Quickies: Binion’s Hotel to Close ; Harrah’s Moving Closer to Planet Hollywood ; LVS Macau IPO

Three interesting stories breaking this morning:

Binion's to Close Hotel Tower - the legendary Downtown hotel has announced they will be closing the hotel tower and restaurant facilities as a result of the bad economy:

http://www.lvrj.com/news/Binions-to-close-hotel-tower-lay-off-100-workers-78149717.html

Harrah's Entertainment, who have been buying Planet Hollywood debt, is taking the process to the next step - Nevada gaming regulators:

http://www.lvrj.com/news/breaking_news/Harrahs-moves-to-acquire-Planet-Hollywood-78146292.html

Las Vegas Sands raised $5 billion in an IPO for their Macanese operations:

http://www.lvrj.com/news/breaking_news/LV-Sands-raises-5-billion-announces-timeline-for-Macau-construction-restart-78127742.html

Binion’s to close hotel rooms

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The hotel-casino that launched the World Series of Poker is closing its hotel part of the casino.

All 365 rooms of Binion's Gambling Hall will be shuttered as of Dec. 14.

Along with the hotel closure, 100 workers will be laid off, keno will be shut down, and the coffee shop will be closed.

The remaining part of the casino will remain open, including the poker room and steakhouse.

Binion's opened in 1951 and was purchased last year by TLC Enterprises, owners of Four Queens. No word whether the Four Queens' 690 rooms will be affected.

Golden Nugget, located across the street from Binion's, opened a 500-room tower last Monday at a cost of $150 million. It was the first new hotel rooms in downtown Las Vegas in 20 years.

We popped by Binion's last night and not only was the casino pretty much empty, there were 0 poker tables running. A sad sign of the times, particularly since we enjoyed staying at the hotel which felt more like little apartments than hotel rooms.

Golden Nugget Rush Tower First Look Photos

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The benchmark of luxury in downtown Las Vegas accommodations has taken a quantum leap with the past week's opening of the Rush Tower at the Golden Nugget. Flipchip hiked through the sparkling new addition to the Golden Nugget Resort and we posted the photos.

The brightly colored interior features the Las Vegas' only Chart House restaurant including a 75,000-gallon tropical aquarium. Another new restaurant, Red, serves the best in sushi, steaks and seafood. The Grand, an 11,000 square foot event center, is available for special events, conventions and meeting rooms. The Rush Tower also adds almost 500 oversize rooms and suites to give the Golden Nugget a total of 2,300 guest rooms.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Five Diamond World Poker Classic at Bellagio

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The Bellagio's holiday poker tournament, Five Diamond World Poker Classic, is up and running at the luxurious Bellagio Resort on the Las Vegas strip. Satellites and the first event begin Friday, November 27, and continues with daily events through the final table of the Doyle Brunson Classic championship event on December 19.

This is the big holiday tournament that stages daily events with buy-ins ranging from a low $500 + $40 to the $15,000 + $400 Championship Event hosted by poker legend, Doyle Brunson. Super Satellites for the $15K championship go with a $1,500 + $90 buy-in beginning December 12. While most of the events are No-Limit Hold'em, players will also have Pot-Limit Omaha nwith and without rebuys and Limit Omaha Eight or Better. Seniors 50-years-old or better will have their own $1,500 + $90 three day event on December 6.

Stop by the Bellagio and enjoy the holiday spirit flowing throughout the resort and then put a little poker into your festivities. What better gift for yourself than to win one of the events and cart away a huge pile of cash.

UPDATED: Jim Murren: The Man and His City(Center)

A story in today's Sun delves into Jim Murren's thinking regarding the design of CityCenter. It's an interesting look at the process and gives more insight into the man, someone that hasn't had a well-defined public persona beyond the quarterly conference calls.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov/29/one-mans-concept-real-story/

Murren talks about CityCenter inspiring people to create art - that would be incredible were it to occur. Perhaps a modern-day Renoir will be so-moved by slot machines - I'm a little skeptical.

