{"id":1007,"date":"2009-08-06T09:00:18","date_gmt":"2009-08-06T14:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=1007"},"modified":"2016-12-17T02:44:10","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T08:44:10","slug":"citycenter-brings-new-hotels-shops-restaurants-to-vegas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/08\/citycenter-brings-new-hotels-shops-restaurants-to-vegas\/","title":{"rendered":"CityCenter brings new hotels, shops, restaurants to Vegas"},"content":{"rendered":"

By E.C. Gladstone<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Las

CityCenter (Courtesy: CityCenter Land, LLC)<\/p><\/div>\n

Las Vegas is a city built upon sizzle, anticipation, and hype. Which is why, unlike many other Vegas bloggers, I try never to report on anything until it is actually happening (a lot of exciting ideas get stalled, or never even start). Still, there\u2019s a certain upcoming project which has been so hotly discussed, not just in all the Las Vegas hotels<\/strong><\/a>, but around the world, that it can\u2019t be avoided.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been in Vegas at all this year, you can\u2019t have missed it: a hulking conglomeration of architecturally adventurous steel and glass skyscrapers that, honestly, looks like something out of a movie. A big movie. A big, loud, expensive movie.<\/p>\n

Set on some 67 acres on the west side of the Strip between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts, CityCenter<\/strong> is said to be the largest single construction project ever in the U.S. (18 million square feet — all LEED certified). Due to open in December 2009, CityCenter is poised to present a daunting array of high-tech hotel suites, residences, exclusiveshopping, gorgeous spas and more<\/strong>, in a setting filled with remarkable architecture (eight of the world\u2019s most eminent firms) and public art. Here\u2019s just a tease:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Las<\/strong><\/strong>

Vdara (Courtesy: CityCenter Land, LLC)<\/p><\/div>\n

Hotels<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first Las Vegas hotel to open, Vdara<\/strong><\/a> will offer nearly 1500 view-centricsuites in 57 stories. It will be joined by Aria<\/strong><\/a>, with 4000 rooms in 61 stories — featuring the remarkable Control4 tech systems that will supervise your entire environment (lights, air, music, curtains) from one unit — and capped by massive Sky Villas\u2014Mandarin Oriental<\/strong> — 390 rooms and suites, 227 residences, and the Veer residential towers. In 2010, the Harmon, a 400-room ultra-luxury boutique hotel<\/strong>, will complete the accommodations.<\/p>\n

Shopping<\/strong><\/p>\n

With nearly half a million square feet of shopping, Crystals will present an earth-shattering array of high-end retail, including firsts-for-Vegas from Tom Ford, Assouline, Kitson, Miu Miu, Paul Smith, Marni, Tourbillion, Mikimoto and Porsche Design<\/strong>. More names include Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., de Grisogono, H. Stern, Ermenegildo Zegna, Prada, Christian Dior, Bulgari, Carolina Herrera, Hermes, Roberto Cavalli, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Versace, Bally, Emilio Pucci, Ilori and Dale Chihuly.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Las<\/strong><\/strong>

BARMASA by Chef Masayoshi Takayama (Courtesy: CityCenter Land, LLC)<\/p><\/div>\n

Restaurants<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chef Martin Heierling, long one of the Bellagio\u2019s somewhat unsung talents (at Sensi) oversees all the food service at Vdara: his Silk Road restaurant is sure to be exciting\u2026Within the Crystals retail and entertainment district, dining will include Wolfgang Puck\u2019s new \u201cPods<\/strong>,\u201d Eva Longoria Parker\u2019s Beso<\/strong>, Mastro\u2019s Ocean Club Seafood House and a Todd English pub\u2026 Aria\u2019s array of restaurateurs will include Masayoshi Takayama<\/strong> (Masa NYC), Shawn McClain, (Chicago\u2019s Spring) Jean-Georges Vongerichten<\/strong>, Michael Mina<\/strong>, Julian Serrano (Picasso), Sirio Maccioni<\/strong> (Le Cirque) and chocolatier Jean-Philippe Maury \u2026 perhaps most exciting of all, though, is the American debut of renowned French culinary innovator Pierre Gagnaire<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Entertainment, Art and more<\/strong><\/p>\n