of the project will mean that the Neon Museum’s outdoor display of rescued Las Vegas neon signs will be more available to the public, with regular hours of admission. Currently tours of the neon “boneyard” are available by appointment only. The Neon Museum, a non-profit organization, has received grants and donations from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Nevada Commission for Cultural Affairs, the City of Las Vegas Centennial Committee, the Nevada legislature, and many private donors.
The Tiffany Theatre at Tropicana Las Vegas, now managed by Eagle Group Holdings, will become a premier entertainment venue in 2011 as part of the resort’s renovation. First to appear in the theatre will be “Yesterday” A Tribute to The Beatles. Founded in 1986 by John Lennon impersonator Don Bellezzo, “Yesterday” has performed their critically acclaimed Beatles tribute show “The British Are Coming!” for audiences around the world. Produced by Yesterday Productions, the band’s most recent gig ran for three years at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, NJ.
To celebrate and honour Frank Sinatra’s 95th birthday on 12 December, Wynn Las Vegas launched new performances of SINATRA Dance With Me in the Encore Theatre. SINATRA Dance With Me follows four couples as they fall in and out of love at a swinging nightclub. Blending the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra with a big band and 14 of the world’s finest dancers, SINATRA Dance With Me weaves classic standards including “Fly Me To The Moon,” “My Way” and “That’s Life” in a soaring dance fantasy of romance and seduction. By special arrangement with Frank Sinatra Enterprises and The Sinatra Family, SINATRA Dance With Me features original recorded masters of Frank Sinatra’s voice backed by a live on-stage, 17-piece big band. The show is scheduled to run until the 29 January 2011.
The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil have joined forces to create touring and permanent shows based on the music of Michael Jackson. A rock concert arena-type show will open on 15 December 2011 at Mandalay Bay, tickets went on sale on the 3 November 2010. This will be the largest-ever music show touring North America and around the world for four non-stop years. The second show will have a permanent home in Las Vegas and will open in 2013 at a location yet to be determined.
Celine Dion is preparing for a triumphant return to Caesar’s Palace for a three year residency starting 15 March 2011. The French-Canadian singer previously enjoyed five consecutive years of sell-out shows at the venue, before embarking on a worldwide tour and taking time off to start a family. Tickets are available now.
Visitors to Fremont Street Experience can now soar along an 800-foot-long zip-line attraction with speeds of up to 30 miles per hour as the new Flightline experience debuts. Created by Canadian-based company Greenheart Conservation Co., the attraction starts on a platform east of the Fremont Street Experience canopy and ends in front of the Four Queens. The company plans to expand the flight line along the entire five-block length of the canopy.
Once reserved exclusively for the most elite casino guests, the Las Vegas Hilton has now made their Classic Suites Collection available to the public. Each suite is exquisitely furnished and themed offering unparalleled luxury and comfort. No two suites are completely alike. From Hollywood to Tuscany and Africa’s Gold Coast to the Bahamas, each villa is spacious and unique.
For further information on Las Vegas, go to: visitlasvegas.co.uk
