Las Vegas Convention Rentals

Rub the Magic Lantern and Watch the Aladdin Disappear

By admin | April 15, 2007

Aladdin Casino, Las Vegas

The Aladdin will officially be rechristened Planet Hollywood Las Vegas this week (to go along with other weird city locations in Vegas like New York, New York and Paris). The Aladdin is a case study of old Vegas becoming new Vegas, then becoming newer Vegas.

Planet Hollywood Las Vegas
3667 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109

The Aladdin was actually the Tally Ho when it first opened in 1963 and three years later became the Aladdin. In its heyday, the Aladdin more than held its own with the Sands and the Dunes (which also have fallen by the wayside). Like everything else in Vegas, it grew, it succeeded, and it failed. By the time I was old enough to visit casinos, the Aladdin was a faded relic.

The one thing that did save it for conventions was the fact that it had a 7,000 seat auditorium for concerts and shows. When I attended Comdex in the mid 90’s, I saw Bill Gates give the keynote address there.

Old Aladdin Implosion, 1998

With the expansion marching south down the strip, a group of investors from London bought the old Aladdin, imploded it in 1998, and created a new mega resort. But there were design flaws, such as NOT forcing hotel guests into the casino. And walkby traffic was not easily diverted into the casino. Then, 9/11 came and visitors just didn’t want to visit an Arab themed casino.

Forced into bankruptcy, the Aladdin was bought by new investors who now will brand it Planet Hollywood. Funny, but Planet Hollywood was once in bankruptcy, too.

The outside architecture still has Arab influenced themes so it will be interesting to see if they can mask those and make it into a Hollywood theme. For now, it’s a Sheraton and I’m sure you can use all your Sheraton points to book a room there.

It still has a 7,000 seat Performing Arts Center. To get to the Las Vegas Convention Center from there, you have to go next door to Paris Las Vegas/Bally’s to catch the LV Monorail.

Topics: Las Vegas Strip, Planet Hollywood | No Comments »

Let’s see, how else can we take your money . . .

By admin | April 12, 2007

Traffic on the Las Vegas Strip

Sin City is always looking to grab your money. Whether it’s the “convenient” in-room bar or single deck 6 to 5 blackjack (a big advantage to the casino, BTW), the transportation geniuses have proposed to do away with free parking on the strip. Their rationale is to try to ease traffic congestion on the Strip.

Hmmm. We’re making too much money with Las Vegas visitors crowding the Strip so let’s try and discourage traffic. Brilliant thinking. The last thing I want to do is pay for parking so I can get my free beers while I drop a few hundred at the blackjack tables.

Make no mistake. Traffic and parking is horrible around the Las Vegas Convention Center when a big show is in town. But that’s the nature of the beast. The new LV Monorail has made it easier to get from the Strip to the LVCC which in turn has reduced the need for those shuttle busses. But paying for parking on the Strip? They might as well make the parking meter a slot machine.

Topics: Las Vegas Strip | No Comments »

What happens in Vegas . . . ends up in court.

By admin | April 10, 2007

LVCA Ad Campaign

The Las Vegas Convention Authority has spend over $600,000 in legal fees to protect the “What happens in Vegas . . . stays in Vegas” campaign that began in 2002. According to the LVRJ, the convention authority is opposing a patent application filed by a Chicago woman who wants to trademark the phrase “What Happens at the Derby . . . Stays at the Derby”.

They have a court case pending against a California woman who has put the campaign slogan on underwear. That’s the problem with successful ad campaigns - to protect them, you end up in court trying to beat down those who will use them for their own financial gain.

Now this doesn’t prevent parodies or satires of the campaign. But put it on a T-Shirt and see you in court. In Vegas

Topics: Las Vegas Convention Authority | No Comments »