Vol. 4, No. 6, June 2007
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Out of This World
It’s taken nearly three years but the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino has finally arrived on the Las Vegas Strip.
Work to transform the Arabian-themed Aladdin hotel-casino has been ongoing since OpBiz bought the bankrupt property for $500 million. OpBiz co-chairman Robert Earl, who founded the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain, was joined by several high-profile celebrities to welcome the property’s new theme.
“Here we are, standing in the ultimate location in Las Vegas, in the center of the Las Vegas Strip to unveil Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino,” said Earl. “This project is the fulfillment of a dream, and I am very proud to say that the Planet is rising!” The celebration marking the grand opening will be held at the end of September.
“We will be throwing the biggest party that Las Vegas has ever seen,” said actor Bruce Willis, who joined Earl and actress Carmen Electra, baseball star Roger Clemens, tennis star Pete Sampras and boxer Sugar Ray Leonard in introducing the revamped resort.
The $1 billion makeover will eventually bring 2,600 movie-themed guest rooms, and 1,200 time-share residences scheduled top open in 2009.
The property will also feature an expanded lineup of restaurants and nightclubs, all in an effort to bring some youth and vitality to a property sitting on what could become the hottest corner in Las Vegas across from MGM Mirage’s Project CityCenter.
The revamped property will also see some changes at the Desert Passage, the Arabian-themed shopping mall that has been dubbed the “Deserted Passage” by some. Last month, Boulevard Invest announced that the mall will begin operating as Miracle Mile Shops in May.
