Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

Posted by mike_ch

(Speaking to you from my vacation in less-than-scorching-hot California!)

I could have told you that the prices are high in Vegas with little research, hearing how much friends in other cities such as Chicago and New York pay for tickets to tours that also go through LV can pretty much confirm that. However, the sad part is the "because Vegas visitors pay what's asked" part. Means those of us who live here have to pay through the nose because we have to pay for the poor budgetary decisions of people from out of town.

Ah well, I guess this is simply the drawback of living in a city where U2, Madonna, and the Stones can all appear within a few months. It feels like every other well-toured city gets a big discount, though.

Well, there is some new news coming out of the Strip today, I'm sure everyone knows, but...
The Strip Podcast, just found out that yet another Cirque will be coming to the strip. This will be the sixth show, it will revolve around magic, and will be staged in the, as of now, vacant Hairspray theatre. This, combined with the Elvis/Cirque show, arriving in 2009 at PCC, will make seven shows on the strip.

Also, in between now and the time that the Cirque show opens, the vacant theatre will be filled with an "ecclectic group of headliner". Including, Miss Liza Minelli.

Anyone have any thoughts on the new....

Posted by detroit1051

More on John's comment about Cirque. Nine Cirques??? Too many for me.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/commentary/2006/jul/06/566646656.html

Well, If remember correctly, the Hairspray Theatre is at the Luxor. That's the first drawback. I dont' think I've ever read a good review regarding the Luxor. And this might at least have a little to do with the low turnout for the Hairspray show. The strip is a formula town. If one property comes up with something successful, then others copy, as it is with the Circe de Solei shows.

Posted by detroit1051

Krunch, one of the interesting comments about Luxor on the Strip Podcast was that Felix Rappaport had been made president of Luxor when MGM took over Mandalay Resort Group. The podcast guys said Rappaport had "fixed" NYNY and was given the same assignment at Luxor, to fix it. I haven't been in the place in five years. Maybe I should check it out on my next trip.

Detroit, Steve and Miles also said that the Luxor, with an entire tower of rooms that only have showers in the bathrooms, has the potential to be a five star property.

IMO, Luxor does have the potential to be a solid four star property, but it wil never be a five star. I think one of the other posts on the blog, MGM Grand's Aziz, and I can come to the conclusion that Luxor, and even Excalibur, are what MGM was, when Aziz came on board. They are dormitories, they don't have amazing restaurants, and they have no truly excellent rooms, but maybe Mr. Rappaport can make some interesting changes at the pyramid.

Hey John:

We never said the Luxor had the potential to be a five-star hotel. Ever. We don't even believe it could be a four-star spot. But it certainly could be improved with some decent restaurants, some better room product and a successful show. Its first mistake was losing Blue Man to Venetian, but then again that will turn out to be a bigger mistake for Blue Man, lost as it is in the mammoth shuffle that is the Venetian.

Thanks for listening, tho!

-Steve + Miles

Posted by detroit1051

John, I also thought Steve and Miles said Luxor could become a 5-star hotel, so I listened to the segment again. Whaddya know. I was wrong. Steve first said Luxor is now a "middle of the road" property. Later in the podcast, when they were talking about Rappaport being brought in to "fix" Luxor, Steve said Luxor had the potential to be a high-end hotel. No matter how many Stars, I agree Luxor can be improved.

Steve's comment above about Blue Man getting lost at Venetian was interesting. Is Venetian too huge for boutique shows like Blue Man? I've been in Venetian many times, and I wouldn't have a clue on where to find Blue Man or Phantom for that matter. And, it's only going to get worse when Palazzo opens next year. Guess I've got to pay more attention.

Detrioit, Steve's "mammoth shuffle" comment re Venetian was amusing. The place has no flow, unlike Wynn (and eventually Encore). It's not only you.

Don't know how this thread became about Luxor, but....

I actually used to like Luxor back when it was fairly new. It wouldn't take much to improve the rooms (the Towers' are much nicer than the orig. pyramid), as you noted about your stay at Caesar's new tower, and others' comments about Bellagio's room redo. Caesar's old suites were a subject on one of those TV makeover shows and it's amazing what a bit of remodelling and new decor will do.

I seem to recall the Luxor pyramid rooms being spacious enough. There's potential there. Those who get vertigo from the open atrium, remember there are high-end hotels in other cities that do the same.

Oh, I guess I was wrong about that five-star thing, sorry.

About that whole Venetian flow idea, I totally agree. One of the things I hate about the Venetian, is that the font on any signage in the casino, is printed in pt. 12, it is incredibly hard to read it while walking. Also, i think it is interesting that, since the hotel is so jammed full of high density attractions, that they had to put one of their theatres (Blue Man Group), near their convention spaces. Phantom's theatre, is located right by the tower elevators, but they put the entrace, right behind the escalator to the Gand Canal level, it ruins any chance they had at creating a really amazing entrance from the casino floor (its kind of sad).

I used to classify Luxor as a great value property -- for a minor price jump from Excalibur you got a much nicer experience, IMO. In comparison, I never felt that NYNY rates were really justified by the amenities (pool in particular). If that's where the Luxor is headed, that's unfortunate.

dr_al, exactly, agree completely.

John, it is kind of sad. What sets Wynn apart is that they considered the entire package, not just jamming things in wherever they'd fit.

It's too bad the cost of land & construction is forcing more and higher density, it'll be truly sad if the Strip ends up like a street in NYC. Good thing Steve has that whole golf course to work with, sad as it will be to see that nice green view to the East go away.