CR78-p20-NorthAmerica2:SJC-Casino Review 22/3/09 00:59 Page 1
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Sands on time in Pennsylvania
Las Vegas Sands has confirmed that its US$743m Sands Casino
News
Resort Bethlehem in Pennsylvania will be open in time for Memorial
Day weekend with a grand opening celebration on June 9 following a
‘soft’ opening on May 22. Sand’s owner Sheldon Adelson is confident
that the eighth casino to open in the area will stand up to the recession
having already cut back on its plans for a shopping mall. The 3,000
NORTH AMERICA slot and four restaurants venue should benefit from its closeness to
millions of potential customers in the greater New York area.
M Resort opening
marks letter of intent
Tough times and tight purses have continued to hinder the Nevada casino sector in 2009 but
Adelson
with US$1.8bn invested in his latest southern Nevada project, Anthony Marnell is hoping
for some pay back by targeting an affordable VIP experience.
criticises
President’s
letterfromamerica wanted to do and there are
UNITED STATES things that I’ve seen that I
travel perk
believe should be different
Southern Nevada’s newest in casino-resorts. He and I
comments
casino, M Resort, opened have had the opportunity to
for business about 10 miles collaborate and the result of
south of the Las Vegas Strip that is the M. I believe the M perkofthejob
in late February with the Resort has a lot to offer UNITED STATES
hope of breathing new life tourists and Las Vegas locals
into the difficult market and exceptional service is at Las Vegas casino mogul
conditions. the top of the list,” he added. Sheldon Adelson has slammed
M Resort has a 90,000- “The M has been laid out very the comments of President
square-foot casino, nine differently than other Strip Barack Obama who said last
restaurants, 60,000 square resorts and local casinos. month ‘you can’t take a trip to
feet of meeting space and a Every detail has been Las Vegas or down to the Super
2.3-acre pool area with fire thought about over and over Bowl on the taxpayers’ dime.’
and water features and an again. We are confident the M Speaking at Reuters Travel
outdoor entertainment will raise the bar for resort- and Leisure Summit Adelson
stage. A 1-million-square- casinos and express the complained about the backlash
foot retail mall, however, future of the industry.” against corporate expenses fol-
isn’t likely to open until Whilst these are hardly the lowing Obama’s warning for
2011, when hopefully the most inspiring times in companies that get tax perks
economy will have recov- which to launch a new on travel expenses. “The good
ered. project, the casino’s chair- news is that Las Vegas has
The first phase of the man and chief executive become a synonym for a good
$1.8bn project includes 390 Marnell III points to the deci- time for adults. Let me not say
rooms, the Villaggio Del Sole sion to launch at the cheaper adults, I’ll say grown-ups, I
pool, convention space, end of the market. He said don’t want to give the wrong
sports book, 1,847 slot and that food and non-gaming impression,” Adelson said.
video poker machines, 64 amenities would be priced “The bad news is that because
table games, a live action for an affordable night out. it is a place for a good time,
poker room and a high limit “I’ve had many people President Obama says that he
salon. look at the pricing and tell doesn’t want taxpayer’s money
The resort offers a mixture me I’m way too cheap,” he to go there.”
of video poker, video reels said. “I’m trying to get the Media furore erupted in
and spinners with denomi- doors open and get the October following a decision
nations ranging from a penny momentum in the market taken by insurance group AIG
to $100. The newest and most and get people here.” to fly executives to a Southern
popular slots are available Rooms are available for California resort at a cost of
along with a one-of-a-kind, between $54 for the resort $440,000 shortly after it had
high-energy gaming area room with a mountain view been granted a US$85bn gov-
known as the Jewellery Box, to $354 for the flat suite. ernment bailout.
located in the heart of the Resort suites with views of The Las Vegas Sands owner
casino floor and exclusive to the Strip start at $74 whilst said he would also launch a
the M Resort. While many can the many resturants also offer survey to find the most boring
only dream of having emer- discounted prices. No cock- city in the United States. “I’m
alds, rubies, sapphires and tail served at any bar is more going to provide a prize for
diamonds in their jewellery than $8.50. people who will submit the
box, the M Resort’s actually Marnell, who at the age of name of the worst city in the
does, with each jewel repre- 35 also owns two casinos in country to go to, where people
senting a different payout. Laughlin and one in can enjoy it the least. Because
The Jewellery Box has 12 Pahrump, learned the that’s the alternative. The alter-
machines that randomly gaming business from his native is you go to a place
reward up to $5,000 to father, who owned the Rio in where you enjoy, or you go to a
players. Every Jewellery Box the late 1990s. place you don’t enjoy. Chicago
reward is celebrated with a Marnell was delighted has got nine casinos. Now God
dazzling visual presentation with the final look of his forbid if they hold a convention
for everyone to enjoy. latest venue. “It’s very sexy. there someone should go to
Designed with an Italian It’s very relaxing and it’s very one of those casinos and enjoy
theme and natural materials, open,” he said. “The response themselves. God forbid. And
the resort’s wood, stone, from people who will tell then they’d say ‘oh I can’t go
warm colour palette and me the truth said we did as there’,” he added.
abundance of natural light, good a job as we could have “If you are going to vilify Las
including skylights in the done. A lot of people want to Vegas because it’s a great
casino, are intended to create Anthony A. Marnell III, tect Tony Marnell, chairman “Working with my father check us out, which is great,” place to go, let’s vilify all 30
a different environment from
chairman and CEO of the
of Marnell Corrao Associates, on the M is one of the best he added. states that legalised gaming.
a traditional casino.
M Resort, cuts the ribbon
responsible for notable proj- experiences of my life,” said Nevada republican Dina What’s the implication here?
The M Resort is the
at the venue’s opening
ects throughout Las Vegas Marnell III. “He has worked Titus added: “It’s not only a That the government on tax-
product of a collaboration including Wynn, Treasure with a number of major good indication that maybe payer money will only allow
between Anthony A. Marnell Island, the Mirage, Caesars casino-resort properties, and things are turning around, people to go to places where
III, chairman and CEO of the Palace and the Rio All-Suite I think that over the last 40 the opening is a great morale they will not enjoy themselves,
M Resort, and his father, archi- Hotel & Casino. years there are things he’s boost for the community.” where they are going to hate it.”
20 April 2009 • northamericanews
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