The author, Liz Benston, makes reference to people that have described CityCenter as "a themed version of New York as envisioned by a Manhattan transplant". That's one of the points I raised in my write-up of the site tour. Sounds like Murren would match it more closely with master-planning done in places like Abu Dhabi - perhaps that is more apt but I think the basic premise still holds.

There are some nice photos with the piece, including the Crystals/ARIA pocket park, one of my fave places in the complex (and it sounds like one of Murren's too).

Vdara opens on Tuesday. Hard to believe that we're finally at the finish line!

Update: A related update - the LA Times has some interior photos, though mostly specific textures and related design elements including some stuff I saw and some I haven't yet seen.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/destinations/lasvegas/la-tr-citycenter29-2009nov29-pg,0,853232.photogallery

http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-citycenter-closeup-2009nov29-pg,0,37081.photogallery

Free Lion King tickets for buying Green Valley Ranch gift card

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The District, the shopping center at Green Valley Ranch, has an offer that will help your Christmas shopping while enabling you to catch a Vegas show.

Simply purchase $350 worth of gift cards, good at any shop on The District (including restaurants), and depending when you purchase, you'll receive 2 tickets to one of the following shows:

The Lion King (purchase Nov. 27-Dec. 3)
Le Reve (purchase Dec. 4-Dec. 10)
Blue Man Group (purchase Dec. 11-17)

If you purchase Dec. 18 or after, you'll have your choice of which show.

Remember -- just because they're gift cards doesn't mean you can't use them yourself. And it doesn't have to be all on one purchase.

Purchase gift cards at The District Guest Services, and you'll receive a voucher for 2 tickets to exchange at the theater box office.

For more information, call (702) 564-8595.

Free buffets at M Resort

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Our favorite offer this month is multiple free buffets from the new M Resort.

But hurry, you only have until Nov. 30 to take advantage.

Earn as little as 250 points ($250 playthrough on slots) and you can get a free lunch buffet that day. And you keep the points.

Here're the points-to-meal conversions:

250 points for lunch (Monday to Friday)
400 points for dinner (Monday to Thursday)
500 points for brunch (Saturday to Sunday)
600 points for seafood dinner (Friday to Sunday)

Any points accumulated after midnight will count for that day. If you earn 1100 points on Friday at midnight, for example, you can get both that day's buffets.

The Studio B buffet is among the best in Las Vegas, certainly the best locals buffet that we've come across. And at prices upwards of $25.95 for the all-you-can-eat steamed snow crab legs, it's well worth it.

The M buffet also has a first -- a beverage station for beer and wine. Included with your buffet.

Alas, no line pass is included and the lines can be intimidating. They seem to be heaviest Friday nights, but if you shift to an evening schedule, show up right before closing time (9 p.m. to 10 p.m. depending on the day). Food comes off the tables 30 minutes after closing.

Harrah’s Edging Closer to Planet Hollywood Ownership

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Harrah's Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman informed employees that Harrah's was continuing in their efforts to acquire the Planet Hollywood Resort on the Las Vegas strip. The acquisition of the property would give Harrah's control of east side strip frontage from Flamingo Road to Harmon Avenue. The additional 35 acres at Planet Ho would bring Harrah's total to 126 acres and add another 2,500 rooms to Harrah's existing 20,370 room total in Las Vegas.

Loveman indicated that the take over is part of Harrah's continuing opportunistic strategy to acquire select properties during the current economic downturn.

World Market Center Current on Debts

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

World Market Center in downtown Las Vegas announced they are up to date on their loans even though the occupancy rate for the billion dollar project has declined about 10% from a high of 99%. The more than 1 million square feet of show room space at the massive international furniture market continues to host trade shows with the most recent fall gathering showing improved attendance of both exhibitors and buyers.

ARIA Fountain Test ; Crystals Walkway Opens

Some interesting CityCenter related photos and videos today.

First a tourist video of a test of ARIA's porte-cochere fountain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_984aK2mZ4A&feature=player_embedded

Also, the overhead walkway and sidewalk in front of Crystals is now open:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33394294@N05/

Enjoy.